Final answer:
Shifting cultivation, also known as slash-and-burn cultivation, is a method of extensive horticulture where land is cultivated, left fallow to regenerate nutrients, then reused. Intercropping, a practice of planting multiple types of crops together, is commonly applied in these societies. This method is sustainable, nutrient-regenerating, and beneficial to soil health and crop yield.
Step-by-step explanation:
The extensive form of horticulture in which the natural vegetation is cut, slash is subsequently burned and crops are then planted among the ashes is known as slash-and-burn cultivation. In various contexts, this approach is also known as shifting cultivation. This is because after a certain number of seasons, the nutrients in the top layer of soil become depleted, necessitating the plot to be left to lie fallow. Farmers then move onto another plot of land, allowing the original plot to regenerate nutrients, a process that may take as soon as one season or as long as twenty seasons. This rotation of crops over various lands is thus referred to as shifting cultivation.
The extensive horticulture method of farming utilizes organic methods of fertilization and pest control, making it a sustainable form of farming. However, it is worth noting that while horticulture is generally practiced in regions with tropical climates which tend to lack nutrient-rich soils, similar methods may also be employed in temperate zones as farmers mimic the natural die-off of vegetation through slashing and burning. The regrowth process then allows for the accumulation of humus, similar to how it occurs in temperate climates, enriching the soil for subsequent cultivation rounds.
Moreover, horticultural societies typically practise intercropping, which involves planting multiple types of crops in close proximity to each other. This provides mutual benefits, such as improvement of soil health and yield optimization, which contribute to a balanced diet throughout the year.
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