Crop Residues Management with Conservation Agriculture: Potential, Constraints and Policy Needs

Suggested citation IARI (2012) Crop residues management with conservation agriculture: Potential, constraints and policy needs. Indian Foreword India being an agriculture-dominant country produces more than 500 million tons of crop residues annually. These residues are used as animal feed, for thatching of homes, and as a source of domestic and industrial fuel. A large portion of unused crop residues are burnt in the fields primarily to clear the left-over straw and stubbles after the harvest. Non-availability of labour, high cost of residue removal from the field and increasing use of combines in harvesting the crops are main reasons behind burning of crop residues in the fields. Burning of crop residues causes environmental pollution, is hazardous to human health, produces greenhouse gases causing global warming and results in loss of plant nutrients like N, P, K and S. Therefore, appropriate management of crop residues assumes a great significance. Recent research efforts have developed conservation agriculture-based crop management technologies which are more resource-efficient than the conventional practices. The conservation agriculture practices can make efficient use of crop residues. However, information about their use is scanty. This bulletin will fill the gap and will generate awareness about such technologies. The bulletin provides comprehensive information about the generation of crop residues every year in the country and the extent of their on-farm burning along with their environmental impacts. It is perhaps the first attempt in the country towards identification of the competing uses of crop residues and suggesting their management options gainfully. The bulletin has also mentioned the research and policy issues related to their safe and sustainable management at local and regional scales. I appreciate the efforts of the authors in bringing out this important bulletin and do hope that it will generate interest of the students, researchers, policymakers and farmers towards efficient management of crop residues in the country.