Harmful effects of stubble burning - it has a huge impact on soil, crops, and health. Learn how to turn it into fertilizer 

 

Farmers, burning the stubble (crop residue) left in the fields after the Kharif crop is harvested every year has become a common practice. But did you know that this small habit is killing your soil, reducing crop production, and poisoning the air? NASA satellite data shows that in October, the incidence of stubble fires increases dramatically in more than 30 districts of Madhya Pradesh. This problem is most severe in districts like Vidisha, Rajgarh, Sehore, Bhopal, Ujjain, and Dewas. Plumes of smoke also rise in Guna, Ashoknagar, and the Malwa-Nimar region. These fires not only harm the environment but also negatively impact your income and health. In this article, we will explain in simple terms why burning stubble is wrong and how it can be converted into fertilizer to strengthen your fields. If you are a farmer or involved in agriculture, this information will prove very useful.

 

Loss of organic carbon causes a profound damage to soil health

 

Soil is the foundation of any farm. The organic carbon it contains keeps the soil healthy. This carbon balances the soil's structure, chemical properties, and biota. Sadly, more than 70 percent of Madhya Pradesh's soils contain very little organic carbon (below 5 grams per kilogram). This problem has been exacerbated by the increasing incidence of stubble burning in recent years. When stubble is burned, the soil's organic carbon is reduced to ashes, reducing soil fertility.

 

A study shows that approximately 57 percent of the state's soils are deficient in sulfur, 55 percent in zinc, 21 percent in boron, and 12 percent in iron. Burning stubble evaporates or destroys these nutrients. The result? The soil becomes weak, and plants don't receive the necessary nutrients. If the soil isn't healthy, how can the crop be good? Farmer friends, imagine, it's like ruining years of your hard work.

 

How much damage does burning a ton of stubble cause?

 

Now let's look at the statistics. Burning a ton of stubble causes significant damage to the soil. The beneficial bacteria present in it die, such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphorus-soluble bacteria, and cellulose-degrading fungi and actinomycetes. These bacteria aerate the soil and provide nutrients to plants. Without them, the soil cannot breathe and becomes dry and lifeless.

 

The statistics are even more shocking. Burning a ton of stubble destroys an average of 5.5 kilograms of nitrogen, 2.3 kilograms of phosphorus, 25 kilograms of potash, and 1.2 kilograms of sulfur. These are the very elements that serve as essential fertilizers for crops. If these elements remain in the soil, the fertilizer requirement for the next crop could be halved. This means you'll save money and have a better harvest. But burning them ruins all of this. It not only reduces the soil's nutritional value but can also reduce the yield of the next crop by 10-20 percent.

 

Loss of Earthworms - The True Engineers of Soil Are Dying

 

Stubble burning not only burns the surface, but also destroys the organisms living deep within the soil. The most important of these are earthworms, which we can call "natural soil engineers." These tiny creatures feed on the soil, and their droppings (castings) release eight times more nitrogen and phosphorus. This significantly reduces the need for fertilizer.

 

Earthworms go up to 15 feet deep into the soil, feed on the soil, and then come up through another route. This process makes the soil porous, like a sponge. This allows rainwater to easily reach plant roots and increases the groundwater level. But burning stubble scorches these earthworms and kills them. The result? The soil hardens, its water-absorbing capacity decreases, and drought increases. Farmer friends, if earthworms disappear, the soil's natural fertilizer factory will shut down.

 

Impact on Crops, Health, and the Environment

 

The effects of stubble burning are not limited to the soil. It reduces the yield of the next crop because the soil becomes weak. Smoke, filled with toxic particles, spreads in the air. This smoke causes respiratory diseases, eye irritation, and heart problems. Smog increases in cities, which is dangerous for children and the elderly. The environment is also adversely affected – greenhouse gases increase, which contribute to climate change.

 

In an agricultural state like Madhya Pradesh, this problem is exacerbated by the burning of millions of tons of stubble annually. If we stop this, not only will crops improve, but our health and the environment will also be protected.

Turning Stubble into Compost - Easy Methods and Benefits

 

Now the good news! Instead of burning stubble, turning it into compost is very easy and improves the health of the field. Deepak Raghuvanshi, a farmer in Shivpuri district, did just that last year. After harvesting, he sowed chickpea directly using Super Seeder and Happy Seeder machines. This mixed the stubble into the field and gradually decomposed into compost. According to the Agriculture Department, such machines not only manage stubble but also reduce weeds and conserve soil moisture.

 

If you don't have access to machines, try home-made methods. Make a homemade solution – mix cow dung, buttermilk, and neem juice and spray it on the stubble. Or use a biodecomposer like the PUSA Decomposer. This decomposes the stubble in 25-30 days, creating excellent organic compost. This compost increases organic carbon in the soil, allows bacteria to thrive, and acts as a natural fertilizer for the crop. The benefits: reduced fertilizer costs, higher yields, and long-term healthy soil.

 

Farmers, the government also provides subsidies for stubble management. Machines like the Super Seeder are available for rent. If all farmers adopt this method together, the smoke from the fields will disappear and the greenery will increase.