Agricultural Innovation and Sustainable Development: A Case Study of Rice–Wheat Cropping Systems in South Asia

Abstract

The rice–wheat cropping system is the main food bowl in Asia, feeding billions across the globe. However, the productivity and long-term sustainability of this system are threatened by stagnant crop yields and greenhouse gas emissions from flooded rice production. The negative environmental consequences of excessive nitrogen fertilizer use are further exacerbating the situation, along with the high labor and water requirements of transplanted rice. Residue burning in rice has also severe environmental concerns. Under these circumstances, many farmers in South Asia have shifted from transplanted rice to direct-seeded rice and reported water and labor savings and reduced methane emissions. There is a need for opting the precision agriculture techniques for the sustainable management of nutrients. Allelopathic crops could be useful in the rotation for weed management, the major yield-reducing factor in direct-seeded rice. Legume incorporation might be a viable option for improving soil health. As governments in South Asia have imposed a strict ban on the burning of rice residues, the use of rice-specific harvesters might be a pragmatic option to manage rice residues with yield and premium advantage. However, the soil/climatic conditions and farmer socio-economic conditions must be considered while promoting these technologies in rice-wheat system in South Asia.

Analyzing Precision Agriculture Adoption across the Globe: A Systematic Review of Scholarship from 1999–2020

“…PA applies traditional farming practices with new technology, practices, and economic drivers to enhance sustainability in a dynamic balance [15]. Studies have reported positive outcomes from PA adoption, including economic savings in productivity factors [16], increasing yield and environmental sustainability [17], and improving food security and community economic vitality in developing regions [18]. The International Society for Precision Agriculture (ISPA) provides clarity and guidance on this important concept, to achieve the agricultural production quality, create production profits, and improve the efficiency of resource use and environmental sustainability [19].…”

Pathways and determinants of changing nutrient management in lowland rice-based systems of Southeast Asia

“…Thus, organic amendment and mineral fertilizer recommendations should be fine tuned and extrapolated to spatial domains with relatively uniform agro-ecological characteristics, cropping practices, and socioeconomic conditions (Dobermann et al 2003). Key challenges in rice-based systems of Southeast Asia are thus to achieve regional food security and to increase farm incomes using site-specific integrated crop and nutrient management techniques (Tsujimoto et al 2019), and to avoid nutrient imbalances in view of achieving a sustainable development (Ullah et al 2021).…”

Brown manuring and sorghum allelopathy affects weeds, soil health, and paddy yield

“…South Asian countries are considered the primary food bowl for rice ( Oryza sativa L.) and wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), feeding one‐fifth of the global population (Nawaz et al., 2019; Saharawat et al., 2010). However, the intensive cultivation practices have threatened the system sustainability because of deteriorating soil health (Nawaz et al., 2017, 2021; Ullah et al., 2021) and weed infestation (Singh et al., 2012). Indeed, conventional practices of growing rice and wheat cause changes in soil structure, destroy soil physicochemical properties, decrease soil microbial activities (Mondal et al., 2016; Nadeem et al., 2020; Nawaz et al., 2021; Ullah et al., 2021), and deplete soil nutrient pool, resulting in poor soil quality (Nawaz et al., 2019).…”

“…However, the intensive cultivation practices have threatened the system sustainability because of deteriorating soil health (Nawaz et al., 2017, 2021; Ullah et al., 2021) and weed infestation (Singh et al., 2012). Indeed, conventional practices of growing rice and wheat cause changes in soil structure, destroy soil physicochemical properties, decrease soil microbial activities (Mondal et al., 2016; Nadeem et al., 2020; Nawaz et al., 2021; Ullah et al., 2021), and deplete soil nutrient pool, resulting in poor soil quality (Nawaz et al., 2019). Conventional rice cultivation through flooding is also a major contributor to methane emission from the anaerobic decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) (Liu & Wu, 2004).…”