Planting alder (Alnus nepalensis D.Don) in swidden fields has long been a traditional fallow management practice in Yunnan province of southwestern China. Farmers may harvest the trees for firewood after about six years or, in the case of longer fallow periods, they may be harvested for timber. To compare the above-ground biomass and nutrient accumulation in planted alder fallows with those of unmanaged grassy fallows, plot measurements were taken in sample fallows in Ximeng county, Yunnan province. The res...