- Stubble burning is the practice of removing paddy crop residues from fields to sow wheat in the last week of September to November.
- It is common in areas that use the combined harvesting method, leaving crop residue behind.
- Stubble burning is prevalent in North West India in October and November mainly in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
- It releases a huge amount of toxic pollutants, which in turn affects human health as well as soil fertility.
- Heat from stubble burning goes to the depth of the soil that results in the loss of moisture and useful microbes.
- Alternatives to stubble burning are technology like the use of Turbo Happy Seeder machines, which can uproot the stubble and sow seeds in cleared areas.
- The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas has developed action plans to address the issues of air pollution.
- This calls for constructive use of stubble as animal feed, technology alternatives like Turbo-Happy Seeder Machine, and Bio-Decomposer.
- Even stubble can be turned into paper and cardboard and can be used as manure, charcoal gasification, power generation, and bio-ethanol.
