Rice-wheat cropping systems in South Asia: issues, options and opportunities

Options for improving the yield and sustainability of the rice-wheat cropping system include the use of resource-conservation technologies such as no-till wheat, laser-assisted land levelling, and direct-seeded aerobic rice. Other useful strategies include seed priming, carbon trading and payment, the inclusion of legumes, and eco-friendly and biological methods of weed control. The persistent issue of burning crop residues could be resolved by incorporating these residues into biogas/ethanol and biochar production.