The Happy Seeder enables direct drilling of wheat into rice stubble
TL;DR: The Happy Seeder as discussed by the authors combines the stubble mulching and seed drilling functions in the one machine, which reduces air pollution and loss of nutrients and organic carbon due to burning, at the same time as maintaining or increasing yield.
Abstract: Lack of suitable machinery is a major constraint to direct drilling into combine-harvested rice residues due to the heavy straw load, and the presence of loose tough straw deposited by the harvester. Therefore, most rice stubbles are burnt in the mechanised rice–wheat systems of south Asia and Australia, as this is a rapid and cheap option, and allows for quick turn around between crops. As well as loss of organic matter and nutrients, rice stubble burning causes very serious and widespread air pollution in the north-west Indo-Gangetic Plains, where rice–wheat systems predominate. A novel approach with much promise is the Happy Seeder, which combines the stubble mulching and seed drilling functions in the one machine. The stubble is cut and picked up in front of the sowing tynes, which engage bare soil, and deposited behind the seed drill as mulch. Evaluation of the technology over 3 years in replicated experiments and farmers’ fields in Punjab, India, showed that establishment of wheat sown into rice residues with the Happy Seeder was comparable with establishment using conventional methods (straw burnt followed by direct drilling or cultivation before sowing) for sowings around the optimum time into stubbles up to 7.5 t/ha. For late sowings, plant density declined significantly at straw loads above 5 t/ha. The mulch also reduced weed biomass by ~60%, and reduced soil evaporation. Yield of wheat sown around the optimum time into rice residues, using the Happy Seeder, was comparable with or higher than yield after straw removal or burning, in replicated experiments and farmers’ fields, for straw loads up to 9 t/ha. In farmers’ fields there was an average yield increase of 9 and 11% in 2004–05 and 2005–06, respectively, compared with farmer practice. For sowings after the optimum time, yield declined significantly at straw loads greater than 7.5 t/ha. The Happy Seeder offers the means of drilling wheat into rice stubble without burning, eliminating air pollution and loss of nutrients and organic carbon due to burning, at the same time as maintaining or increasing yield.
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors synthesize the experience with zero-tillage (ZT) wheat after rice in the Indian IGP and show that ZT wheat is particularly appropriate for rice-wheat systems in the IGP by alleviating system constraints by allowing earlier wheat planting, helping control the weed Phalaris minor, reducing production costs and saving water.
Abstract: To date, the most widely adopted resource conserving technology in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of South Asia has been zero-tillage (ZT) wheat after rice, particularly in India. The paper reviews and synthesizes the experience with ZT in the Indian IGP. ZT wheat is particularly appropriate for rice–wheat systems in the IGP by alleviating system constraints by allowing earlier wheat planting, helping control the weed Phalaris minor , reducing production costs and saving water. ZT wheat after rice generates substantial benefits at the farm level (US$97 ha −1 ) through the combination of a ‘yield effect’ (a 5–7% yield increase, particularly due to more timely planting of wheat) and a ‘cost savings effect’ (US$52 ha −1 , particularly tillage savings). These benefits explain the widespread interest of farmers and the rapidity of the diffusion across the Indian IGP, further aided by the wide applicability of this mechanical innovation.
346 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a review of the rice-wheat cropping system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains is presented, where the authors discuss different concerns and possible strategies needed to sustain the system.
Abstract: Rice and wheat are the staple foods for almost the entire Asian population and therefore they occupy a premium position among all food commodities. The era of the Green Revolution started during the early 1970s with wheat and rice and since then the rice–wheat cropping system of the Indo-Gangetic Plains has played a significant role in the food security of the region. However, recent years have witnessed a significant slowdown in the yield growth rate of this system and the sustainability of this important cropping system is at risk due to second-generation technology problems and mounting pressure on natural resources. Traditional cultivars and conventional agronomic practices are no longer able to even maintain the gains in productivity achieved during the past few decades. Demand for food is increasing with the increasing population and purchasing power of consumers. The rice–wheat cropping system is labor-, water-, and energy-intensive and it becomes less profitable as these resources become increasingly scarce and the problem is aggravated with deterioration of soil health, the emergence of new weeds, and emerging challenges of climate change. Therefore, a paradigm shift is required for enhancing the system's productivity and sustainability. Resource-conserving technologies involving zero- or minimum-tillage in wheat, dry direct seeding in rice, improved water- and nutrient-use efficiency, innovations in residue management to avoid straw burning, and crop diversification should assist in achieving sustainable productivity and allow farmers to reduce inputs, maximize yields, increase profitability, conserve the natural resource base, and reduce risk due to both environmental and economic factors. A number of technological innovation and diversification options have been suggested to overcome the system's sustainability problems but some of them have not been fully embraced by the farmers as these are expensive, knowledge-intensive, or do not fit into the system and have resulted in some other unforeseen problems. Different concerns and possible strategies needed to sustain the rice–wheat cropping system are discussed in this review on the basis of existing evidence and future challenges.
