Abstract

Agronomic and Crop improvement strategies for Mitigation to Climate Change

Magan Singh, Principal Scientist, NDRI, Karnal

Inter Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) refers to any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as result of human activity. In present times increased pace of climate change due to inadvertent anthropogenic disturbances increased concentration of green house gases (GHGs) viz. carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) in atmosphere. These changes may culminate in adverse impact on human health and the biosphere. The multi facetated interactions among the humans, microbes and the rest of the biosphere are causing global warming across the globe along with others cascading consequences in the form of delay in onset of monsoons, shift in rainfall pattern and intensity, melting of ice, rise in sea level etc. Recent observations noticed in increased in temperature, hot days, hot nights and heat waves, increasing frequency of heavy precipitation etc. events are due to climate change. Indian agriculture is highly prone to the risks due to climate change. The Crop management, development of resource conserving technology, diversified farming, enhancing N use efficiency, and crop improvements etc. strategies could be the driving force for mitigation to climate change.