Patna: Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU) at Pusa in Samastipur district is likely to release a ‘carbon budget map’ soon, facilitating identification of the most climate-resilient cropping pattern for different climatic zones of the state.
ISRO Collaboration Boosts Climate-Smart Agriculture
Working in coordination with scientists of the Space Applications Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), RPCAU’s agricultural scientists are also close to developing a ‘climate smart agricultural model’ to boost the state’s agricultural production.
Disclosing this on Tuesday, RPCAU vice-chancellor P S Pandey said following the installation of a 24/7 operational Eddy Covariance tower on the university campus with ISRO support four months ago, scientists are receiving real-time data to help farmers adapt to erratic climate shifts.
Real-Time Data Yields Critical Insights
Over the past four months, analysis of this real-time data has provided agricultural scientists with critical insights into the carbon footprint, water vapour emissions and heat flux of the paddy-wheat cropping system during the Kharif season. Researchers can now identify which farming practices act as carbon sinks and which emit higher levels of greenhouse gases, Pandey said.
He added that practical application of the real-time data has already been extended to 200 progressive farmers across Samastipur and Muzaffarpur districts. Guided by the data, these farmers receive precise, location-specific advisories on irrigation timings, fertiliser application and optimal crop rotation. As a result, water use efficiency in these fields has increased by 25%, he said.
Environmental Findings and Carbon Sequestration
Highlighting key environmental findings, research director A K Singh said fields adopting zero-tillage techniques and proper crop residue management emit 30% less carbon compared to traditional farming methods. Incorporating pulse crops into the agricultural cycle boosts the soil’s carbon sequestration capacity by 18 to 22%, he said.
The facility has also recorded daily and seasonal methane emission patterns from local paddy fields, providing crucial metrics for policymakers. Singh said local litchi and mango orchards absorb about 3.2 tons of carbon per hectare annually, opening avenues for farmers to earn through carbon credits.
Grassroots Impact and Future Plans
To ensure grassroots impact, the university is disseminating findings through local Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). Weekly bulletins on temperature, humidity, evaporation and carbon flux are issued. Singh added the university aims to develop a comprehensive “Climate-Resilient Crop Calendar” for Bihar within a year.
