Browsing by Author "Sandeep Naresh Kumar"

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Agriculture Toward Net Zero Emissions
(Elsevier, 2025) Sandeep Naresh Kumar; Ram Swaroop Meena
Agriculture Toward Net Zero Emissions explores how agriculture has historically contributed to carbon emissions and then takes the reader forward, offering insights into an integrated approach to reducing those emissions toward the COP26 goal. The dual challenge of increasing production to meet population and nutrition food demands while reducing the traditional emissions generated by production practices is significant. It requires understanding the foundation of current practices and then revising those underlying principles to reflect the resources and greater insights of today. This book provides an overview of the current state of the science, explores the development of policies and plans to improve carbon management, and provides examples of technology and agroecosystem management practices. It includes the latest updates in carbon neutral farming, carbon and energy management, and addresses the knowledge gap between input management, livestock management and agroecosystem management. Advancing agroecosystem science through a roadmap for improving capacity, Agriculture Toward Net Zero Emissions is a valuable resource for those seeking to develop and apply new agricultural best practices. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.
Agriculture toward net zero emissions: an overview
(Elsevier, 2025) Sandeep Naresh Kumar; Ram Swaroop Meena; Shambhunath Ghosh
The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) marked a pivotal moment in the global response to climate change, reinforcing the ambitious goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. As agriculture accounts for nearly a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, the sector holds a critical role in this decarbonization effort. This chapter explores agriculture’s potential to mitigate climate impacts through a synergy of decarbonization strategies, regenerative agricultural systems, and climate-smart practices. Key commitments made by major agricultural economists at COP 26 are examined, highlighting their potential to transform global food systems in line with net zero ambitions. Despite these significant pledges, the sector faces profound challenges. Socio-economic barriers, particularly in developing regions, continue to limit the adoption of sustainable practices, with many farmers constrained by inadequate access to innovative technologies and financial resources. These difficulties are further compounded by gaps in policy frameworks, fragmented governance, and insufficient international coordination, all of which slow progress toward meaningful change. In response, this chapter underscores the vital role of international organizations, such as the Food and Agricultural Organization and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in mobilizing financial mechanisms and strengthening technical capacities needed to drive agricultural sustainability. By examining pathways toward achieving net zero in agriculture by 2050, the chapter highlights innovative solutions, including carbon-efficient farming systems, agro-ecological practices, efficient irrigation and nutrient management, renewable energy, integration, agroforestry, conservation agriculture, and improvements in the food supply chain. The chapter also advocates for enhanced investment in research and development, the strengthening of public-private partnerships, and the creation of inclusive policy frameworks that prioritize the needs of smallholder farmers—who are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Achieving net zero in agriculture will ultimately require not only advancements in technology and finance but also a renewed global commitment to collaboration, underpinned by rigorous monitoring and accountability mechanisms. The successful transformation of the agricultural sector will depend on a holistic and synergistic approach, integrating science, policy, and practice to ensure a sustainable future for food systems, climate resilience, and environmental health. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Agroforestry: Harnessing the unrealized potential for negative carbon emission
(Elsevier, 2025) Nilutpal Saikia; Kadagonda Nithinkumar; Shreyas Bagrecha; Sk Asraful Ali; Mrinal Sen; N. Anthony Baite; Alapati Nymisha; Prabhu Govindasamy; Sunil Kumar Prajapati; Rohit Bapurao Borate; Niraj Biswakarma; Sandeep Naresh Kumar; Ram Swaroop Meena
