Follow
International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences (IJCMAS)
IJCMAS is now DOI (CrossRef) registered Research Journal. The DOIs are assigned to all published IJCMAS Articles.
Index Copernicus ICI Journals Master List 2022 - IJCMAS--ICV 2022: 95.28 For more details click here
National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) : NAAS Score: *5.38 (2020) [Effective from January 1, 2020] For more details click here

Login as a Reviewer


See Guidelines to Authors
Current Issues
Download Publication Certificate

Original Research Articles                      Volume : 7, Issue:2, February, 2018

PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706
Issues : 12 per year
Publisher : Excellent Publishers
Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com /
submit@ijcmas.com
Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash
Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39
NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38

Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci.2018.7(2): 373-389
DOI: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.702.049


Effect of Conservation Agriculture on Soil Physical Health
Vikas Rai1*, Pragati Pramanik1, Pramila Aggarwal1, Prameela Krishnan1 and Ranjan Bhattacharyya2
1Division of Agricultural Physics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
2Center for Environment Science and Climate Resilient Agriculture, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
*Corresponding author
Abstract:

Anthropogenic activities have been the main cause of perceived global warming later in the middle of 20th century. Tillage intensive and highly mechanized traditional agriculture production system has been identified responsible for soil erosion hazards, surface and groundwater pollution, and more water consumption. As a result, the agricultural production system is becoming unsustainable. To achieve the food security of an ever growing population and alleviate poverty besides maintaining agricultural sustainability in the existing situation of degrading natural resources, undesirable effects of climatic inconsistency, rising price of inputs and unstable market prices of food, most of the Asian countries have to face these major challenges. As a result, a drastic change in agricultural practices is required for achieving desirable productivity while nourishing the natural resources. In this situation, to address the sustainability of agriculture globally, the concept of Conservation agriculture (CA) evolved. CA system is very effective natural physical protection against weather (rainfall, wind, dry or wet periods) and improving soil physical health like reducing bulk density (BD) and penetration resistance (PR), increasing hydraulic conductivity and infiltration rate. CA adaptation can improve soil aggregation and soil organic carbon storage. Retention of crop residue on soil surface can moderate soil hydrothermal regimes. With the adoption of CA, environment becomes more healthy and sustainable through maintaining of environmental integrity and services for wider community because of reduced fossil fuels use, less pesticides, and other chemicals consumption. It guards surface and ground water from pollution and similarly alleviates negative climate change effects. Henceforth, CA offers outstanding soil fertility and as well reduces money, time and fossil-fuel consumption. CA system is an effective substitute to conventional agriculture, reducing its disadvantages.


Keywords: Conservation agriculture, Zero tillage, Hydrothermal regimes, Climate change, Conventional tillage

Download this article as Download

How to cite this article:

Vikas Rai, Pragati Pramanik, Pramila Aggarwal, Prameela Krishnan and Ranjan Bhattacharyya. 2018. Effect of Conservation Agriculture on Soil Physical Health.Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci. 7(2): 373-389. doi: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.702.049
Copyright: This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.

Citations