303 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the impact of different technologies on the productivity of the rice-wheat (RW) system in north-west India and found that the best technologies for achieving this are delaying rice transplanting and short duration rice varieties.
Abstract: Increasing the productivity of the rice–wheat (RW) system in north-west India is critical for the food security of India. However, yields are stagnating or declining, and the rate of groundwater use is not sustainable.
Many improved technologies are under development for RW systems, with multiple objectives including increased production, improved soil fertility, greater input use efficiency, reduced environmental pollution, and higher profitability for farmers. There are large reductions in irrigation amount with many of these technologies compared with conventional practice, such as laser land leveling, alternate wetting and drying (AWD) water management in rice, delayed rice transplanting, shorter duration rice varieties, zero till wheat, raised beds, and replacing rice with other crops. However, the nature of the irrigation water savings has seldom been determined. It is often likely to be due to reduced deep drainage, with little effect on evapotranspiration (ET).
Reducing deep drainage has major benefits, including reduced energy consumption to pump groundwater, nutrient loss by leaching, and groundwater pollution. The impacts of alternative technologies on deep drainage (and thus on irrigation water savings) vary greatly depending on site conditions, especially soil permeability, depth to the watertable, and water management. More than 90% of the major RW areas in north-west India are irrigated using groundwater. Here, reducing deep drainage will not “save water” nor reduce the rate of decline of the watertable. In these regions, it is critical that technologies that decrease ET and increase the amount of crop produced per amount of water lost as ET (i.e., crop water productivity, WPET) are implemented. The best technologies for achieving this are delaying rice transplanting and short duration rice varieties. The potential for replacing rice with other crops with lower ET is less clear.
270 citations
Cites background or methods from "The Happy Seeder enables direct dri..."
...In an attempt to solve the various problems of RW systems in the IndoGangetic Plain (IGP), many improved technologies referred to as “Resource Conserving Technologies” (RCTs) and “Integrated Crop and Resource Management” (ICRM) have been developed over the past couple of decades (Chauhan et al., 2001; Gupta and Seth, 2006; Ladha et al., 2009; RWC-CIMMYT, 2003; Sharma et al., 2005; Sidhu et al., 2007)....
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...Several experiments in Punjab and Nepal show that rice mulch significantly reduces the rate of soil drying and delays the need for irrigation of wheat (Balwinder Singh et al., 2010a; Rahman et al., 2005; Sidhu et al., 2007; Yadvinder-Singh et al., 2008b)....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors evaluated the performance of four cropping system scenarios (treatments), which were designed to be adapted to current and future drivers of agricultural changes, and concluded that adopting the principles of conservation agriculture together with best management practices would improve system productivity and overall efficiency.
238 citations
Cites methods from "The Happy Seeder enables direct dri..."
...…conventionally tilled soil in scenario 1, whereas, in all other scenarios, the wheat was sown using a Turbo Happy Seeder, a zero-till seed-cum-fertilizer drill that can place both seeds and fertilizer in the soil in the presence of heavy loose and anchored crop residues (Sidhu et al., 2007, 2008)....
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluate for rice-based cropping systems existing and emerging in-field alternatives to burning residues based on criteria of productivity, profitability, environmental impact, and sustainability.
