Punjab is known as ‘Food Bowl’ of India and Paddy (Rice) is one of the important crop being produced. Although it is feeding many people but Paddy production is adversely effecting the environmental conditions, since the disposal of crop residues after harvesting the crop is difficult. Although paddy straw is good for physical, chemical and biological properties of soil but decomposition of paddy straw requires a long period and effects the germination of next crop. The removal of paddy straw from the field is a labour intensive and costly method since machinery used is costly and farmers cannot afford those machines. The only option the farmer is left with is burning the straw.
Burning of straw causes a lot of problems like air pollution, breathing problem and skin allergies, adverse effect on soil health and microorganisms, release of green house gasses and ultimately climate change.
A lot of approaches have been made by the government for prevention like banning the straw burning, detection of burning through satellites, training farmers about alternative use of paddy straw, subsidization on agricultural implements that can be used for incorporation of straw into soil and crop diversification i.e. growing other crops that produce less crop residue. Apart from a lot of approaches being done by social activists, ecologists and government, scenario of paddy straw burning is still same.
Some Alternatives
My point of view is that Paddy Straw can be used for preparation of Bio-fuel. Since, natural resources are depleting and cost of fuel is increasing. By keeping in mind, the increasing population and vehicles in India, biofuels will hold an utmost importance in future.
In addition to this, biofuel is an environmental – friendly option. Rice straw is rich in lignocellulisic content that can be used for bioethanol production but presence of high ash and silica content are limiting factors in production.
Moreover, Paddy straw can also be used for biogas production. Biogas is a mixture of gasses (methane and carbon dioxide being highest) produced by anaerobic breakdown of organic matter. Boigas can be used for cooking and as a fuel and in vehicles and thus will reduce the money spent on fuels.
Further research is required so that paddy straw can be used for biodiesel and biogas production and environment can be sustained.
AGSC 5110 Research Methods 
Great! I am interested to know about the quantity of Rice straw required to produce one pound of bio-fuel?
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It’s a really good question, according to my calculations approximately 4.12 Kg of Paddy Straw is required for production of one pound of biofuel.
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You can read more at https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00253-019-09863-3
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so finally Punjab will get rid of paddy straw burning problem
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Yes, if biofuel and biogas production becomes successful then the problem of paddy straw burning will be solved. A lot of research and efforts are being made on this topic.
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I belong to Punjab, I am so glad to read your post about this topic. I have a question, whether the biogas production will take same amount of time as it takes when we use cowdung as a substrate?
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