Abstract

Crop residue burning has become a major environmental problem of India, as it causes air pollution as well as deteriorate the soil health includes loss of nutrients, organic matter and decline microbial population. India generates a large amount of crop residues (686 MT). In the absence of adequate sustainable management practices, approximately 135 MT crop residues is burned every year in India out of total availability. Consequently, a variety of alternative approaches should be considered as substitutes for open field burning, i.e., smart mechanization, livestock feed and shelter, mushroom cultivation, straw composting, biochar production, residue incorporation, surface retention and mulching, energy source, crop residues as liquid organic fertilizer and also as value added production.