Conservation agriculture for regenerating soil health and climate change mitigation in smallholder systems of South Asia

Jat, M L and Gathala, M K and Choudhary, M and Sharma, S and Jat, H S and Gupta, N and Singh, Y (2023) Conservation agriculture for regenerating soil health and climate change mitigation in smallholder systems of South Asia. Advances in Agronomy, 181. pp. 183-277. ISSN 0065-2113 (In Press)

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Abstract

The increase in agriculture production to meet the food demand of growing human population from a limited availability of arable land with low environmental footprints and preserving natural resources (soil, water and air) simultaneously are major challenges in South Asia. The situation is further complicated by the climate change, which will further lower the food production, compounding the challenge of meeting food demand. Conservation Agriculture (CA) is solution to several challenges being faced in farming such as soil health, climate change, water scarcity, agricultural pollution, farm profitability, human health, etc. This exhaustive review examines the published literature from South Asia to assess the impact of CA on soil organic carbon (SOC) and the subsequent impacts on soil health (physical, chemical and biological properties), C sequestration and greenhouse gases emissions in major cropping systems. The results from several studies demonstrated that CA increased SOC and improved soil health parameters, mainly in the surface soil layer. The effects of CA on the changes in soil pH and electrical conductivity are small. The CA showed a remarkable positive impact on the nutrient availability in the soil. The CA system helped in both climate change mitigation and adaptation for sustainable crop production. The present gaps in our knowledge in soil health assessment and research agenda to fill the gaps are also included in this chapter. We hope this review of past accomplishments, current activities, and future opportunities will stimulate additional soil health research throughout the 21st century.

Item Type: Article
Divisions: Global Research Program - Resilient Farm and Food Systems
CRP: UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords: Climate change adaptation, Climate change mitigation, Conservation agriculture, Soil health, Soil health indicators
Subjects: Others > Climate Adaptation
Others > Climate Mitigation
Others > Soil
Depositing User: Mr Nagaraju T
Date Deposited: 05 Sep 2023 09:20
Last Modified: 05 Sep 2023 09:20
URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/12174
Official URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/...
Projects: UNSPECIFIED
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement: We thank the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Government of India for Window 3 funding for this research. The support from International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI), and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is thankfully acknowledged.
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