Climate change presents an urgent and existential threat, necessitating immediate action to curb global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change emphasizes the need to drastically reduce carbon dioxide (CO) emissions and remove billions of metric tons of CO from the atmosphere annually. Agroforestry—an integrated approach combining trees with agricultural systems—emerges as a critical option for achieving negative carbon (C) emissions. Agroforestry functions as a negative C sink through several key mechanisms. It sequesters C in both above-ground biomass (trunks, branches, leaves) and below-ground biomass (roots) as trees and shrubs capture atmospheric CO through photosynthesis. Additionally, agroforestry systems enhance soil organic carbon storage, improve soil health, and reduce soil erosion through tree roots that stabilize soil and prevent the loss of C-rich topsoil. Improved nitrogen (N) cycling in these systems, often facilitated by N-fixing plants, reduces the reliance on synthetic fertilizers and associated greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, agroforestry enhances biodiversity and ecosystem resilience, which contributes to more effective C sequestration over time. It also offers alternatives to fossil fuels, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and can generate C credits that contribute to net-zero emission goals. Recognized globally for its production and environmental benefits, agroforestry is increasingly seen as a greenhouse gas mitigation strategy. Recent studies suggest that its expansion could significantly contribute to climate change mitigation, with the potential to sequester up to 0.31 Pg C yr−1. To fully capitalize on agroforestry’s potential, accurate research, standardized protocols, and reliable C stock reporting are essential. Integrating agroforestry into global and national C monitoring frameworks requires the development of models capable of predicting C sequestration under diverse climate scenarios. Addressing gaps such as the lack of standardized datasets involves establishing rigorous protocols for sampling, analysis, and data management. Active engagement from the research community is critical to establishing agroforestry as a cornerstone in the global effort to combat climate change and achieve net-zero emissions. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Designing a Diversified Indian Mustard Production System for Energy-Carbon-Cum-Heat Use Efficiency and Sowing Dates Assessment
(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2025) S. Dasaratha Kumar; Ram Swaroop Meena; Sandeep Naresh Kumar; Gourisankar Pradhan; Chetan Kumar Jangir; Shambhunath Ghosh; Himani Punia; Parvender Sheoran; Ramawatar Narayan Meena; Md Afjal Ahmad; Suneel Kumar Goyal; Nazih Y. Rebouh
The rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system faces major challenges such as stagnant yields, high input and energy demands, and increasing soil and air pollution. Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) is a promising crop for diversification within rice-based ecosystems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different sowing dates and nutrient sources on energy budgeting in diversified Indian mustard and to assess the impact of these nutrient sources on heat-cum-carbon efficiency. The experiment was conducted using a split-plot design (SPD) with three sowing dates—November 17, November 27, and December 07—in the main plots, and eight nutrient sources in the subplots, where the recommended dose of fertilizer was 100 N:50 P2O5:50 K2O:40 S kg ha−1. The results, based on pooled data, indicated that among the sowing dates, November 17 recorded the highest values for several key metrics. These include energy use efficiency (EUE: 3.46, 5.12, and 12.16), energy production (EP: 0.152, 0.41, and 0.56 kg MJ−1), net energy (NE: 29,712, 50,483, and 92,558 MJ ha−1), energy profitability (EPr: 2.46, 2.88, and 6.34), human energy profitability (HEP: 364.82, 412.60, and 777.42), energy output efficiency (EOE: 364.69, 412.49, and 777.18 MJ d−1), carbon output (CO: 815, 2215, and 3030 kg CE ha−1), carbon efficiency (CE: 2.07, 5.59, and 7.66), and carbon sustainability index (CSI: 1.07, 4.59, and 6.66) for seed, stover, and biological yield, respectively, compared to the crops sown on November 27 and December 07. The study also revealed significant increases in heat use efficiency (HUE) on dry matter at 45 and 90 days after sowing (DAS) and on seed, stover, and biological yield (13.3, 8.46, 1.52, 4.16, and 5.69 kg ha−1°C days, respectively). In the subplots, the highest EUE (3.92, 5.10, and 12.1), EP (0.172, 0.408, and 0.58 kg ha−1), and EPr (2.92, 2.86, and 6.78) for seed, stover, and biological yield were observed in the control treatment, outperforming the other nutrient sources on a pooled basis. The highest SE production (8.59, 3.48, and 2.47 MJ kg−1) for seed, stover, and biological yield was recorded with the application of 100% of the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) combined with Azotobacter and phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria (PSB). Furthermore, the highest NE (35,427, 52,203, and 102,370 MJ ha−1), HEP (434.02, 438.67, and 872.68), EOE (448.37, 452.68, and 901.04 MJ d−1), CO (972, 2359, and 3331 kg CE ha−1), CE (2.48, 6.01, and 8.48), CSI (1.48, 5.01, and 7.48), and HUE (1.67, 4.12, and 5.81 kg ha−1°C days) for seed, stover, and biological yield were observed with the application of 75% RDF + 25% nitrogen from pressmud, combined with Azotobacter and PSB. This study provides a novel framework for optimizing sowing dates and nutrient sources that can lead to the development of an energy-efficient, heat-cum-carbon-efficient, and eco-friendly production system. Its findings offer scalable solutions for enhancing sustainability and reducing environmental footprints in rice-based cropping systems. © 2025 The Author(s). GCB Bioenergy Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Efficient manure management in achieving net-zero goals in the dairy sector
