A new study in Science of the Total Environment finds that crop residue burning, common in Asia, South America, and Africa, causes air pollution, disrupts biodiversity, weakens agroecosystems, and reduces soil fertility.
Key Findings of the Study
- Biodiversity Loss: Natural predators such as spiders (Hippasa greenalliae), ladybird beetles, earwigs, predatory mites, beetles, and frogs decline sharply.
About Crop Residue
- Crop residue refers to the plant material, such as stalks, leaves, and roots, that remains in a field after the main part of the crop has been harvested.
- Significance:
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- This leftover biomass is vital for its crucial role in soil health, erosion control, and agricultural productivity.
- Modern agri-practices are focused on incorporating crop residue back into the soil through methods like no-till farming to improve the soil and protect the environment.
About Agroecosystem
- An agroecosystem is a type of ecosystem that is managed by humans for agricultural production.
- It encompasses the living organisms (plants, animals, microbes) and their environment within a farm or other agricultural setting, modified to produce food, fuel, fiber, and other resources.
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- Other decomposers like sow bugs, red imported fire ants, millipedes, earthworms, and aquatic mesofauna also decrease.
- Decline of arthropods (ants, bugs, butterflies, flies, cockroaches) disrupts nutrient cycling, soil aeration, and natural pest control, increasing reliance on chemical fertilizers.
- Soil Degradation: Burning raises soil temperatures to 33.8–42.2°C, causing nitrogen loss, reduced organic matter, and microbial decline up to 2.5 cm depth.
- Weakens soil structure and fertility, reducing long-term agricultural productivity.
- Air Pollution Impacts: Releases carbon monoxide (CO), nitrous oxide (N₂O), sulphur oxides (SOx), heavy metals, toxic compounds, and particulate matter (PM₂.₅, PM₁₀).
- Harms beneficial insects (pollinators, arthropods) and birds by causing respiratory issues, reproductive failure, egg thinning, heavy metal contamination, and reduced food availability.
- Cascading Ecosystem Effects: Loss of arthropods exposes soil, leading to unsustainable predation and ultimately impacting birds and higher trophic levels.
- Drives pest outbreaks, making crops more vulnerable and increasing chemical-intensive farming.
- Weakens food webs and agroecological resilience, threatening sustainable agriculture.
About Stubble Burning
- Definition: Stubble Burning involves setting fire to the crop residue (straw stubble) left after harvesting rice and wheat.
- Farmers use this method to quickly prepare the field for the next crop cycle.
- Reasons For Stubble Burning: It is a cost-effective and fast way to clear fields.
- Helps in controlling pests.
- Environmental Consequences: Releases large amounts of smoke and particulate matter into the air.
- Major contributor to air pollution, especially in northern India.
- It has been estimated that the burning of one tonne of paddy straw releases 3 kg particulate matter, 60 kg CO, 1460 kg CO2, 199 kg ash and 2 kg SO2.
- Causes loss of soil nutrients and organic matter as well as physical health deterioration to the soil, reducing long-term fertility.
- Health Hazards: The smoke causes respiratory and cardiovascular issues.
- Vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions are most at risk.
Read More About: Complete Elimination Of Stubble Burning
23 Aug 2025
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