Abstract: Intensification of rice-based cropping systems in Asia has substantially increased production of food and associated crop residues. The interval between crops in these systems is often brief, making it attractive for farmers to burn residues in the field to hasten and facilitate tillage for the next crop. Open-air burning causes serious air quality problems affecting human health and safety, and it has been banned by many Asian governments. In this chapter, we evaluate for rice-based cropping systems existing and emerging in-field alternatives to burning residues based on criteria of productivity, profitability, environmental impact, and sustainability. In intensive rice monocropping systems, residue is typically managed under conditions of soil flooding and anaerobic decomposition during the rice crop. In systems, where rice is rotated with an upland (non-flooded) crop, there are two major categories: residue of upland crop managed during flooded rice and rice residue managed during the upland crop. One option during the flooded rice crop is incorporation of residues from the previous rice or upland crop into the soil. Many studies have examined incorporation of crop residue during land preparation for flooded rice. In the vast majority of cases there was no significant increase in yield or profit. Residue decomposition in anaerobic flooded soil substantially increases methane (CH 4 ) emission relative to residue removal. Surface retention of residue during rice cropping is challenging to implement because residue must be removed from the field during conventional tillage with soil flooding (i.e., puddling) and then returned. Alternatively, rice must be established without the traditional puddling that has helped sustain its productivity. Mulch is a good option for rice residue management during the upland crop, especially with reduced and no tillage. Mulch can increase yield, water use efficiency, and profitability, while decreasing weed pressure. It can slightly increase nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emission compared with residue incorporation or removal, but N fertilization and water management are typically more important factors controlling N 2 O emission than residue management. Long-term studies of residue removal have indicated that removing residue from continuous rice systems with near continuous soil flooding does not adversely affect soil organic matter (SOM). The use of crop residue as a mulch with reduced or no tillage for upland crops should be promoted in rice-based cropping systems. On the contrary, residues from the crop preceding rice on puddled and flooded soil can be considered for removal for off-field uses.
234 citations
References
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TL;DR: In this paper, a review establishes realistic yield targets and discusses strategies and tactics to improve complementarity of the two crops by choice of cultivar, sowing time, mechanization, soil and water management, choice and combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers, management of weeds, pests and diseases, and the inclusion of other crops into the system, especially legumes.
781 citations
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...Consequently, the area of zero till wheat in the IGP has expanded exponentially since the late 1990s, increasing to 1.1 Mha in 2003/4 (RWC 2004)....
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...Rice-wheat (RW) is the major cropping system of the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of South Asia, where it is grown on about 14 Mha (Timsina and Connor 2001)....
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...Rice–wheat is the major cropping system of the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of south Asia, where it is grown on ∼14Mha (Timsina and Connor 2001)....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the intelligent management and utilization of crop residues is essential for the improvement of soil quality and crop productivity under rice-based cropping systems of the tropics, where the major issue is adapting drills to sow into loose residues.
Abstract: Publisher Summary Crop residues, usually considered a problem, when managed correctly can improve soil organic matter dynamics and nutrient cycling, thereby creating a rather favorable environment for plant growth. The intelligent management and utilization of crop residues is essential for the improvement of soil quality and crop productivity under rice-based cropping systems of the tropics. Viable option is to retain residue in the field; burning should be avoided. The major issue is adapting drills to sow into loose residues. Strategies include chopping and spreading of straw during or after combining or the use of disc-type trash drills. Residues rich in lignin and polyphenol contents experience the lowest decay. Decomposition of crop residues occurs at a rapid rate—about 80% of crop residue C is lost in the first year—under the warm and humid conditions of the tropics. Factors that control C decomposition also affect the N mineralization from the crop residues. Decomposition of poor-quality residues with low N contents, high C:N ratios, and high lignin and polyphenol contents generally results in microbial immobilization of soil and fertilizer N. Nutrient cycling in the soil–plant ecosystem is an essential component of sustainable productive agricultural enterprise. Although during the last three decades, fertilization practices have played a dominant role in the rice-based cropping systems, crop residues—the harvest remnants of the previous crop still play an essential role in the cycling of nutrients. Incorporation of crop residues alters the soil environment that in turn influences the microbial population and activity in the soil and subsequent nutrient transformations.
