Jyoti Pawar’s scientific contributions

The agricultural scenario is changing rapidly. The pressure on the land is increasing day by day in order to feed a huge population. Agriculture systems are demanding new technologies that open the way towards sustainability in production and to our soil system. The use of biofertilizers is of utmost importance in agriculture because they not only increase the yield of various crops by improving their nutrient uptake, but they also helps in sustainable management of soil by having their role in nutrient transformation, increase in organic matter content, maintenance of pH due to release of various organic acids and so on. Chemical fertilizers directly increase the soil fertility by adding nutrients into the soil, whereas biofertilizers are helpful in nutrient uptake as their main function in soil is to either fix a nutrient on soil surface that is subjected to greater loss, or to solubilize a nutrient that is not available to plants because of fixation on the soil surface. They also serve as cost effective technology as they reduce the amount of inorganic fertilizers to be applied for crop production.

Water is the most crucial input for agricultural production. Vagaries of monsoon and declining water table due to over exploitation of water have resulted in shortage of fresh water supply for agricultural use, which calls for an efficient use of this precious resource. In the background of shrinking water resources and competition from other sectors, the share of water allocated to irrigation is likely to decrease by 10 to 15 per cent in the next two decades. Thus, producing more with less is the only option. One of the ways of alleviating water scarcity is by enhancing its use efficiency or productivity. Strategies for efficient management of water for agricultural use involves reduction in water losses in conveyance and distribution system through periodic maintenance, applying the right quantity at right time, participation of farmers in water management, right cultivation techniques and irrigation practices including increased use of water saving devices like sprinkler and drip, precision levelling, provision of proper drainage channels, conjunctive use of surface and ground waters and moisture conservation practices. In this paper, we have discussed various ways of enhancing use efficiency and productivity of water in agricultural production system. These include: better utilization of stored soil moisture by adjusting time and method of sowing, improved planting patterns reducing evaporation loss of soil moisture by mulching, intercropping, supplemental and deficit irrigation provided to crops at critical growth stages, removal of nutrient constraints by supplying optimum fertilizer inputs and improved irrigation methods like sprinkler and drip irrigation.