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<p>Ethnopedological knowledge of upland <em>Karbi</em> Community: A case study from Dima Hasao District of Assam, North-Eastern Himalaya, India</p><p> </p>

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Title Statement <p>Ethnopedological knowledge of upland <em>Karbi</em> Community: A case study from Dima Hasao District of Assam, North-Eastern Himalaya, India</p><p> </p>
 
Added Entry - Uncontrolled Name Borah, Nepolion ; School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110 067
Ladon, Padma ; School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110 067
Garkoti, Satish Chandra; Jawaharlal Nehru University,
 
Uncontrolled Index Term Crop suitability, Fertility management, Folk soil taxonomy, Indicator species, Karbi, Traditional knowledge
 
Summary, etc. <p>This paper describes the ethnopedological knowledge of indigenous upland <em>Karbi</em> farmers inhabiting a hilly area of Assam, India. Semi-directive interviews, focused group discussion and joint field visit methods were used for eliciting information on soil from key knowledge holders identified through chain referrals. Soil was classified into eight folk types based on fertility which were determined via its physical properties viz., colour, texture, water retention capacity and compactness. This classification helped them in land-use and crop-selection related decisions and some other uses. Plant species viz., <em>Albizia</em> spp.<em>, Imperata cylindrica, Lantana camara </em>and <em>Schima wallichii </em>indicating soil fertility were valued for identification of most suitable <em>jhum</em> sites. To minimize soil erosion, indigenous techniques like inverted ‘U’ shaped channels, maintaining standing trees and cut stumps, and placing horizontal wooden logs across shifting agricultural fields on steep slopes were employed. The laboratory analysis of physico-chemical parameters viz., bulk density, colour, texture, water holding capacity, pH, soil organic carbon and total nitrogen support the ethnopedological knowledge of the farmers. Study may help in preservation and protection of local knowledge on soil which is eroding fast under the influence of modernity.</p>
 
Publication, Distribution, Etc. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge (IJTK)
2023-04-11 16:28:28
 
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http://op.niscair.res.in/index.php/IJTK/article/view/43088
 
Data Source Entry Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge (IJTK); ##issue.vol## 22, ##issue.no## 1 (2023): Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge
 
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