Measuring the impact of sustainable agricultural practices on greenhouse gas emissions in India

Measuring the impact of sustainable agricultural practices on greenhouse gas emissions in India

This blog cross-posted from the Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR), outlines what CIAT is doing with partners, to assess the impact of various soil conservation practices on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from agricultural soils in India.

It outlines India’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint, with the ratification of the Paris Climate Change Agreement on 2nd of October 2016. While per capita emissions are only 1/3rd of the global average (WRI, 2014), India is the fourth largest Greenhouse gas emitter in the world.

The work investigates how agricultural practices could potentially lead to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, and highlights the pressing need for research allowing us to quantify greenhouse gas emissions of ongoing agricultural practices, to better understand their impacts.

Our study area is located in Bhalwani village, near Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. Green gram – a popular crop in the area – was selected for the GHG emission study. Various fertilizer and seed treatment practices were assessed, and their GHG emission measured on a total of 30 plots. The trails are also raising awareness among farmers in the area, about how their management practices can influence GHG emissions: For more information, read the blog here.