of consumption of fertilizer (NPK) is 249 kg/ha as compared to the Indian average
of 142 kg/ha. Similarly, Punjab has 98 % of high-yielding variety coverage, which
is the highest among the Indian states. About 18 % of the total tractors in India are
in Punjab. Production is supported by about 97 % irrigation coverage with 970,139
tube wells.
2 Agricultural Residue Burning
Under the rice–wheat cropping pattern, rice has to be harvested early in order to
accommodate the wheat crop. This means, a very little time is left in the hands of
the farmers to turn around for planting the wheat crop. Within this period, the
farmer has to get rid of the rice stubble and prepare the land for sowing the wheat
crop. The previous varieties of rice and wheat crops were of long duration and
could fit rice–wheat rotation only in small areas. But with the availability of
photo-period non-sensitive short-duration varieties of wheat as well as rice it
became possible to grow high-yielding 120–130 days rice crop, i.e., June–July to
October–November followed by a high-yielding 110–120 days wheat crop, i.e.,
November–December to March–April. With the adoption of these varieties rice–
wheat crop rotation was practiced in areas which formerly produced only wheat or
rice but not both in the same field in any one farming year. The major constraint in
the rice–wheat cropping system is the available short time between rice harvesting
and sowing of wheat and any delay in sowing adversely affects the wheat
crop. Preparation of the field also involves removal or utilization of rice straw left in
the field.
Various modern inputs were introduced in Punjab to harvest the rice crop within
such a short period of time. One such input which has become the most popular
implement in the rice–wheat cropping system is the use of the combined mechanized harvester. The use of the combined harvester has increased at a tremendous
rate in Punjab. Almost 80 % of the rice crop is harvested using this implement in
Punjab. However, the use of the combined harvester has in reality exacerbated the
problem of crop residue management. The use of combined harvesters leaves
behind a large amount of rice residue to be burnt in the open fields. The combined
harvester spreads the rice residue in the fields which is difficult to collect. It is
widely perceived that farmers find it the easiest and the most economical way of
getting rid of the rice stubble through burning it. Also, the shortage of time for
sowing the wheat crop, after the rice crop harvest, leaves farmers with no other
option but to burn it.
Thus, burning has emerged as the standard method of rice residue/stubble
management in the combine harvested rice–wheat cropping system that is practiced
on a broad scale in the state of Punjab in northwest India. Every year almost 15 to
20 million tons of paddy straw are generated in Punjab. Of this, according to
various estimates, on an average, almost 7–8 million tons of rice residue are set on
fire in open fields.
Energy Generation by Use of Crop Stubble in Punjab
509
of 142 kg/ha. Similarly, Punjab has 98 % of high-yielding variety coverage, which
is the highest among the Indian states. About 18 % of the total tractors in India are
in Punjab. Production is supported by about 97 % irrigation coverage with 970,139
tube wells.
2 Agricultural Residue Burning
Under the rice–wheat cropping pattern, rice has to be harvested early in order to
accommodate the wheat crop. This means, a very little time is left in the hands of
the farmers to turn around for planting the wheat crop. Within this period, the
farmer has to get rid of the rice stubble and prepare the land for sowing the wheat
crop. The previous varieties of rice and wheat crops were of long duration and
could fit rice–wheat rotation only in small areas. But with the availability of
photo-period non-sensitive short-duration varieties of wheat as well as rice it
became possible to grow high-yielding 120–130 days rice crop, i.e., June–July to
October–November followed by a high-yielding 110–120 days wheat crop, i.e.,
November–December to March–April. With the adoption of these varieties rice–
wheat crop rotation was practiced in areas which formerly produced only wheat or
rice but not both in the same field in any one farming year. The major constraint in
the rice–wheat cropping system is the available short time between rice harvesting
and sowing of wheat and any delay in sowing adversely affects the wheat
crop. Preparation of the field also involves removal or utilization of rice straw left in
the field.
Various modern inputs were introduced in Punjab to harvest the rice crop within
such a short period of time. One such input which has become the most popular
implement in the rice–wheat cropping system is the use of the combined mechanized harvester. The use of the combined harvester has increased at a tremendous
rate in Punjab. Almost 80 % of the rice crop is harvested using this implement in
Punjab. However, the use of the combined harvester has in reality exacerbated the
problem of crop residue management. The use of combined harvesters leaves
behind a large amount of rice residue to be burnt in the open fields. The combined
harvester spreads the rice residue in the fields which is difficult to collect. It is
widely perceived that farmers find it the easiest and the most economical way of
getting rid of the rice stubble through burning it. Also, the shortage of time for
sowing the wheat crop, after the rice crop harvest, leaves farmers with no other
option but to burn it.
Thus, burning has emerged as the standard method of rice residue/stubble
management in the combine harvested rice–wheat cropping system that is practiced
on a broad scale in the state of Punjab in northwest India. Every year almost 15 to
20 million tons of paddy straw are generated in Punjab. Of this, according to
various estimates, on an average, almost 7–8 million tons of rice residue are set on
fire in open fields.
Energy Generation by Use of Crop Stubble in Punjab
509