Sustainable intensification strategies: balancing productivity, quality, and profitability in agri-food systems with resource optimization

Anchal Dass¹Aye Aye San¹Dinesh Jinger^2*Kavita Kumari³Arjun Singh¹Teekam Singh¹Annie Poonam³Venkatesh Paramesh⁴Gaurendra Gupta⁵Dr. Rajanna GA⁶Ramanjit Kaur¹Kapila Shekhawat¹Sanjay Singh Rathore¹Vijay Singh Meena¹Sachin KS¹A. Dollina Devi¹KADAGONDA NITHINKUMAR¹Manjesh K. Gautam¹H. L. Kushwaha¹Indra Mani⁷Sunita Kumari Meena⁸

• ¹Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR), New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi, India
• ²Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (ICAR), Dehradun, India
• ³National Rice Research Institute (ICAR), Cuttack, Odisha, India
• ⁴Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR), Old Goa, Goa, India
• ⁵Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (ICAR), Jhānsi, Uttar Pradesh, India
• ⁶Directorate of Groundnut Research (ICAR-DGR), Jūnāgadh, India
• ⁷Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani, Maharashtra, India
• ⁸Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur, Bihar, India

Context: Meeting the rising global nutritional demands is a critical challenge due to population growth, increasing incomes, shrinking natural resources, and climate change. Enhancing crop productivity while ensuring sustainability requires innovative and efficient agricultural practices. The System of Crop Intensification (SCI), adapted from the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), offers a promising solution by optimizing agronomic management for various crops such as wheat, millets, maize, sugarcane, rice, and soybean.This review examines the potential of SCI in improving crop yields, profitability, and resource-use efficiency. The primary research question is: How does SCI impact crop productivity, soil health, and farmers' income compared to conventional farming methods?The review synthesizes recent studies and field trials on SCI adoption across multiple crops and regions. Key agronomic modifications considered include wider planting geometry, improved water management, organic manure application, residue retention, and integrated weed management. The effects of SCI on yield, nutrient uptake, soil quality, and economic returns were analyzed.Results: SCI practices have demonstrated a significant yield increase, often more than doubling production compared to conventional methods. The adoption of SCI has resulted in a 15-25% yield improvement in major field crops, along with enhanced oil and protein content, increased nutrient uptake, and improved wateruse efficiency. Although SCI involves higher initial production costs, the increased crop yields compensate for the expenses, leading to higher net returns for farmers.Conclusions: SCI is an effective and sustainable agronomic approach that enhances productivity while improving soil health and resource-use efficiency. The approach contributes to climate resilience and profitability, making it a viable option for small and marginal farmers. The observed improvements in soil-plant interactions indicate the need for further scientific exploration of the mechanisms driving these benefits.Implications: SCI provides an ecologically sustainable solution to global food security challenges. Its adoption at scale can significantly boost increase farmer incomes, enhance soil fertility, and contribute to environmentally friendly farming 53 practices. Encouraging research, demonstration, and policy support for SCI will be 54 crucial in ensuring its widespread implementation and long-term success.