Controlling Air Pollution Through Agro-waste Management

Removal of excess crop material is an integral part of the agricultural system worldwide, as it is essential for preparing the soil for new seeds and enables better control of weeds and pests.

In India, rice harvesting is about to begin in various regions, including Punjab and Haryana, and farmers are engaged in managing the rice straw, also known as stubble.

Every year, farmers typically opt for the stubble-burning method to clear crop residue, as it is less expensive and less labor-intensive, which ultimately contributes to rising air pollution levels in the region.

However, better agro-waste management and sustainable farming practices can help in overcoming this challenge.

Agriculture and Air Pollution

Approximately 50-55 million tonnes of crop residue are still burnt annually in India as of 2025.

Around 20-25 million tonnes of rice crop residue are burned every year during the post-harvest period.

Stubble burning, without a doubt, has been recognized as one of the important sources of air pollution in local regions such as Delhi.

The burning of agricultural waste releases carbon, nitrogen, and other elements into the air, resulting in smoke.

This smoke, when it reacts with atmospheric gases, causes air pollution.

This is why air quality reaching emergency levels has become a recurring trend every year, with rising particulate levels causing respiratory ailments among people residing in the area.

Additionally, it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

Besides causing air pollution, stubble burning can also impact agriculture.

Minerals present in the soil are also burned in the process and affect the next crop cultivated in the same soil.

However, effective agro-waste management can help in turning waste into something valuable.

Agro-waste Management

For example, approximately 70% of the waste generated in rice farming can be utilized for soil enrichment or sent to industrial plants for converting it into energy resources.

According to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), one tonne of paddy residue can result in a loss of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other essential elements, which can be recycled.

Additionally, the sequestration of carbon has been shown to enhance the efficiency of fertilizers and pesticides, thanks to the presence of various beneficial bacteria in the soil.

In the past four to five years, there has been a gradual increase in the use of agricultural waste by industries to generate energy for different purposes.

The government of India has also launched a biogas scheme that encourages the development of new technologies and solutions to convert rice residue into biogas.

Significant innovations are underway for converting agro-waste into environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and affordable single-use plastic materials.

Agro-waste Management and Composting

Composting has emerged as one of the most effective agro-waste management practices, offering long-term benefits in terms of cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and the production of valuable resources.

Waste management involves the proper handling and disposal of waste in the most effective manner.

In an agricultural system, excess crop waste can be managed effectively through composting.

In the composting process, tiny microorganisms play a major role in breaking down organic waste and turning it into a usable product, which can be used as a soil amendment.

Thus, composting can minimize the agro-waste and produce a beneficial product as well.

There are myriad other benefits of composting, which include:

• Inexpensive method to manage agro-waste
• Reduced air pollution
• Better profits for farmers as it can replace or reduce the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides
• Helps in carbon sequestration in soil
• Compost can be used as mulch for the next harvest

Organica Biotech is a leading company offering advanced solutions for effective waste management.

Bioclean Compost is one such product that contains rapidly acting bacteria capable of effectively decomposing organic waste and converting it into nutrient-rich compost.

It accelerates the composting process, controls bad odour, and prevents harmful bacterial growth.

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us at your convenience.