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Stubble burning

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Stubble burning in Essex, England in 1986

Stubble burning is the practice of intentionally setting fire to the straw stubble that remains after grains, such as rice and wheat, have been harvested. The technique is used to quickly and cheaply clear fields. It is still widespread today.

Stubble burning has been associated with increasing air pollution over the past few decades due to the particulate matter contamination it distributes into the atmosphere. In India, stubble burning generates a thick haze. These fires pose a significant health risk to individuals across all ages.[1]

In countries such as India and Pakistan, stubble burning is illegal.[2] Enforcement is weak, allowing the practice to continue.[2]

Effects

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This visualization shows fires detected in the United States from July 2002 through July 2011. Fires that reliably burn each year in western states and across the Southeast are likely to be deliberate.

The burning of stubble has both positive and negative consequences.

Generally helpful effects

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  • Cheaper and easier than other removal methods
  • Helps to combat pests and weeds
  • Can reduce nitrogen tie-up[3]

Generally harmful effects

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  • Loss of nutrients.
  • Pollution from smoke.[4] Including greenhouse gases and others that damage the ozone layer.
  • Damage to electrical and electronic equipment from floating threads of conductive waste.
  • Risk of fires spreading out of control.[5]
  • Additionally, prolonged stubble burning kills beneficial microflora and fauna in soil which reduces organic matter and destroys the carbon-nitrogen equilibrium.[6]
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A wide array of health disorders are associated with the stubble burning emission releases which have caused people to develop lung cancer and respiratory infections. The emissions also threaten the health of children who tend to have weaker organs.[citation needed] Not only that but the smog from the stubble burning also severely affects people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder as it worsens their health conditions.[citation needed] India also has the highest number of blind people in the world and if the smog gets in your eyes you are more likely to develop cataracts.[citation needed] Additionally, people who have been exposed to smog can develop eye irritation, eye-watering, and conjunctival hyperemia symptoms.[7] In order to reduce pollution there needs to be severe attention to the issue involved with effective sustainable management practices enforced by the government. The Indian government has been receiving intense backlash for not reacting quickly enough to the health emergency, especially amongst the green revolution that is bringing attention to climate change concerns.

Alternative to stubble burning

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The solutions to reduce the pollution from stubble burning involve mitigating crop farming, adhering to diversification of agriculture, adopting the paddy straw farming technique, and making biomass pellets.[citation needed]

Agriculture residues can have other uses, such as in particle board[8] and biofuel,[9] though these uses can still cause problems like erosion and nutrient loss.

Spraying an enzyme, which decomposes the stubble into useful fertiliser, improves the soil, avoids air pollution and prevents carbon dioxide emissions.[10]

Several companies worldwide use leftover agricultural waste to make new products. Agricultural waste can serve as raw materials for new applications, such as paper and board,[11] bio-based oils,[12] leather,[13] catering disposables,[14] fuel[15] and plastic.[16] Another important way to manage the agricultural waste from stubble burning would be to detoxify the soil after it has been burned and using aerobic and anaerobic techniques that recycle organic matter.[17]

Empowering farmers to use sustainable solutions

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Another way to reduce particulate matter pollution entails the requirement of bringing severe attention to the issue in accordance with effective sustainable management practices and government support. Active stakeholder acknowledgment by the farm owners that are producing the products that are used in stubble burning will need to form agreements with the government too. Unfortunately, many of the farmers that contribute to the pollution are unaware of the implications of how harmful stubble burning is for the earth especially as to how it depletes soil of nutrients and contaminates the air. Empowering farmers and educating them about the harmful consequences that stubble burning causes to the atmosphere is also necessary for stubble burning pollution reduction.[17]

Attitudes toward stubble burning

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  • Stubble burning has been effectively prohibited since 1993 in the United Kingdom.[18] A perceived increase in blackgrass, and particularly herbicide resistant blackgrass, has led to a campaign by some arable farmers for its return.[19]
  • In Australia stubble burning is "not the preferred option for the majority of farmers"[3] but is permitted and recommended in some circumstances. Farmers are advised to rake and burn windrows, and leave a fire break of 3 metres around any burn off.[5]
  • In the United States, fires are fairly common in mid-western states, but some states such as Oregon and Idaho regulate the practice.[20][21]
  • In the European Union, the Common Agricultural Policy strongly discourages stubble burning.[22]
  • In China, there is a government ban on stubble burning; however the practice remains fairly common.[23]
  • In northern India, despite a ban by the Punjab Pollution Control Board, stubble burning is still practiced since the 1980s. Authorities are starting to enforce this ban more proactively, and to research alternatives.[24][25][10]
  • Stubble burning is allowed by permit in some Canadian provinces, including Manitoba where 5% of farmers were estimated to do it in 2007.[26]

