Start Date: End Date: Published Date Data Date
Data acquired October 23, 2005 850 x 1150 313 KB - JPEG
Data acquired October 23, 2005 1700 x 2300 1 MB - JPEG
Data acquired October 23, 2005 3400 x 4600 3 MB - JPEG
Smoke from hundreds of fires (the red dots seen in the image) obscure most of the Punjab region of India. This area is a major source of agriculture for India, producing approximately two-thirds of the country´s food. Wheat and rice are the dominant crops, producing 40% and 60%, respectively, of the country´s total production; Punjab also produces corn, fruit, cotton, sugarcane, and other cereals. Farmers use fire to clear the fields of weeds and residue from previous year´s crops and to add nutrients to the soil. The land is, and has long been, extremely fertile; however, agricultural production was greatly increased by the “Green Revolution”, or the use of biocides (pesticides, herbicides and the like), fertilizers, irrigation, and hybrid crops. While these techniques are highly efficient, they may not be sustainable for the long term. Instead, some of the more traditional agricultural practices are being promoted; these include low or no-till, contour plowing, the use of cover crops, and crop rotation.
Jeff Schmaltz
Published January 5, 2005 Data acquired October 23, 2005