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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, IndiaNetafim India launches a portable drip kitNetafim India has launched a portable drip irrigation kit for fields of 4,500 square metres, aiming to irrigate 10,000 hectares and reach 25,000 farmers in the coming year.
- Soil, water & climate, IndiaA climate-friendly diet for India and the world?A WWF report says plant-based diets could reduce biodiversity loss, but warns that a drastic change in Indian food habits could cause more loss if land is cleared for large-scale farming.
- Soil, water & climate, MaharashtraFarmers in Maharashtra prefer cheap, low-quality drip irrigation sets to subsidised high-quality onesA Pennsylvania State University study in Ahmednagar district found farmers choose cheaper, unsubsidised drip irrigation sets because subsidies for high-quality systems need full upfront payment and arrive late.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalThe impact of climate change on agriculture, and how farmers can adapt to changing weather patternsRising temperatures, shifting rainfall, sea level rise and extreme weather threaten crops and livestock; farmers can adapt through crop diversity, soil care, irrigation and resilient varieties.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalThe benefits of agroforestry, and how to incorporate trees into your farming operationExplains the benefits of agroforestry, from soil conservation and carbon storage to biodiversity and yields, and how to choose, plant and manage trees alongside crops or livestock.
- Soil, water & climate, Goa900 farmers to be trained in green farming techniquesUnder the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, 900 farmers from Goa's Salcete and Mormugao talukas have been grouped into 40 clusters to learn organic farming.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalThe use of renewable energy in agricultureExplains why farmers are adopting solar, wind and biogas energy, the cost, environmental and energy security benefits, and barriers such as upfront cost and rural infrastructure.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalThe benefits of crop rotation, and how to implement it on your farmExplains how crop rotation improves soil fertility and structure and controls pests, diseases and weeds, how to plan a rotation, which crops suit it and the challenges involved.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalPrecision nutrient management and soil healthPrecision nutrient management uses soil mapping, sensors, remote sensing and precision applicators to put fertiliser where crops need it, cutting costs, leaching and emissions.
- Soil, water & climate, HaryanaRain and hailstorm destroyed crops on an area of 35K hectares in Jhajjar districtRain and hail destroyed standing wheat and mustard in 130 villages of Jhajjar district, with the agriculture department assessing losses on 35,904 hectares.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalClimate-smart agriculture and sustainable land useClimate-smart agriculture combines practices such as agroforestry and conservation agriculture with precision and digital tools to raise productivity, build resilience and cut emissions.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalHow farmers use technology to save waterFarmers are using satellite imagery, soil moisture sensors, drip irrigation and weather forecasts to cut water use, though sensors and subscriptions add maintenance and fee costs.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalEver imagined a day without water?Water pollution from industry, festivals and household use is worsening scarcity, and rainwater harvesting from rooftops can help restore groundwater and reduce runoff and erosion.
- Soil, water & climate, Himachal PradeshOrganic farming attracts Himachal fruit growersFruit growers in Himachal Pradesh are switching to natural farming under the state's PK3Y scheme, citing lower input costs and prices of up to Rs 100 a kg for chemical-free fruit.
- Soil, water & climate, Tamil Nadu1,000 farmers to file nominations for Tamil Nadu’s Kangeyam seatFarmers demanding water from the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project planned to file 1,000 nominations for the Kangeyam seat in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
- Soil, water & climate, IndiaMicro irrigation system in IndiaMicro-irrigation cuts water use sharply compared with flood irrigation, but India has about nine million of a potential 70 million hectares under it, with cost a key barrier.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalAgricultural waste management and compostingExplains where agricultural waste comes from, how composting turns manure, crop residues and food waste into a soil amendment, and what it offers farms.
- Soil, water & climate, IndiaSubsistence farming: a threat to Indian agricultureSubsistence farming, common across India, relies on rain, simple tools and small plots, leaving small farmers and labourers exposed to crop failure and climate change.
- Soil, water & climate, DelhiDelhi air quality worsens after farmers burn stubbleDelhi's air quality fell into the 'very poor' category with an AQI of 312, while stubble fire counts in neighbouring states exceeded those of the previous two years.