Confronting the environmental consequences of the Green Revolution in Asia

Intensive double or triple monocropping of rice has caused degradation of the
paddy micro environment and reductions in rice yield growth in many irrigated areas in
Asia. Problems include increased pest infestation, mining of soil micronutrients,
reductions in nutrient-carrying capacity of the soil, build-up of soil toxicity, and
salinity and waterlogging. Emerging sustainability problems in intensive rice
agriculture show the need for a greater understanding of the physical, biological and
ecological consequences of agricultural intensification and greater research attention to
long term management of the agricultural resource base.