Good Agricultural Practices and Carbon Sequestration

Conservation agriculture (CA) technologies include minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover through crop residues or cover crops, and crop rotations for achieving higher productivity. Intensive agriculture and excessive use of external inputs have led to degradation of soil, water, and genetic resources, widespread soil erosion, nutrient mining, depleting water table, eroding biodiversity, high energy requirements, reduction in availability of protective foods, air and groundwater pollution, and stagnating farm incomes. To overcome this, CA is recognized as a potential tool. CA systems demand a total paradigm shift from conventional agriculture with regard to management of crops, soil, water, nutrients, weeds, and farm machinery. Reduction in cost of production, saving in water and nutrients, increased yields, more carbon sequestration, environmental benefits, crop diversification, and resource improvement are few prospects and opportunities lying with CA technologies. Laser land leveling, conservation tillage, direct-seeded rice, Sesbania brown manuring, residue management, integrated nutrient management, agroforestry, and use of biochar are important management practices for improving the carbon sequestration. There is need of developing policy frameworks and strategies for promotion of CA in the region. This article reviews the emerging concerns due to continuous adoption of conventional agriculture systems and analyzes the constraints, prospects, policy issues, and research needs for conservation agriculture and carbon sequestration.