The correct option is (c).
Explanation
"Slash and Burn" agriculture, also known as shifting cultivation or swidden agriculture, is a primitive subsistence farming method. It involves clearing a patch of forest land to create a field for cultivation, relying on fire and natural regeneration rather than modern inputs.Statement 1 is Incorrect: In this cultivation cycle, trees are not preserved. The vegetation on the selected plot is cut down ("slashed") and burnt in situ. The burning process is crucial as the resulting ash adds potash and other nutrients to the soil, which are necessary for crop growth.
Statement 2 is Correct: Once the land is cleared, crops are cultivated for a few years (typically 2 to 3 years). Farming continues only until the soil loses its natural fertility and nutrient content, or until weed infestation becomes unmanageable.
Statement 3 is Correct: After the soil fertility is exhausted, the farmers abandon the plot and move to a new patch of fresh forest. The abandoned land is left fallow for a period to allow the natural vegetation to regenerate, which helps nature replenish the soil's fertility over time.
Key Takeaway: Slash and burn cultivation is defined by the rotation of fields rather than crops; it involves clearing land by fire, farming until fertility declines, and abandoning the land for natural regeneration.