419 citations
Additional excerpts
...Retention of residues is also beneficial for soil chemical, physical and biological properties, and helps retain nutrients that would otherwise be lost to the atmosphere during burning, particularly nitrogen and sulphur (Yadvinder-Singh et al. 2005)....
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...Allelopathy may also be a problem in some situations (Yadvinder-Singh et al. 2005)....
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TL;DR: Crop residue mulching (CRM) is a dual-purpose technology that combines conservation and productivity effects as mentioned in this paper, whereby at the time of crop emergence at least 30% of the soil surface is covered by organic residue of the previous crop.
Abstract: Crop residue mulching (CRM) can be defined as a technology whereby at the time of crop emergence at least 30% of the soil surface is covered by organic residue of the previous crop. The present study proposes CRM as the most adequate term for the technology in view of the substantial controversy and confusion surrounding existing terms, particularly conservation tillage. CRM is a dual-purpose technology that combines conservation and productivity effects. Its conservation potential hinges on the presence of the crop residues as mulch. This mulch provides a protective layer to the soil surface that is extremely effective in halting soil erosion and also amends the soil ecology. Its productivity potential is twofold. First, the mulch tends to stabilise, and occasionally even enhance, crop yield. Second, it implies factor substitution and input use efficiency alterations. The paper presents the residue balance as an analytical tool to assess the current availability of residues—both in terms of current residue production and current residue destinations. Residue destinations typically include extraction, burning in situ, incorporation, weathering and retention as mulch. CRM has profound implications for crop management. First, CRM implies a set of necessary practices so as to ensure the retention of sufficient residues as mulch. Second, CRM may imply complementary adaptations in order to be able to grow a crop and/or maintain productivity levels. Therefore, CRM is not a simple add-on technology, but instead a complete package of cultural practices. The actual potential of the CRM technology depends on a comprehensive assessment of the socio-economic implications of the implied changes. This potential is site-specific and will diverge between the private and social viewpoint. CRM therefore is a promising dual-purpose technology—but no panacea for soil conservation in (semi-)tropical countries.
342 citations
Additional excerpts
...The effect of mulching on grain yield depends on the extent to which mulching affects biophysical conditions and their effects on crop performance (Erenstein 2002)....
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TL;DR: In this article, the relation between conservation tillage and sustainable agriculture is discussed and appropriate conservation-tillage systems for different soils, crops, and agroecological region are identified.
Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the relation between conservation tillage and sustainable agriculture, and identifies appropriate conservation tillage systems for different soils, crops, and agroecological region. Conservation tillage is a generic term encompassing many different soil management practices. It is generally defined as any tillage system that reduces loss of soil or water relative to conventional tillage and often a form of noninversion tillage that retains protective amounts of residue mulch on the surface. Timing of tillage operations can also be adjusted to facilitate operations during the periods of peak labor demand. The latter includes practices such as plowing at the end of rains in the tropics and fall plowing followed by spring disking in temperate zone. A no-till system has proved effective for soil and water conservation and for production of pastures and grain crops on Alfisols prone to crusting and accelerated erosion in Northern Territory, Australia. There are subtle differences in tropical vis-a-vis temperate regions that must be considered when assessing the applicability of the no-till system. It is found that for soils prone to crusting and hard-setting, shallow tillage without inversion and with the crop residue retained on the surface as mulch is the most appropriate conservation tillage.
316 citations
Additional excerpts
...of soil evaporation (Lal 1989)....
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...The suppression of maximum temperature by mulching can be an advantage where soil temperature rises above the optimum for germination and growth, and a disadvantage where temperature is lowered below the optimum (Lal 1989)....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the photothermal quotient (PTQ) and temperature were used to determine optimum heading dates and therefore, therefore, sowing dates for different spring wheat cultivars.
239 citations
Additional excerpts
...High temperature before anthesis combined with low radiation before anthesis (reduces the number of grains/m2), and high temperature during the grain-filling period (reduces grain weight), are currently major limitations to wheat yield in Punjab (Ortiz-Monasterio et al. 1994)....
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...5% per day (Ortiz-Monasterio et al. 1994; Aslam et al. 1993)....
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...A similar trendwas not observed in the farmers’ fields, probably because all crops were sown before or around the critical date of 5 November (Ortiz-Monasterio et al. 1994)....
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