Combating Climate Change through Improved Agronomic Practices and Input-Use Efficiency

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to discuss impact of climate change on nutrient-use efficiency, and dimensions of and strategies to improve nutrient-use efficiency. This article specifically covers site-specific nutrient management to improve nutrient-use efficiency and agronomic strategies to improve nitrogen-use and phosphorus-use efficiency. Plant-based strategies as well as agronomic strategies to improve phosphorus-use efficiency and nitrogen-use efficiency are also discussed. It is suggested that the development of nutrient-use efficient crops using conventional and novel plant breeding methods will bring about improvements in the short to medium term. However, in the long term, improved efficiency alone may not ensure food security. Whole-system changes are needed to develop new products or to relocate land-use activities to different areas as new agro-ecological zones develop as a result of climate change. Productivity growth in agriculture is the key strategy to preserve food security, without expanding production areas. The 4Rs of nutrient stewardship, i.e., balanced nutrition with the Right product at the Right rate in the Right place and at the Right time, must be adopted to enhance nutrient-use efficiency and combat climate change.

KEYWORDS:

• agronomic efficiency
• capture efficiency
• carbon dioxide
• food security
• greenhouse gases
• nitrogen-use efficiency
• nitrous oxide
• nutrient-use efficiency
• phosphorus-use efficiency

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author thanks the Crop Improvement Society of India, Ludhiana, India, for its support and encouragement to visit Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India, and speak at the Preparing Agriculture for Climate Change conference.