Crop Residue Management in India: Stubble Burning vs. Other Utilizations including Bioenergy

Gaurav Kumar Porichha, Yulin Hu, Kasanneni Tirumala Venkateswara Rao and Chunbao Charles Xu
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Gaurav Kumar Porichha: Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada
Yulin Hu: Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada
Kasanneni Tirumala Venkateswara Rao: Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada
Chunbao Charles Xu: Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 14, 1-17

Abstract: In recent studies, various reports reveal that stubble burning of crop residues in India generates nearly 150 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), more than 9 million tons of carbon monoxide (CO), a quarter-million tons of sulphur oxides (SO X ), 1 million tons of particulate matter and more than half a million tons of black carbon. These contribute directly to environmental pollution, as well as the haze in the Indian capital, New Delhi, and the diminishing glaciers of the Himalayas. Although stubble burning crop residue is a crime under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Air and Pollution Control Act (APCA) of 1981, a lack of implementation of these government acts has been witnessed across the country. Instead of burning, crop residues can be utilized in various alternative ways, including use as cattle feed, compost with manure, rural roofing, bioenergy, beverage production, packaging materials, wood, paper, and bioethanol, etc. This review article aims to present the current status of stubble-burning practices for disposal of crop residues in India and discuss several alternative methods for valorization of crop residues. Overall, this review article offers a solid understanding of the negative impacts of mismanagement of the crop residues via stubble burning in India and the other more promising management approaches including use for bioenergy, which, if widely employed, could not only reduce the environmental impacts of crop residue management, but generate additional value for the agricultural sector globally.

Keywords: agricultural residue; stubble burning; alternative management practices; valorization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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