Crop Residues Management under Changing Climate Scenario

Abstract

Soil is the fundamental and necessary natural resource for the agricultural production system. Due to the increasing global population and the impact of climate changes, natural resources are the major limiting factor to use widely for food production. The major factors responsible for the deterioration of natural resources are extreme events caused by man-made activities and unexpected and unpredictable adverse natural forces of nature. Among the different degradation processes, soil erosion is one of the serious threatens to the deterioration of soil for the agricultural sector and healthy ecosystem conservation. Intensive agricultural practices are particularly caused by the acceleration of the soil erosion process. Therefore, the good and systematic management of soil resources is indispensable not only for sustainable agriculture or conservation agriculture but also for the protection and reduction of the natural ecosystem. Covering crop residues on soil enhances organic matter, protects the soil surfaces, maintains water and nutrients, improves soil biological activity and chemical composition, and contributes to pest management. Therefore, crop residue management is one of the conservation practices and is designed to leave sufficient residue on the soil surface to reduce wind and water erosion. It includes all field operations that affect the amount of residue, its an orientation to the soil surface and prevailing wind and rainfall patterns and the residue distribution throughout the period requiring protection. This paper especially highlights the status of soil erosion, crop residues, and management in crop residues in sustainable agriculture.