ABSTRACT
AJAY KUMAR MISHRA, ATHUMAN JUMA MAHINDA, HITOSHI SHINJO, MANGI LAL JAT, ANSHUMAN SINGH, and SHINYA FUNAKAWA
ABSTRACT
Land degradation mainly due to soil salinity poses a major challenge to food security in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). Since IGP is in a transition phase from extensive to intensive agriculture, it needs to be addressed with utmost care to ensure resource conservation and environmental sustainability. Conservation agriculture (CA) based on the proven principles of minimal tillage, residue recycling, and crop diversification has emerged as a viable option for a paradigm shift toward economically and ecologically sustainable agriculture. The implication of CA for soil salinity reduction in IGP is of core significance that might build resilience to climate change. CA has shown great potential in ameliorating soil salinity and alleviation of secondary salinization in IGP region. Management practices of CA, such as minimum tillage, zero tillage, permanent raised beds, use of cover crop, crop rotation, and direct seeding; have proved to increase substantial amount of SOC, which plays a central role in reducing soil salinity, by improving soil physical condition that enhances infiltration rates, which leaches the salts down beyond the root zone of the crops. When CA is supplemented with some of the salinity management practices described in this chapter, it can help halt the land degradation due to salinity leading to sustainable food security regime.
