Sustainability implications of burning rice-and wheat-straw in Punjab
-
26/09/1998
-
Economic and Political Weekly
Yields from the rice-wheat cropping system in the Indo-Gangetic plain are declining despite the increasing use of chemical fertilizers. Crop residues are important components of soil fertility management, but are burnt in some areas such as Punjab state. Not only does this mean a loss of nutrients but also causes environmental pollution (and the associated health effects); the production of substantial quantities of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas can adversely affect the environment. Limited published data suggest that rice-straw can be converted to high value manure of a quality better than that of farmyard manure (FYM).