Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
a variety of causes is leading to the loss of valuable genetic
material. Every effort should be made to establish specialised
genetic resource centres for collecting and conserving species
and genotypes with the desirable genes. These centres will
identify and maintain candidate genes for use in recombinant
DNA experiment.
Tools of molecular biology and recombinant DNA tech-
niques make transfer of genes across sexual barriers possible.
For example, the 'elongation' gene from rice, which enables it
to grow to the needed height for remaining above flood water
levels, can transfer to other crops. To achieve such goals, it will
be necessary to establish a Genetic Enhance Centre consist-
ing of an expert in molecular biology and genetic engineering.
This will be of immense help to the breeding of crop varieties
possessing greater tolerance to drought, floods and seawater
intrusions.
The large area under wastelands in our country could be
gainfully employed for sequestration of GHGs by taking up
large-scale plantation. The emissions of CH
4
and N
2
O from
paddy fields could be brought down by intermittent flooding
(aerobic condition) of fields (with no yield reduction) instead
of continued submergence. The methane production from rice
fields in our country may not be as high as projected by some
other countries, as our paddy fields generally have lower levels
of carbon and are predominantly rain fed. The nitrate toxic-
ity in ground water increased due to more use of N fertilisers.
The environment-friendly integrated nutrient management, inte-
grated pest management and certain other ameliorative/man-
agement practices should be adopted as a long-term strategy for
keeping our natural resources free of toxins. Replacement of
crop residue burning with
in situ
(incorporation) or
ex situ
man-
agement is called upon to minimise production of GHGs and
climate change. In twenty-first-century agriculture, at least four
technological developments or trends have already begun and
are likely to intensify in the future: agricultural biotechnology,
conservation tillage, organic farming and precision farming.
These technologies have the potential or proven role in increas-
ing soil carbon sequestration and thereby soil carbon storage to
mitigate global warming and climate change.
15.14
Conclusion
Anthropogenic GHG emissions and climate change have a
number of implications for agricultural productivity, but the
