Challenges of Climate Change Vis-A-Vis Tactic for Cooling the Earth

Universal Journal of Environmental Research and Technology
All Rights Reserved Euresian Publications (c) 2011 eISSN 2249 0256
Available Online at: www.environmentaljournal.org


Volume 1, Issue 2: 222-226

Open Access





Opinion Article

Challenges of Climate Change Vis-A-Vis Tactic for Cooling the Earth


1Subhash Chand and 2Rohitash Kumar


1 Assistant Professor Division of Soil Science and 2 Head, Division of Agriculture Engineering
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology of Kashmir
Shalimar campus, Srinagar-191121, Jammu and Kashmir

Corresponding author: subhashphd2002@yahoo.com, subhashchandm1@gmail.com
Abstract:
Climate change is a world wide reality discussed and debated at every corner of scientific, political and
economical forms. However, it can be tackle, if timely mitigation practices widely adopted for cooling the
earth. There is a need to develop a common sense in our daily life for saving the energy (light, fuel, water,
air) for future use. Common adoptable and recommended practices have a substantial contribution in
cooling the earth and making congenial environment for human-plant-lives.

Keywords: Climate change, Cooling earth, Energy, Resource Conservation

1.0 Introduction:

Climate change is means an overall increase in
consequent 3-4 years, had heavy down pour,
temperature of universe. The eleven of the last
almost dipping the city. Unusual rainfall (60 cm. in
twelve years (1995-2006) rank is warmest years in
5 days, August19-23, 2006) in Barmer district of
the instrumental records of global surface
Rajasthan in 2006, was not recorded in the past
temperature (since 1850). The 100 year linear
200 years. Evidences of losing biodiversity (flora
warming trend (1906-2006) of 0.74 o C is larger
and
fauna),
genetic
materials
and
soil
than the corresponding trend of 0.6 o C (1901 -
microorganism have been observed at several
2000).The linear warming trend over last 50 years
places (Agarwal 2008).
from 1906 to 2005 (0.13 o C per decades)

Observational evidence from all continents and
2.0 Causes of Climate Change:
most ocean shows that many natural systems are
The global green house (GHGs) emission due to
being affected by regional changes, particularly
human activities have gone since pre industrial
temperature increases.
times ,with an increase of 70 per cent between

1970 to 2004.Carbondioxide is most important
Climate change means variations in the climate in
anthropogenic GHGs. Its annual emissions have
term of temperature, relative humidity, sunshine
grown between 1970 and 2004 by about 80 per
hours, wind velocity and other climatic parameters
cent. The largest growth of GHG emission between
resulting changes in soil biodiversity, ground water
1970 to 1994 has come from industry , energy
level, soil degradation, erratic and uneven rainfall,
supply ,transport, forestry including deforestation ,
frequent droughts and floods. Some common
agricultural growth have been decreasing .Global
examples of climate change are1: States like Bihar,
GHGs have increased markedly as a result of
Assam, and part of Karnataka are experiencing dry
human activities since 1750 and now far exceed
spell, whereas Southern Gujarat, Maharashtra,
pre-industrial values determined from ice cores
part of Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Ladakh and
spanning many thousands of years (Subhash
Western Karnataka were hit by the floods. In 2007
Chand et al 2010)
alone, 17 million people had born the burnt of

floods. During the year 2006, the Kashmir Valley is
3.0 Impact of Climate Change on
witness of most severe summer in three decades.
Agriculture and Systems:
Snowfall patterns of the Kashmir Valley Changes,
The climatic change is affecting all countries of the
During January and February no snowfall or less
world Asian, South East Asia or South Asia,
snowfall where as early snowfall in November and
European and African in big way. The poor
Late in March (2008-09). Charapuji known for
country would be affected be in bigger way
highest rainfall had less in 2005. Mosinram
however they are contributing less in climate
experiences highest rainfall. Mumbai, for
change. Himalayan ecosystem in which Kashmir
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Universal Journal of Environmental Research and Technology
Valley is situated is not a distant example from the
mountain range like Hindukush and Himalayas
impact of climate change. There is a direct link
,where one-sixth of the world population currently
between the rise of global temperature (1 or 2 0C)
lives.

