In-situ management

One of the most effective solutions to stop stubble burning in India is incorporation and/or retention of rice straw in the fields itself with the help of ‘Happy-Seeders’, Zero-till-drills’, ‘Mulchers’, etc. The conservation agriculture (CA) is the suitable platform for effective in-situ management of rice straw. This strategy has three faced benefits, viz., (i) reduce soil and air pollution; (ii) improve the soil health (by adding organic carbon to soil and enhancing microbial activities); (iii) and reduce the over-dependence on chemical inputs/fertilizers. Additional economic benefits in terms of reduced input cost (fertilizer, irrigation-requirement), and enrichment in soil organic matter could also be gained by this approach.