Climate change is a global threat to the food and nutritional security of the world. As greenhouse-gas emissions in the atmosphere are increasing, the temperature is also rising due to the greenhouse effect. The average global temperature is increasing continuously and is predicted to rise by 2 °C until 2100, which would cause substantial economic losses at the global level. The concentration of CO₂, which accounts for a major proportion of greenhouse gases, is increasing at an alarming rate, and has led to higher growth and plant productivity due to increased photosynthesis, but increased temperature offsets this effect as it leads to increased crop respiration rate and evapotranspiration, higher pest infestation, a shift in weed flora, and reduced crop duration. Climate change also affects the microbial population and their enzymatic activities in soil. This paper reviews the information collected through the literature regarding the issue of climate change, its possible causes, its projection in the near future, its impact on the agriculture sector as an influence on physiological and metabolic activities of plants, and its potential and reported implications for growth and plant productivity, pest infestation, and mitigation strategies and their economic impact.

This paper reviews and analyzes the impact of residue burning on the environment and human health, and the influence of ex-situ and in-situ residue management on reducing pollution and improving soil health, crop yield, and farmers’ economic benefits. Paddy is cultivated on 43.8 Mha in India, producing 118.43 Mt grain and an estimated 165.8 Mt straw. Burning is the most common practice for managing rice crop residues mainly due to its simplicity, low cost, increased mechanical harvesting, short window between rice harvest and wheat sowing, and lack of viable uses for residues. Around 50 Mt of rice straw is burned annually, nearly half of which occurs in northwestern India during October/November. Burning residue is a major contributor to air pollution, emitting around 1.5 Mt particulate matter, 150 Mt carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases (e.g., NO₂, SO₂, CO, CH₄, NH₃) and volatile organic compounds, resulting in a wide range of respiratory infections in humans, reduced soil nutrient and carbon inputs, and disturbed soil microbial activity. In-situ residue management using a Happy Seeder, Super straw management system, paddy straw chopper cum spreader, reversible moldboard plow, or no-till seeder incorporates or mulches residues, avoiding burnings. These operations are economically profitable as they reduce costs, increase yields, or both. In-situ residue management, i.e., incorporation or mulching improves the soil’s physical, chemical and biological properties and is considered better for improving soil health than residue removal. Ex-situ residue management for biofuel, biochar, electricity generation or bale making is also profitable for the environment and reduces pollutant emissions.

Weed management in blackgram is one of the most efficient ways to improve its yield, as uncontrolled weed growth causes a significant decrease in crop yield. A field experiment was performed at Berthin, Himachal Pradesh, India, to investigate the efficacy, energy use efficiency (EUE), and carbon footprints of weed management tactics. Twelve weed control treatments were tested applied alone or in combination at pre and post emergence stages. The most prominent weeds were Cyperus iria, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, and Echinochloa colona, which caused a 68.1% loss in unweeded conditions. The application of weed control treatments reduced the weed count at 60 DAS from around 50% to 90%. The most efficient weed control treatment was pre-emergence (PRE) use of ready mix imazethapyr 35% + imazamox 35% WG @ 80 g ha⁻¹, which resulted in a minimum weed infestation (i.e., weed count and weed biomass) and consequently highest yield. Its efficacy in weed control treatment was on par with PRE use of ready mix imazethapyr (35%) + imazamox (35% WG @ 70 g ha⁻¹. Maximum energy use efficiency was also obtained upon PRE use of imazethapyr (35%) + imazamox (35% WG) @ 80 g ha⁻¹ (8.27), trailed by PRE use of imazethapyr + imazamox @ 70 g ha⁻¹ (7.84), mainly because of the higher yield obtained in these treatments which shows their efficiency in energy conversion. The carbon footprints were observed to be the lowest in ready mix combination of imazethapyr (35%) + imazamox (35% WG) applied at 80 g ha⁻¹ (0.11 kg CE kg⁻¹ yield), followed by imazethapyr (35%) + imazamox (35% WG) applied at 70 g ha⁻¹ (0.12 kg CE kg⁻¹ yield), as it resulted in the lowest emission per unit output production.

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The paper synthesizes agronomic, technological, and policy options relevant to groundwater sustainability in north-western India, a region of international significance for food security. Since the advent of the Green Revolution, there has been a significant shift from traditional crops to high-yielding, water-intensive crop varieties that require substantially more water. This transition has led to a dramatic increase in the number of tubewells and the overexploitation of groundwater resources. In the northwestern states of India, namely Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana, the rate of groundwater extraction far exceeds natural recharge rates. This issue is aggravated by subsidized or free electricity for agriculture, which encourages excessive groundwater extraction. This paper reviews various agronomic and technological interventions and finds that measures such as laser land leveling, zero tillage, the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), direct-seeded rice (DSR), micro-irrigation, and water harvesting can reduce water use while maintaining yields. However, their effectiveness for long-term groundwater sustainability remains mixed. Among these, water harvesting structures appear most effective, offering dual benefits by reducing groundwater extraction and enhancing recharge. Furthermore, government policies, institutional support, and agricultural extension services play a crucial role in promoting the adoption of water-efficient practices. Also, international development cooperation can reinforce these efforts through concessional finance, technical assistance, and data sharing that lower adoption costs and strengthen monitoring. Effective implementation of these measures can help mitigate unsustainable exploitation of groundwater resources in Indian agriculture.