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Why in the News?
The Air Quality of North India has deteriorated due to Stubble (parali) burning in Punjab.
Key Points:
About
Stubble Burning
- Stubble burning is a process of setting on fire the straw stubble, left after the harvesting of grains, like paddy, wheat, etc.
- It is usually required in areas that use the combined harvesting method which leaves crop residue behind.
- It is practiced mainly in the Indo-Gangetic plains of Punjab, Haryana, and UP to clear the fields for rabi crop sowing.
Impact
- Pollution: Stubble burning emits toxic pollutants in the atmosphere containing harmful gases like Carbon Monoxide and methane.
- Soil fertility: Soil becomes less fertile and its nutrients are destroyed when the husk is burned on the ground.
- Heat Penetration: Stubble burning generates heat that penetrates into the soil, causing an increase in erosion, and loss of useful microbes and moisture.
Measures to tackle Stubble Burning:
- Happy Seeder: It is used for sowing the crop in standing stubble.
- Rotavator: It is used for land preparation and incorporation of crop stubble in the soil.
- Zero till seed drill: It is used for land preparations directly sowing seeds in the previous crop stubble.
- Paddy Straw Chopper: It involves cutting paddy stubble for easy mixing with the soil.
Reaper Binder: It is used for harvesting paddy stubble and making it into bundles.
