AGR 204 . ANJE.pptx production technology

Agronomy

1. AGR 204 – FARMING SYSTEM AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE (1+1) TOPIC : CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE PRESENTED BY : M.ANGELINE JENCY 2302001004 IART NMV University

2. CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE Conservation agriculture (CA) is a set of agricultural practices that aims to achieve sustainable and profitable agriculture by minimizing soil disturbance, maintaining a permanent soil cover, and diversifying crop rotations .

3. PRINCIPLES Minimum Soil Disturbance (No-Tillage or Reduced Tillage): This involves planting crops directly into the soil without tilling or plowing, or with minimal tillage. This helps maintain soil structure, prevent erosion, and preserve soil moisture. Permanent Soil Cover (Crop Residues or Cover Crops): Leaving crop residues on the soil surface or planting cover crops provides a protective mulch layer, shielding the soil from erosion, moderating soil temperature and moisture, and enriching the soil with organic matter.

4. Diversified Crop Rotations: Rotating different crops in a sequence or simultaneously (intercropping) helps break pest and disease cycles, maintain a balanced nutrient profile, and increase biodiversity in the farming system.

5. BENEFITS Enhanced Soil Health: CA improves soil structure, organic matter content, water infiltration, and nutrient cycling, leading to healthier and more fertile soils. Improved Water Use Efficiency: By minimizing runoff and evaporation, CA enhances water infiltration and retention, allowing crops to utilize water more efficiently, especially in dry conditions.

6. Reduced Soil Erosion: The permanent soil cover protects the soil from wind and water erosion, preventing topsoil loss and degradation. Increased Crop Yields: Healthy soils, better water retention, and reduced pest pressure contribute to increased crop yields over time, improving farmer profitability and food security. Reduced Input Costs: Less tillage means less fuel, labor, and machinery wear and tear. Enhanced soil fertility can also lead to reduced fertilizer and pesticide needs, lowering overall production costs.

7. Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: CA helps mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon in the soil and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fuel consumption and residue burning. It also enables crops to better adapt to changing climatic conditions by increasing resilience to drought and excessive heat. Increased Biodiversity: Crop diversification and maintaining soil cover promotes a richer and more diverse soil ecosystem, benefiting beneficial insects, microorganisms, and overall farm biodiversity.

8. ECONOMIC BENEFITS CA can lead to reduced production costs by minimizing fuel, labor, and machinery usage due to reduced tillage. The practice also has the potential to increase crop yields and profitability over time through enhanced soil health and improved water management. According to  CEEW, systematic studies in the Indo- Gangetic Plains have shown average cost reductions of up to 15-16% through CA practices.

9. CHALLENGES TO ADOPTION While the benefits are significant, adopting CA can present challenges, including the initial investment in specialized equipment (like zero-till seed drills), the need for farmers to acquire new knowledge and skills, potential increases in weed pressure in the early stages, and overcoming traditional farming mindsets.

10. CA in India India is increasingly recognizing the potential of CA for sustainable agriculture and food security. It is being promoted through various initiatives and schemes, including financial assistance for CA machinery and residue management . However, challenges like access to machinery, competition for crop residues, and the need for more localized research on yield benefits in different agro-ecological regions remain . Despite these hurdles, the adoption of CA practices is expanding, particularly in the Indo- Gangetic Plains, contributing to improved soil health, increased yields, and reduced environmental impact.

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