Current Science

Sangeeta Lenka ¹, N. K. Lenka ¹, R. C. Singh ², A. Subba Rao ¹, S. Kundu ¹, Jyothi Raghuwansi ¹, C. P. Patidar ²

Affiliations
1 Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Berasia Road, Bhopal 462 038, IN
2 Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Nabibagh, Berasia Road, Bhopal 462 038, IN

Abstract

Biomass burning is a major contributor to the atmospheric carbon budget and increases the concentration of many trace gases apart from the adverse effects on soil properties. However, in many parts of India, crop residue burning is a recurrent and widespread practice for disposal of the residues after harvest of the previous crop to facilitate sowing of the succeeding crop. The residue burning on a larger scale also leads to severe atmospheric pollution. Against this backdrop, the present work was conducted to study the effect of wheat (Triticum aestivum) residue burning on soil properties and assess the potential greenhouse gas emission from burning of such residues on a regional scale. The study was taken up on farmers' field in Bhopal district, Madhya Pradesh, with two residue disposal methods, viz. residue burning and residue removal, for comparison with respect to their effect on soil properties and the greenhouse gas emission potential. No significant difference was observed between both methods in terms of soil organic carbon, inorganic carbon and available P content at 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil depths. Though residue burning showed favourable effect on available K content, there was reduction in the available N content in the 15-30 cm soil depth. Residue burning did not show significant effect on soil biological activity as estimated from fluorescence diacetate test. On the other hand, there was a significant adverse effect on soil structure and labile carbon content. Residue burning was estimated to result in the emission of 379 Gg C equivalent for India and 14 Gg C equivalent for MP.

Keywords

Biomass Burning, Greenhouse Gas Emission, Soil Properties, Wheat.

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S. Kundu ¹, M. Vassanda Coumar ¹, S. Rajendiran ¹, Ajay ¹, A. Subba Rao ¹

Affiliations
1 Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Berasia Road, Bhopal 462 038, IN

Abstract

Eutrophication, regarded as the most immediate environmental consequence of extensive phosphorus usage in contemporary societies, has received wide attention. If the current level of human-induced global environmental impacts continues, there is a chance of occurrence of nearly 2.4-2.7-fold increase in nitrogen and phosphorus driven eutrophication of terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems in the near future. The main sources of phosphate in aquatic environment, is through household sewage water containing detergents and cleaning preparations, agricultural run-off containing fertilizers, as well as, industrial effluents from fertilizer, detergent and soap industries. The consumption of synthetic detergents is increasing year-by-year due to increasing urbanization and most of them contain phosphate as a 'builder', which increases phosphate loading rates in water bodies. The estimated annual consumption of phosphate-containing laundry detergents for the current population in India is about 2.88 million tonnes and the total outflow of P is estimated to be 146 thousand tonnes per year. Therefore, a major point of concern for checking eutrophication of water bodies, particularly in sensitive areas, is how to reduce P inputs to surface waters.

Keywords

Aquatic Ecosystem, Detergents, Eutrophication, Phosphate Loading.

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