India

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Burning of rice residues after harvest, to quickly prepare the land for wheat planting, around Sangrur, Punjab, India

Stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh in north India has been cited as a major cause of air pollution in Delhi since 1980.[27] Consequently, the government is considering implementation of the 1,600 km long and 5 km wide Great Green Wall of Aravalli.[28] The smog that arises from the burning contributes fine black and brown carbon into the atmosphere which affects light absorption.[17] As the weather is cooler in November in India, the stubble burning generates a thick haze of fog, dust, and industrial pollution.[17] From April to May and October to November each year, farmers mainly in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh burn an estimated 35 million tons[29] of crop waste from their wheat and paddy fields after harvesting as a low-cost straw-disposal practice to reduce the turnaround time between harvesting and sowing for the first (summer) crop and the second (winter) crop.[30] Smoke from this burning produces a cloud of particulates visible from space[31] and has produced what has been described as a "toxic cloud" in New Delhi, resulting in declarations of an air-pollution emergency.[32] For this, the NGT (National Green Tribunal) instituted a fine of ₹2 lakh on the Delhi Government for failing to file an action plan providing incentives and infrastructural assistance to farmers to stop them from burning crop residue to prevent air pollution.[33]

Although harvesters such as the Indian-manufactured "Happy Seeder" that shred the crop residues into small pieces and uniformly spread them across the field are available as an alternative to burning stubble, and crops such as millets and maize can be grown as a sustainable alternative to rice and wheat in order to conserve water, some farmers complain that the cost of these machines is a significant financial burden, with the crops not incurred under MSP prices when compared to burning the fields and purchasing crops that are produced under MSP prices.[30]

The Indian Agricultural Research Institute, developed an enzyme bio-decomposer solution, that can be sprayed after the harvest, to increase organic carbon in the soil and maintain overall soil health.[10] In 2021, they began licensing its use to various companies.[34] In May 2022, the Government of Punjab announced they will purchase maize, bajra, sunflower and moong crops at MSP, encouraging farmers to adopt less water consuming options as a sustainable alternative to paddy and wheat in the wake of fast-depleting groundwater.[35]