and damage to ecosystems. About 130 millian
Table1. Current and Potential SOC
hectare land is under going different levels of
Capacity of Indian Soils (Halvorson et al., 2002)
degradation,
namely
water
erosion
(32.8

mha),wind erosion (10.8 mha), salinisation (7.0
SOC (Peta gram Area
Current
P
o t ential
mha.),desertification (68.1 mha),water logging (8.5
C )
(mha)
mha) and nutrient depletion (3.2 mha). It has
Pool Soil Type
serious impact on the decreasing food productivity
Red soil
8
4 . 6
6 .
8
1
0 .
0
due to attack of insect and pest on crop, heavy
Black soils
98.8
9.9
13.4
rainfall, early or late maturity of crop. Small and
Alluvial soils
103.8
5.0
7.7
marginal farmers with small land holding will be
Mountainous
41.3
2.6
3.8
more vulnerability to climate change. The
soils
resilience of many ecosystems is likely to be
Total
328.5
24.3
34.9
exceeded this century by an unprecedented

The changes in precipitation and temperature
combination of climate change and associated
leads to changes in runoff and water availability.
disturbances (flooding, drought, wildfire, insects,
Runoff is projected to increase by 10-40 percent by
and ocean acidification) and other global change
mid century at a higher latitudes and in some wet
drivers
(e.g.
land
use
change,
pollution,
tropical areas ,including populous areas in East and
fragmentation of natural systems, overexploitation
South East Asia and , decrease by 10-30 percent
of natural resources).

over some dry tropics areas due to decrease in
Over the course of this century, net carbon uptake
rainfall and higher rate of evapotranspiration.
by terrestrial ecosystems is likely to peak before
Drought affected area are projected to increase in
mid century and than weaken or reverse.
extent, with the potential for adverse impacts on
Approximately 20-30 percent of plant and animal
multiple sectors, e.g. agriculture, water supply,
species assessed so far are likely to be at increased
energy production and health. Large demand of
risk of extinction if increase in global average
water in urban areas for domestic purpose is on
temperature exceeds 1.5 O C to 2.5 O C. At lower
front and in rural areas for agriculture like
altitude, especially in seasonally dry and tropical
irrigation of crops, rare ring of livestock.
regions, crop productivity is projected to decrease

for even small local temperature increases (1-2 O
C), which would increase the risk of hunger. The
increase in atmospheric carbon concentration
leads to further acidification of atmosphere and
earth. Anthropogenic warming could lead to some
extended impact depending upon magnitude of
climate change. Uneven and erratic snowfall since
last five years had disturbed Himalayan ecosystem.
The carbon sequestration considered as a major
factor for mitigating global climate change in
modern agriculture system. The potential for

carbon sequestration in South Asian countries is
Fig. 1: Maize Crop Shown Early Maturity Due to
very high. The current carbon sequestration
Water Stress.

potential of Indian soils is given in table 1.
5.0 Mitigation/ Recommended Tactic for

