Zero Tillage for Mitigating Global Warming Consequences and Improving Livelihoods in South Asia

Abstract

Declining land and water productivity, rising global temperature, underground water availability, energy, labour availability, increasing cost of production, burning of crop residues and changing climatic conditions are major challenges faced by both scientists and farmers in South Asia. To address these challenges, different resource conservation technologies were promoted in the South Asia. Zero tillage was generally practiced in the region, which retains the previous crop residues on the soil surface while establishing main crop viz. wheat seeds directly drilled in standing anchored rice straw. Further such tillage systems required no pre-sowing irrigation which further improves the irrigation water productivity. The current chapter reviews the consequences of zero tillage on soil physical, chemical and biological properties, land and water productivity and in mitigating global warming potential in texturally divergent soils under different agro-climatic regions. Our review revealed that positive effects of zero tillage are visible only after 4-5 years up to which farmer might have to sacrifice some yields. Thus, there is need to recommend an integrated climate smart agriculture package/approach, which effectively solves weed pressure problems, helps in improving land and water productivity, mitigates global warming consequences and uplifts livelihoods in South Asia.