(Elsevier, 2025) Shreyas Bagrecha; Ridhi Pandey; Rajesh Kumar Meena; Kadagonda Nithinkumar; Nilutpal Saikia; Shubham Pal; Sandeep Naresh Kumar; Ram Swaroop Meena
The dairy sector has occupied a pivotal position within the agricultural sector, contributing significantly to the global economy but also to the guarantee of food security and livelihood to many individuals. However, climate change poses a significant issue for modern society, and the dairy sector is not exempt from its own set of obstacles. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the dairy sector have become a growing global concern, with poor manure management playing a significant role. Manure, if not handled properly, can emit significant amounts of methane and nitrous oxide, two potent GHGs. Livestock manure alone contributes 51-118 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually. Different kinds of manure management methods are used in dairy farming, and they are based on balances between economic, social, and environmental factors. Implementing innovative manure management practices provides a practical option to reduce these emissions and achieve net-zero emission targets. Effective manure management methods encompass appropriate storage, precise application, anaerobic digestion, composting, biofiltration, and adding additives and inhibitors. Consequently, use of manure to enhance soil health, while biogas generates clean energy, which plays a vital role in sustainability frameworks, going beyond just their environmental benefits. By implementing a suite of manure management practices, the dairy sector can significantly reduce its GHG footprint, which will ultimately support the worldwide shift toward a net-zero economy. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Energy flow, eco-efficiency, and economic circulation with recycled industrial waste compost application in wheat and subsequent rice farming
(Elsevier B.V., 2025) Ram Swaroop Meena; Gourisankar Pradhan; Sandeep Naresh Kumar
The World Bank estimates that industries generate 2 billion tonnes of waste annually, contributing to pollution, resource inefficiencies, and environmental degradation. These issues emphasize the need for sustainable waste management. Similarly, the rice-wheat cropping system in South Asia faces challenges like declining soil fertility, excessive chemical use, and low resource efficiency, leading to reduced productivity, environmental impact, and climate vulnerability. To create long-run eco-friendly farming, this study designed to use compost derived from recycled industrial by-products to lower the fertilizer load and input energy in wheat-rice farming. A split-plot design was used for the study from 2018 to 2021. Four nutrient sources were applied in the main plot, and a combination of three industrial wastes and waste decomposers made into nine treatment combinations were used in the subplot. Based on an average of four years of data, in the main plot, treatment 100 % crop nutrition practices (CNP) of nitrogen (N)-phosphorus (P)-potassium (K) + 5 kg zinc (Zn) + 5 kg iron (Fe) had 62.0 % (wheat) and 37.8 % (rice) more grain energy output than control. On the other hand, compared to bagasse + Pleurotus sajor-caju, the sub-plot with treatment carpet waste + Trichoderma viride showed 36.4 % (wheat) and 21.4 % (rice) higher grain energy output. Further, in the main plot, 100 % CNP of NP2O5-K2O + 5 kg Fe + 5 kg Zn had found a 25.3 % (wheat) and 36.7 % (rice) higher energy BC ratio than the control. Furthermore, compared to bagasse + Pleurotus sajor-caju, carpet waste + Trichoderma viride had an 18.2 and 21.3 % higher energy BC ratio of wheat and rice in the sub-plot treatment. Regarding a different parameter, the 100 % CNP of N-P2O5-K2O + 5 kg Fe + 5 kg Zn in the main plot showed 19.4 and 33.4 % higher energy intensity in economic terms (EIET) of rice and wheat, respectively, compared to the control. Further, carpet waste + Trichoderma viride had 14.6 and 10.4 % more EIET of wheat and rice than bagasse + Pleurotus sajor-caju in the subplot. Based on the combined effect of, 100 % CNP of N-P2O5-K2O + 5 kg Fe + 5 kg Zn × Trichoderma viride + carpet waste was noted to be a maximum of 1595.0 and 1229.4 Mega joule per day (MJ day−1) (1 MJ = 106 J) energy output efficiency (EOE) of wheat and rice, respectively. Moreover, the net energy return was higher at 1187 and 834 US$ ha−1 of wheat and rice was observed in 100 % CNP of N-P2O5-K2O + 5 kg Fe + 5 kg Zn × Trichoderma viride + carpet waste, respectively. In the case of wheat, biomass energy productivity had a negative relationship with both total energy output and biomass net energy, according to the Pearson correlation matrix. This study highlights the potential of recycled industrial waste compost (IWC) to reduce synthetic input reliance, enhance EUE, and establish a cost-effective energy circulation system in the RWS. It will fulfil the agenda of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)sEnergy-Smart Food (ESF) program to achieve energy sustainability in food systems and thus offers a scalable model for sustainable agriculture with future implications for climate-resilient farming and eco-friendly policy development. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.