Study of Burning Behaviour of Four Different Varieties of Paddy Grown in Paddy Cultivating Districts of Haryana To Recognize the Air Pollutants Released Resulting in Health Effects and Climate Change

Abstract

Green revolution belt in the Northern India includes the state of Haryana. It’s a major producer of Paddy in India as 18 districts are involved in Paddy cultivation. Out of these 7 districts are having very good paddy cultivation yielding more than 2500kg per hectare. In these districts the farmers are utilising the fields all through the year and for that matter are using all types of machinery to increase the speed of harvesting. Hence, they are using Combine harvesters to harvest the crops of Paddy. This increases the speed of harvesting at a low cost but brings with it another problem which is it cuts the crops at a height of about 10cm from the ground. This stubble of paddy which is left in the field is a major issue as the farmers are burning and removing the stubble from their fields after harvesting the crop. Burning of paddy stubble and other agro wastes has resulted in air pollution problems which are not only in Haryana but has also spread to Delhi particularly which results in a smog condition in the cold winter months.

Research is done by burning the stubble and straw of four different varieties of paddy which are majorly grown in Haryana. Then the gaseous pollutants are tested along with suspended particles which are released by burning of the stubble and straw of paddy. The data is compared with the CPCB data to find out the consistency in the results. Also, the months in which there is more pollution is found by comparison of the results with the CPCB data. Then consultation is done with Medical Officer at Panipat to understand that whether the findings are correct or not. Also, with the help of the Medical Officer it is found that which health effects are happening more often in the paddy growing belt of Haryana. The change in climate is determined by the temperature increased during a period of ten years.

This study is to understand the pollutants released by burning of stubble and its relationship with health effects and climate change for determining the adverse effects.