Abstract
(1) The role of bamboo species in conserving nutrients during secondary succession was studied in 5, 10 and 15-year-old ''fallow'' stands after slash and burn agriculture (jhum), at three sites at 200-300 m altitude in north-eastern India. (2) Bamboos were very important during succession at all three sites, contributing 40-58% of the total slash biomass, 49-73% of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, but only 12-32% of calcium and magnesium. (3) It is concluded that bamboos play a significant role in nutrient conservation during slash and burn agriculture in north-eastern India.