Need to Optimize Resources Use Efficiency for Sustainable Agriculture

摘要

I feel greatly honoured for the opportunity given to me by the Bhopal Chapter of the Indian Society of Soil Science to deliver Dr. T.D. Biswas memorial lecture. I pay my humble homage and tribute to late Dr. T.D. Biswas whose outstanding contributionsin the field of soil science are legendary. In the memory of this great scientist, I have selected the topic "Need to optimize resources use efficiency for sustainable agriculture" which is very relevant and close to the vision of Dr. Biswas. In recentyears, agricultural growth in India has accelerated remarkably, but most of this growth has been driven by increased yield per unit area rather than by expansion of the cultivated area. Looking towards the future, to meet the demand for food grain and tofeed an exponentially growing population on the available arable land, it is suggested that annual crop production should be increased at an optimum rate. In the present scenario, crop production will become more difficult with climate change, resourcescarcity (e.g. land, water and nutrients) and environmental degradation. To pursue the fastest and most practical route to improve the crop yields, the long-term strategy is the optimization of resource use efficiency at every level. This would lead to substantial improvement in crop production, which is currently suboptimal. The main component of this strategy is adaptation of best soil management practices and improved agronomical techniques to meet the challenge of sustainable agriculture.