title: Agronomic improvements can make future cereal systems in South Asia far more productive and result in a lower environmental footprint.
abstract: South Asian countries will have to double their food production by 2050 while using resources more efficiently and minimizing environmental problems. Transformative management approaches and technology solutions will be required in the major grain-producing areas that provide the basis for future food and nutrition security. This study was conducted in four locations representing major food production systems of densely populated regions of South Asia. Novel production-scale research platforms were established to assess and optimize three futuristic cropping systems and management scenarios (S2, S3, S4) in comparison with current management (S1). With best agronomic management practices (BMPs), including conservation agriculture (CA) and cropping system diversification, the productivity of rice- and wheat-based cropping systems of South Asia increased substantially, whereas the global warming potential intensity (GWPi) decreased. Positive economic returns and less use of water, labor, nitrogen, and fossil fuel energy per unit food produced were achieved. In comparison with S1, S4, in which BMPs, CA and crop diversification were implemented in the most integrated manner, achieved 54% higher grain energy yield with a 104% increase in economic returns, 35% lower total water input, and a 43% lower GWPi. Conservation agriculture practices were most suitable for intensifying as well as diversifying wheat-rice rotations, but less so for rice-rice systems. This finding also highlights the need for characterizing areas suitable for CA and subsequent technology targeting. A comprehensive baseline dataset generated in this study will allow the prediction of extending benefits to a larger scale.
authors.affiliation: IRRI (International Rice Research Institute), 1st Floor, CG Block, NASC Complex, DPS Marg, Pusa, New Delhi, 110 012, India.
authors.forename: Jagdish Kumar
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ladha
authors.affiliation: IRRI (International Rice Research Institute), 1st Floor, CG Block, NASC Complex, DPS Marg, Pusa, New Delhi, 110 012, India.
authors.forename: Adusumilli Narayana
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: IRRI (International Rice Research Institute), 1st Floor, CG Block, NASC Complex, DPS Marg, Pusa, New Delhi, 110 012, India.
authors.forename: Anitha K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Raman
authors.affiliation: IRRI, DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila 1301, Philippines.
authors.forename: Agnes Tirol
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Padre
authors.affiliation: Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dobermann
authors.affiliation: CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center), Dhaka Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mahesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gathala
authors.affiliation: IRRI, DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila 1301, Philippines.
authors.forename: Virender
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110 012, India.
authors.forename: Yashpal
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saharawat
authors.affiliation: IRRI (International Rice Research Institute), 1st Floor, CG Block, NASC Complex, DPS Marg, Pusa, New Delhi, 110 012, India.
authors.forename: Sheetal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Unit, Universitaet Hohenheim, 70593, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Piepho
authors.affiliation: IRRI, Bangladesh Office, House-9, Road 2/2, Banani, Dhaka, 1213, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md Mursedul
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.affiliation: Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar, 848 125, India.
authors.forename: Ranjan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liak
authors.affiliation: Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai, Thanjavur 612 101, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Ramasamy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajendran
authors.affiliation: IRRI (International Rice Research Institute), 1st Floor, CG Block, NASC Complex, DPS Marg, Pusa, New Delhi, 110 012, India.
authors.forename: Chinnagangannagari Kesava
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Indian Agriculture Statistical Research Institute, Library Avenue, Pusa, New Delhi, 110 012, India.
authors.forename: Rajender
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parsad
authors.affiliation: Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Zarifa Farm, Kachhwa Road, Karnal, 132 001, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Parbodh C
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5783-7480
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: ICAR Parisar, P.O. Bihar Veterinary College, ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna, 800 014, Bihar, India.
authors.forename: Sati Shankar
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur, 1701, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Abhijit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.affiliation: Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, 1701, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Shamsoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noor
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000639:trends*; D001459:Bangladesh; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000254:growth & development*; D005523:Food Supply; D007194:India
keywords: South Asia; best management practices; cereal productivity; cereals systems; conservation agriculture; crop diversification; global warming potential; rice-based cropping system