ABSTRACT

This book examines the current situation, levels of adoption, management practices, and the future outlook of conservation agriculture in India, and also in other tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

While conservation agriculture is proposed as an important means to combat climate change, improve crop productivity and food affordability, and to protect the environment, the adoption of conservation agriculture in India, and south-east Asia more broadly, has been slow. This volume reflects on the current status of conservation agriculture in India, asking why adoption has been slow and putting forward strategies to improve its uptake. The chapters cover the various aspects of crop management such as soil, water, nutrients, weeds, crop residues, machinery, and energy, in a range of environments, including irrigated and rainfed regions. The impact of climate change and the economic considerations behind the adoption of conservation agriculture are also discussed. The volume concludes by discussing the future outlook for conservation agriculture in India, in particular drawing out parallels with other tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of conservation agriculture, sustainable agriculture, crop and soil management, and environmental and natural resource management.

part I|93 pages

Conservation Agriculture

chapter 1|17 pages

Conservation Agriculture for Sustainable Intensification

Global Options and Opportunities

chapter 2|23 pages

History and Current Scenario of Conservation Agriculture

Benefits and Limitations

chapter 3|28 pages

Conservation Agriculture in India

Progress in Research, Adoption, and the Way Forward

part II|126 pages

Management Options for Higher Resource Use Efficiency

part IV|38 pages

Economics, Adoption, and Future of Conservation Agriculture