Conservation agriculture (CA) is an agricultural management practice in which there is minimum soil disturbance, retention of residue for soil cover and rotation of major crops. In contrast, soil in traditional agriculture is intensively tilled to prepare a fine and well-pulverized seedbed. Soil tillage or land preparation is the most energy-consuming operation among all field operations. Compared to traditional agriculture, farmers can save up to 40% of time, labour and fuels in CA.

Rice and wheat, being the staple food, play a crucial role in the food security of India. Increase in temperature, atmospheric greenhouse gases, and soil degradation and competition for land and water resources will have multiple impacts on the rice–wheat cropping system of northwest India.