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Saving water and rejuvinating soil in rice-wheat cropping sequence: GS Fred Model

The Issue

Ever since the green revolution of 1960’s, rice-wheat cropping rotation became highly popular with the farmers of north-west India.  These crops made country self sufficient in food grains production and exports increased over the years.   During last five decades, the eco-friendly crops of the region like cotton, maize, millets, pulses and oilseeds etc. were replaced with rice and wheat.  At present, nearly 90% area in Punjab and Haryana is occupied by this cereal rotation.  Continuous cultivation of rice and wheat over long period resulted in drawdown of ground water, deterioration in soil health, loss of biodiversity, issues of environmental concern associated with large scale burning of residues of these crops.  Lot of emphasis by the centre and state governments and research and policy experts to diversity from rice-wheat to maize, soybean, cotton, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables and fruits did not succeed.   Rice-wheat cropping sequence is the first choice with the farmers even today.

GSFRED INITIATIVE

After the establishment of GS Foundation for Research, Education and Development (GSFRED) near Karnal in 2017, several experiments and demonstrations were laid-out focusing on the concept of making rice-wheat system sustainable and eco-friendly.   Three years results clearly indicated that desired reduction in water use, improvement in soil health, regeneration of biodiversity and in-situ use of crop residues is possible through agronomic manipulations. 

The innovative Technology package developed at the centre is summarized below:

Sowing of wheat on raised bunds and placing harvested rice residue in furrows, saves water by 20 – 30%, controls Mandusi (Phalaris minor) and other weeds, conserves excess rain water in-situ, ensures minimum adverse impact on wheat due to submergence and lodging and better microclimate for soil microbes to flourish. Wheat planted on ridges gives almost same and even more yield than sown on flat surface and escapes lodging.
Growth of wheat crop on raised bunds and furrows filled with rice residue.
After harvest of wheat manually or by combine, short duration moong (green gram) is sown on the same bunds without cultivation. The moong crop gives 3-5 q/ acre yield and enriches the soil with nitrogen and other nutrients. The left over rice residue from the previous season is again added in furrows to save water, control weeds and to provide congenial microclimate to improve physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil.
Stand of green gram crop variety SML 832 sown on undisturbed bunds
Before rice cultivation, the field is ploughed to incorporate left over residue present in furrows. The rice crop can be sown direct seeded or transplanted without puddeling. Alternately, rice can also be planted on the same bunds without disturbance of the soil. Short duration varieties of rice like PB1509, PR126, PB1692, PB7 etc. should be transplanted between 15 to 30 July. This practice will result in saving of water by about 20-30 percent. About 85% small and marginal farmers in the region may not need heavy costly machinery for residue management at their small holdings. The rice residue management in this way will save water and improve soil health. A part of the subsidy provided to farmers for purchas e of heavy machinery to manage rice residue can be diverted to promote this conservation agriculture practice.
Large number of research managers, policy experts, scientists, farmers and civil society representatives visited these experiments and demonstrations during last three years. Several farmers in the area have started following this innovation to increase their income, save ground water and to rejuvenate their nutrient depleted soil.

Conclusion

The state governments of Punjab and Haryana may consider giving incentives to the farmers to promote this innovation as a package to save water and to improve soil health.
The research organizations in the region should concentrate to develop only short duration varieties of paddy like PR126, PB1509, PB1692 etc. (Seed to seed 110 to 120 days).
Full proof Mechanism of MSP, Procurement, Marketing, Value addition and Trade must be ensured for these varieties.

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