The pollution from stubble burning in India

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A recent study in 2020 showed that the country created 600-700 million tonnes of crop residue and is choking cities.[36] People in India are awaiting sustainable management to reduce the pollution. The areas that are largely contributing to the stubble burning pollutants are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab,[citation needed] and Haryana which is spreading to the border of Uttarakhand.[36] The unsustainable use of alternating wheat-rice cropping patterns[37] is exhausting natural resources like water, soil, and forest areas.[citation needed] In one year the emissions from the crop burning can be 17 times the total annual particulate pollution[36] and the crop residue carbon dioxide submissions are 64 times the element emissions in Delhi.[36] The crops that are typically burned include rice, wheat, maize, millet, and sugarcane,[citation needed] all of which have large investment returns[17] and also leave a residue on the field after being cut. After 1 tonne of crop residue is burnt in a field there is a release of 1,400 kg of carbon dioxide, 58 kg of cobalt, 11 kg of particulate matter, 4.9 kg of nitrogen oxides,[37] and 1.2 kg of sulfur dioxide.[36] Stubble burning also depletes groundwater[36] and the lack of attention to the issue has led Indian civilians to feel hopeless for effective government interventional responses.[38]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Demirdogen, Alper (September 2024). "Stubble burning: What determines this fire?". Environmental Development. 51. doi:10.1016/j.envdev.2024.101029. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b Meer Baloch, Shah; Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (1 November 2024). "'More toxic than ever': Lahore and Delhi choked by smog as 'pollution season' begins". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Grains and Other Crops» Crop Production» Stubble Burning".
  4. ^ Zhang, H.; Hu, D.; Chen, J.; Ye, X.; Wang, S. X.; Hao, J. M.; Wang, L.; Zhang, R.; An, Z. (2011). "Particle size distribution and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emissions from agricultural crop residue burning". Environmental Science & Technology. 45 (13): 5477–82. Bibcode:2011EnST...45.5477Z. doi:10.1021/es1037904. PMID 21615081.
  5. ^ a b Ellison, Amelia (24 August 2013). "Stubble burns cause headache for firebrigades". The Wimmera Mail Times. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  6. ^ Bhuvaneshwari, S.; Hettiarachchi, Hiroshan; Meegoda, Jay N. (2019). "Crop Residue Burning in India: Policy Challenges and Potential Solutions". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 16 (5): 832. doi:10.3390/ijerph16050832. ISSN 1660-4601. PMC 6427124. PMID 30866483.
  7. ^ "Farmers cite lack of options as stubble burning turns air toxic in northern India". Reuters. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  8. ^ Ferrandez-Garcia; García-Ortuño; Ferrández García; Ferrández-Villena; Ferrandez-Garcia (28 September 2017). "Fire-resistance, physical, and mechanical characterization of binderless rice straw particleboards". BioResources. 12 (4): 8539–8549. doi:10.15376/biores.12.4.8539-8549. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  9. ^ Andrews, Susan S. (22 February 2006). "Crop Residue Removal for Biomass Energy Production: Effects on Soils and Recommendations" (PDF). Natural Resources Conservation Service. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  10. ^ a b c Kamali Dehghan, Saeed (10 December 2021). "Burning issue: how enzymes could end India's problem with stubble". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Innovation: paper made from agricultural waste up to 100%". PaperWise. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Our Technology". Vertoro. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Introduction". Fruitleather Rotterdam. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Wheat Straw Clamshells". Eco Products. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Valio and St1 joint venture, Suomen Lantakaasu Oy, ready to increase domestic biogas production". Valio. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Technology". PlasticFri. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  17. ^ a b c d e Bhuvaneshwari, S.; Hettiarachchi, Hiroshan; Meegoda, Jay (2019). "Crop Residue Burning in India: Policy Challenges and Potential Solutions". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 16 (5): 832. doi:10.3390/ijerph16050832. PMC 6427124. PMID 30866483.
  18. ^ "The Crop Residues (Burning) Regulations 1993". www.legislation.gov.uk.
  19. ^ Tasker, Johann (30 May 2012). "Farmers step up stubble burning campaign". Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  20. ^ "Oregon Secretary of State Division Rules, Chapter 603, Division 77, "Field Burning Rules"". Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  21. ^ Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. "Crop Residue Burning". Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  22. ^ "REGULATION (EU) No 1306/2013 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL".
  23. ^ "Farmers burn wheat stubble despite ban". Peoples Daily. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  24. ^ "Paddy stubble burning: Two farmers booked in Sangrur". Hindustan Times. 31 October 2014. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  25. ^ Slater, Joanna (15 October 2018). "India is trying to prevent apocalyptic air pollution. Step 1: Stop farmers from burning their fields". Washington Post. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  26. ^ "Smoke from stubble fires engulfs Winnipeg". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 6 September 2007.
  27. ^ Geeta Anand, "Farmers’ Unchecked Crop Burning Fuels India's Air Pollution", The New York Times, 2 November 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  28. ^ Want govt to build 1600 km green wall along Aravalli, Indian Express, 24 December 2019.
  29. ^ Joydeep Thakur, Brace for air pollution in Delhi as crop burning starts in neighbouring states: Agricultural stubble running into millions of tonnes is burnt by farmers in northern India twice every year. An estimated 35 million tonnes are set afire in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh alone. Hindustan Times, 28 September 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  30. ^ a b Sowmiya Ashok, "Agricultural pollution: The fields are still burning", The Indian Express, 19 October 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  31. ^ NASA, "Stubble Burning in Northern India", Earth Observatory. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  32. ^ Sanjeev Miglani and Aditya Kalra, "New Delhi declares emergency as toxic smog thickens by the hour", Reuters, 9 November 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  33. ^ "Crop burning: NGT slaps Rs 2 lakh as costs on Delhi govt for not filing action plan". Hindustan Times. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  34. ^ Thiagarajan, Kamala (4 April 2022). "The world's most polluted capital city". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  35. ^ Harmandeep Singh, "Punjab govt will purchase maize, bajra, other crops at MSP: CM Bhagwant Mann", Hindustan Times, 4 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  36. ^ a b c d e f Trivedi, Vinay (14 January 2024). "Stubble burning—a serious issue in Northwest India". Agro-Residue for Power: 7–8.
  37. ^ a b Abdurrahman, Muhammad Isa; Chaki, Sukalpaa; Saini, Gaurav (2020). "Stubble burning: Effects on health & environment, regulations and management practices". Environmental Advances. 2. Bibcode:2020EnvAd...200011A. doi:10.1016/j.envadv.2020.100011.
  38. ^ Kataria, Sunil, and Tanvi Mehta. “Farmers Cite Lack of Options as Stubble Burning Turns Air Toxic in Northern India.” Reuters, November 9, 2022.
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