4.0 Climate Change and Water:
Cooling the Earth:
It is supposed to suppress water resources. On
There should be two fold approaches to mitigate
regional scales, mountain snow, glaciers, and small
the climate stress -firstly by reducing greenhouse
ice caps play a crucial role in freshwater
gas emission (GHGs), the main culprit of climate
availability. Widespread mass losses from glaciers
change and secondly, by adopting necessary
and reduction in snow cover over recent decades
farming practices like sustainable forestry
are projecting to accelerate throughout the 21
systems, diversified cropping systems, carbon
centaury,
reducing
water
availability
and
sequestration ,recourse conserving technologies
hydropower potential, and changing seasonality of
(RCTs) like zero tillage , minimum tillage or no till
flows in regions supplied by melt water from major
system, clean development mechanism (CDM), use
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Universal Journal of Environmental Research and Technology
biogas slurry , use or organic manure as a source of
diverse living organisms in the soil - the myriad of
plant nutrients and introduction of resistant
invisible microbes to the more familiar macro-
varieties to droughts, frost ,insect pest and logging
fauna such as earthworms and termites. These
etc. Uses of improved farming practices helps in
organisms interact with one another and with
increasing the carbon pool of soils which have
plants and animals forming a web of biological
been lowered due to overexploitation and soil
activity.
Environmental
factors,
including
stress.
temperature, moisture, acidity and several

chemical components of the soil affect soil
6.0 Land uses practices:
biological activity.
Faulty land use practices like shifting cultivation,

free-range grazing by cattle, growing crops along
Clearly, for a productive sustainable agriculture,
with the slope, cultivation of erosion permitting
the complex interaction among these factors must
crops etc. may cause removal of top soil by erosion
be understood so that they can be managed as an
.Organic matter has low density than soil solids
integrated system. Soil biota and soil ecosystem
hence subjected to easily losses through wind and
health soil health can be defined as the continued
water erosion. It is clear that the OM loss under
capacity of soil to function as a vital living system,
3% slope is around 46 kg/ha in Kerala .Cultivation
within ecosystem and land-use boundaries, to
of soil and consequent aeration stimulate more
sustain biological productivity and maintain their
microbiological
activities
and
promote
the
water quality as well as plant, animal, and human
oxidation of organic matter i.e. increase the rate of
health. The concept of soil health includes the
disappearance of soil organic carbon. Intensive
ecological attributes of the soil, which have
cultivation stimulates decomposition of Soil
implications beyond its quality or capacity to
Organic Matter (SOM). Organic carbon status
produce a particular crop. These attributes are
usually remains low in cultivated soils. It is clear
chiefly those associated with the soil biota; its
that in all the soil zones, the organic matter
diversity, its food web structure, its activity and
content is very high in virgin soil. The carbon
the range of functions it performs. For example,
sequestration potential in South Asia through
soil biodiversity per se may not be a soil property
adoption of recommended agricultural practices
that is critical for the production of a given crop,
are given in table 2
but it is a property that may be vital for the

continued capacity of the soil to produce that
Table 2: Carbon Sequestration Potential through
crop.
Adoption of Recommended Agricultural Practices

(Raps) In South Asia (Balesdent et al 2000)
8.0 Biological Management of Soil
Rate of SOC
Total
Fertility:
Area
Country
Sequestration
potential
(mha)
It is central paradigm for the biological
(Kg C/yr/ha) (Tera gram C)
management of soil fertility is to utilise farmer's
Afghanistan
7.9
50-100
0.1-0.2
management practices to influence soil biological
Bangladesh
8.1
200-300
1.2-1.8
populations and processes in such a way as to
India
161.8 100-200
8.1-16.2
achieve desirable effects on soil productivity6.
Iran
14.3 50-100
0.4-0.8
Biological populations and processes influence soil
Nepal
3.1
300-500
0.7-1.2
fertility and structure in a variety of ways, each of
Pakistan
21.5 50-100
0.5-1.0
which can have an ameliorating effect on the main
Sri lanka
0.9
300-500
0.2-0.4
soil-based constraints to productivity: symbionts
Total
-
-
11.2-21.6
such as rhizobia and mycorrhiza increase the

efficiency of nutrient acquisition by plants.
7.0 Integrated Soil Fertility Management:

