Sidana, Baljinder KaurSimarjot Kaur2023-12-122023-12-122022Simarjot Kaur (2022). Economic Evaluation of Resource Conservation Technologies and their Carbon Footprints on Crop Production in Punjab Agriculture (Unpublished M.Sc. thesis). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810202773The present study was conducted to evaluate the economics of resource conservation technologies and their carbon footprints on crop production in Punjab agriculture. The study comprised of both primary and secondary data. In order to accomplish the specific objectives a sample of 120 farmers (60 from paddy-wheat crop rotation and 60 from cotton-wheat crop rotation) from two districts of Punjab namely Mansa and Sri Muktsar Sahib were selected through multi-stage sampling technique. The secondary data regarding emission factors for various inputs used in the calculation of carbon footprint were compiled from various published sources. The RCT adopters were segregated into three scenarios i.e. PDSR+WCT, PDSR+CRM+WMT and PPTR+CRM+WMT for paddy-wheat crop sequence. Similarly, RCT adopters identified for cotton-wheat sequence were CCT+WMT and CIPM+WCT. On the one hand, use of paddy chopper or bailers or rackers for complete removal of residue increased the cost of paddy straw management by 17 times than non-adopters. On the other hand, incorporation of paddy stubble with super seeder/happy seeder used for wheat sowing reduces expenditure on land preparation to the tune of 26 per cent due to no preparatory tillage in subsequent wheat crop for farmers following paddy-wheat crop sequence. Overall, there was a saving of 6 to 8 per cent in variable cost by DSR adopters whereas it increased by 8 per cent for managing residue on PTR farms. As a result, net returns decreased on PPTR+CRM farms by 3 per cent and PDSR+CRM farms by 1.5 per cent. CIPM reduces expenditure by 13 per cent on agrochemicals in cotton giving 14 per cent more profitability than non-adopters. Paddy crop is the major carbon emitter, emitting 7 times more carbon than wheat and cotton crops. Carbon footprint from burning of paddy residue came out to be 7 t CO2eq/ha whereas this was 0.16 - 0.32 t CO2eq/ha for adopters of CRM. PPTR farms emitted 1.7 t CO2eq/ha of methane (CH4) emissions which come out to be 16 per cent of total GHG emissions, while these were absent on DSR farms. The study found that PDSR+CRM+WMT and CIPM+WCT came out to be the cost effective and environmental friendly RCTs for paddy-wheat and cotton-wheat crop rotation. Financial help should be provided to farmers for motivating them to adopt RCTs and timelyavailability of machinery for ex-situ management for reducing the carbon footprint.EnglishThesis