Practice of burning causes loss of nutrients in soil: Experts

Box: Haryana records 132 farm fire spots on Friday

Haryana recorded 132 farm fire spots today with Fatehabad topping the chart at 49, followed by Sirsa (27). The state has recorded 6,337 incidents of crop residue burning so far this season. This figure is much below as compared to the previous year’s figure of 9,255 during the corresponding period.

Quote: Done away with practice

The practice of buring crop residue is destruction. It has improved the soil health and the crop yield has increased over the years as well – Baljinder Singh, progressive farmer

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, November 19

Agriculture experts and progressive farmers have expressed concern over the practice of burning crop residue during the kharif and rabi seasons, stating that burning adversely affected the health of the soil due to loss of key nutrients from the soil.

The experts maintained that soil contains numerous organisms and each of those have a specific ecological significance. “The presence of organic matter in the soil is a source of carbon or food for soil micro-organism which ensure the health of the soil for crop production,” the experts said.

“The practice of burning crop residue, especially paddy straw during the kharif season, is causing a huge damage to the soil due to destruction of nutrients, which renders the land almost barren,” said Dr Ram Kumar, retired scientist from Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar.

A progressive farmer, Baljinder Singh Khera from Kurukshetra, said they had done away with the practice of burning paddy straw years ago. “It has improved the soil health and the crop yield has increased over the years as well,” he said.

Khera, however, admitted that there was challenge before the small and medium farmers for paddy straw management. “It costs about Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 to manage paddy residue without burning and so, a small farmer opts to set the residue ablaze, which costs him just a stick of a matchbox,” he added.

Dr Vinod Kumar Phogat, Deputy Director Agriculture, Hisar, said they had launched an awareness drive to aware farmers about the adverse effects of burning on the soil. “Teams have been reaching out to the farmers to hold regular discussions with them. We have also set up custom hiring centres to provide implements for crop residue management,” he said.