A wide range of fungi, bacteria, and animals
Over the last few years, the concept of integrated
participate in the process of decomposition,
soil management (ISM) and integrated plant
mineralization, and nutrient immobilisation and
nutrient management (IPNM) has been gaining
therefore influence the efficiency of nutrient
acceptance. It advocates the careful management
cycles; soil organisms mediate both the synthesis
of nutrient stocks and flows in a way that leads to
and decomposition of soil organic matter and
profitable
and
sustained
production.
ISM
therefore influence cation exchange capacity, the
emphasises the management of nutrient flows,
soil N,S, and P reserve, soil acidity and toxicity; and
but does not ignore other important aspects of the
soil water holding capacity; the burrowing and
soil complex, such as maintaining organic matter
particle transport activities of soil fauna, and the
content, soil structure and soil biodiversity2. Soil
aggregation of soil particles by fungi and bacteria,
biodiversity reflects the mix and populations of
influence soil structure and soil water regime.
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Table 3: Long Term Manuring and Fertilization Effects on Total Organic Carbon Contents in Soil
(Manna et al 2006, Subehia et al., 2006)

Total organic
carbon
Total organic carbon (g kg-1)
(Mg ha-1)
Treatment
0-45 cm
0-15 cm 0-45 cm
Inceptisol,
Alfisol, Palampur,
Inceptisol, Almora,
Inceptisol, Delhi,
Barrackpora, West
Himachal radesh,
Uttarachal,
31 years
Bengal, 30 years
29 years
30 years
Maize-wheat-
Maize
Cropping system
Rice-wheat-jute
Soybean-wheat
cowpea
-wheat
50 % NPK
51.5
-
9.4
-
100 % NPK
54.1
7.4
8.9
22.81
150 % NPK
53.5
-
-
-
100 % NP
53.0
6.3
7.3
21.05
100 % N
52.1
5.7
8.6
-
100 % NPK + FYM
72.1
7.9
12.7
31.42
Control
48.7
5.1
7.1
18.08
CD (p=0.05)
-
-
0.4
-


9.0 Role of Biodiversity:

The role of soil biota/biodiversity in sustaining the
in agricultural lands (Subhash Chand, 2010,
productivity of agricultural systems a fundamental
Acharya, 2003).
shift is taking place worldwide in agricultural

research and food production in climate change
11.0 Conclusions:
scenario. In the past, the principal driving force
Combating climate change in time, it is imperative
was to increase the yield potential of food crops
to use renewable energy sources at domestic level.
and to maximise productivity. Today, the drive for
The uses of refrigerators shall be restricted to
productivity is increasingly combined with a desire
reduce
the
emission
of
gases
.Carbon
and even a demand for sustainability. Sustainable
sequestration by composting, rising of green
agriculture involves the successful management of
legumes and uses of manure is an important
agricultural resources to satisfy human needs
activity in agricultural production systems.
while maintaining or enhancing environmental
Effort must be made at all levels of societies,
quality and conserving natural for future
institutions, NGOs and other youth forms. People
generations.
Improvement
in
agricultural
must sensitise to use less combustive vehicles
sustainability will require the optimal use and
preference shall be given to CNG (Compressed
management of soil physical properties. Both rely
natural gases) vehicles. The use of renewable
on soil biological process and soil biodiversity. The
energy sources like solar torch, solar batteries,
management practices that enhance soil biological
solar water heating system must be recognised for
activity and there by build up long-term soil
energy saving and reducing GHG emission which
productivity and health. Such practices are of
are important for cooling the earth.
major importance in marginal lands to avoid

degradation, in degraded lands in need of
12.0 Acknowledgement:
restoration and in regions where high external
Authors are thankful to Dr. Pratap Singh, Former
input agriculture is not feasible (Chand and Pabbi,
Director Research, MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan and
2005).
Dr. Shafiq A.Wani, Director Research, SKUAST-

Kashmir, Srinagar for valuable comments and
10.0 Resources Conserving Technologies
suggestion during preparation of manuscript.
(RCTs):

RCTs are very important for increasing the carbon
References:
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(2002): Tillage, nitrogen and crooping system

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Subhash Chand and Rohitash Kumar

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Universal Journal of Environmental Research and Technology
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