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Soil, water & climate
Monsoon and weather outlooks, water and irrigation, soil health and agriculture’s emissions and adaptation.
From the archive
Reporting from earlier editions of The Agrotech Daily. Figures, prices and policies may have changed since.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalImpact of soil erosion on agricultureExplains how water, wind, deforestation and grazing erode farmland, how erosion cuts productivity, and why permanent ground cover and crop residue help control it.
- Soil, water & climate, TelanganaFrom waste to wealth: the story of Hyderabad’s Bowenpally marketHyderabad's Bowenpally vegetable market turns about 10 tonnes of daily waste into biogas and electricity that powers its street lights, shops and a cold storage unit.
- Soil, water & climate, KeralaWild animals and Adivasis to lose their homes for the Anakkayam small hydroelectric project in KeralaThe Anakkayam hydro project would clear 20 acres of dense forest in Kerala's Vazhachal division, and critics say it lacks tribal consent, raises landslide risk and is economically unviable.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalSolar-powered irrigation systems: an asset for the futureSolar-powered irrigation systems use photovoltaic panels to run water pumps, giving off-grid farms energy independence, dry-season water and the chance to grow and sell more.
- Soil, water & climate, Global7 amazing facts about sustainable farmingAnswers common questions on sustainable agriculture, from its environmental benefits and costs to why it is not yet the global standard and how consumers can eat more sustainably.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalThe use of technology in improving soil health and fertilitySoil sensors, precision mapping, remote sensing, cover crops, crop rotation, composting, biochar, no-till and integrated pest management can improve soil health and fertility.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalGreen manures: nurturing soil health and agricultural sustainabilityGreen manures, cover crops grown and worked into the soil, add nitrogen and organic matter, prevent erosion, suppress weeds and can cut fertiliser and herbicide costs.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalThe future of organic and regenerative agricultureOrganic and regenerative farming rely on crop rotation, cover crops, compost, reduced tillage and livestock integration, but face hurdles of cost, scale, certification and market access.
- Soil, water & climate, KarnatakaDigital water management solutions in Koppal district of KarnatakaABB is supplying 635 digital flowmeters and pumping station controls for a multi-village drinking water scheme in Karnataka's drought-hit Koppal district, through L&T Construction.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalIs permaculture possible in an urban environment?Explains how permaculture principles can be scaled down for cities, the benefits and challenges, and examples from Baltimore and San Francisco.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalGlobal shortage of water for agricultureExplains how water scarcity, pollution from farming and aquaculture, and climate change are straining agricultural water supplies, citing an FAO and IWMI report.
- Soil, water & climate, PunjabAdditional irrigation needed as rising temperatures threaten wheat in PunjabPunjab's agriculture department has asked PSPCL to supply eight hours of power a day to farm tubewells until March 31, as high temperatures threaten to cut wheat yields by 3 to 5%.
- Soil, water & climate, Global4 ways to improve soils without boring fertilisersA gardener's guide to improving soil by adding organic matter and compost, using slow-release fertiliser sparingly, timing nutrients and avoiding humus-free soil mixes.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalClimate change posing a threat to 70 percent of global agricultureA UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction report says shifting rainfall patterns threaten the 70% of global agriculture that is rainfed, as climate-related disasters nearly doubled in two decades.
- Soil, water & climate, Global3 alternative crops to combat starvation amid global warmingQuinoa, sorghum and camelina are put forward as hardy, nutritious crops that can withstand drought and heat as global warming cuts yields.
- Soil, water & climate, West BengalBengal tea planters look forward to bumper ‘first flush’ leaves after heavy showersHeavy winter rain after months of dry weather has raised hopes among Bengal tea planters of a fourth straight bumper first flush crop in 2021, and cut their need for irrigation.
- Soil, water & climate, BiharMeteorology department expects heavy rainfall in south and central BiharThe Patna Meteorological Centre expects heavy rain in Patna and parts of south and central Bihar, after a monsoon season in which the state had 25 percent surplus rainfall.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalMillets: a sustainable choice for eco-conscious eatingSets out health claims made for millets such as sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet, and argues their low water needs and pest resistance make them a sustainable crop.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalClimate-smart agricultureExplains climate-smart agriculture, its three pillars of sustainable intensification, adaptation and mitigation, its main practices and the barriers to adopting it.