1. Best Mechanization Practices to avoid Burning of Straw
National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign 2017 Recommendations of Group No. III on
Best Mechanization Practices to avoid Burning of Straw

2. Participated States
Bihar
Chhattisgarh
Haryana
Madhya Pradesh
Nagaland
Punjab
Rajasthan
Tamil Nadu
Uttar Pradesh
West Bengal

3. Residue generated, residue surplus and burned in Major States
(Source: National Policy for Management of Crop Residues) Million tonne
S.N.
States
Residue generation
Residue surplus
Residue burned 1
Andhra Pradesh
43.89
6.96
2.73 2
Bihar
25.29
5.08
3.19 3
Chhattisgarh
11.25
2.12
0.83 4
Gujarat
28.73
8.90
3.81 5
Haryana
27.83
11.22
9.08 6
Karnataka
33.94
8.98
5.66 7
Madhya Pradesh
33.18
10.22
6.91 8
Maharashtra
46.45
14.67
7.42 9
Orissa
20.07
3.68
1.34 10
Punjab
50.75
24.83
19.65 11
Rajasthan
29.32
8.52
1.78 12
Tamil Nadu
19.93
7.05
4.08 13
Uttar Pradesh
59.97
13.53
11.92 14
West Bengal
35.93
4.29
4.96

4. Impacts of Crop Residue Burning
Pollution
(Affecting Human health)
& GH gases emission
Loss of Nutrients e.g. N, P, K & S
Mortality of active beneficial Soil Bacteria
Soil hardening & erosion due to no cover
Smoke & soot particles

5. Majority Residue Burned
State Crop Residue
Andhra Pradesh Paddy
Bihar Paddy /Wheat
Chhattisgarh Wheat /Paddy
Gujarat Wheat
Haryana Paddy/Wheat
Karnataka Paddy/Wheat
Madhya Pradesh Wheat
Maharashtra Wheat/ Sugarcane
Orissa Wheat
Punjab Paddy/Wheat/ Sugarcane
Rajasthan Wheat/ Paddy/Mustard
Tamil Nadu Wheat
Uttar Pradesh Wheat/Paddy/Sugarcane
West Bengal Wheat

6. LOSS OF NUTRIENTS DUE TO PADDY STRAW BURNING (per ton basis)
Nitrogen kg
Sulphur kg
Phosphorus (~40%)2.3 kg
Potash (~10%) kg
Organic Carbon kg

7. Challenges? Utilization of crop residue; Huge volume of crop residue;
Collection & Storage;
Time window between harvesting and sowing of two(next )crops;
Awareness, Dissemination of Technology, Capacity Building of Technical Manpower and those of farmers;
Cost-effective mechanization, availability of appropriate machinery;
Utilization of crop residue;
Technology up-gradation

8. Crop Residue Management Alternatives
Bio Char / gasification
Crop Residue Management Alternatives
Fodder / Other purposes
Incorporation in soil and Mulching/composting
Direct seeding by zero-till or Happy Seeder
Baling/ Binder for domestic/industrial as fuel

9. Technological Interventions.
Retention of Crop Residue as Mulch and Incorporation of in soil.
Use of crop residue for compost/vermin-compost/FYM
Crop residue utilization for Mushroom Cultivation.
Incentivize purchase of improved machineries to ensure minimum left over of crop residue.
Promotion of Custom Hiring/ Agriculture Service Centres
Improvement in combine harvester for In-situ management and other mechanism for collection of crop residue

10. Diversified Uses of Crop Residue.
Use in Power Generation, production of cellulosic ethanol in PPP mode .
Use of Crop Residue for paper/board/panel and packing material
Promotion of collection of crop residue for feed bricks making and its transport to fodder deficient areas.

11. Capacity Building and Awareness Generation.
Organizing training of farmers for awareness generation through mass and print media.
Establishment of Custom Hiring Centres through Self Help Group of unemployed youth by providing subsidy
Demonstration of crop residue management technologies.

12. Recover wheat straw after combine operation
The left over wheat stalks after cut by combine harvester, thresh and blow out the straw to netted trolley attached which allows blowing of dust particles.
Straw Reaper
Advantages
Recover wheat straw after combine operation
Recovered wheat straw is used as cattle feed.
The capacity of machine on an average is 0.4 ha/h and straw recovery is about %.
The quality of bhusa is comparable with that made available thresher.
There is an additional grain recovery of kg/ha.
Cost: Rs 2,25,000 (Approx)

13. Advantages Reduce air pollution Reduces fuel and labour costs.
A perfect machine for chopping all types of crop residue / straw such as wheat, Paddy, Maize, Sorghum, Sunflower etc.
In a single operation, it chops the left behind straw/ stubbles and spread it on the ground.
The chopped and spreaded stubbles are easily buried in the soil by the use of single operation of Rotavator or disc harrow
Subsequently, wheat sowing is done as usual by the use of , no-till drill or traditional drill/other equipment
Machine consists of a rotary shaft mounted with blades named as flail to harvest the straw and chopping unit consisting of knives.
Paddy Straw Chopper
Cost: Rs 2,00,000 (Approx)
Advantages
Reduce air pollution
Reduces fuel and labour costs.

14. Cost: Rs (Approx)
Zero-till farming is a way of growing wheat / other crops without tillage or disturbing the soil in paddy/other crop harvested fields.
Zero tillage Advantage
1.  Reduces labor, saves time
2.  Saves fuel
3.  Reduces machinery wear
4.  Improves soil tilth
5.  Increases organic matter
6.  Traps soil moisture
7.  Reduces soil erosion 
8.  Improves water quality
9.  Improves air quality

15. Happy Seeder Advantages
Happy Seeder is one of the unique techniques which is used for sowing seed without any burning of Crop residue.
In this machine a Rotor unit is attached at front of seeding unit that cuts & spread straw in between the rows, as mulch.
Majority of the residue is not disturbed and seed is sown in a single pass.
This technology is eco friendly with environment for the health of soil as well as it also saves water.
Cost : Rs (Approx))
Advantages
Removes the need to burn rice stubble before planting wheat, therefore reducing air pollution.
Direct sowing also reduces soil disturbance, enabling it to retain more nutrients, moisture and organic content.
Saves money as less time is needed on carrying out field operations, which in turn reduces fuel and labour costs.

16. This machine shreds the weeds and stock of row crops in orchards
MULCHER MACHINE
Used for mulching of straws of crops such as rice, maize, sunflower and tobacco residues easily
This machine shreds the weeds and stock of row crops in orchards
Cutting height is adjustable by two wheels at the back of the machine.
The knives which are jointed on the roller, rotates vertically.
Cost: Rs 1,50,000(Approx)

17. Hay Rake
It is  used to collect & cut hay or straw into windrows for later collection (e.g. by a baler).
It is also designed to fluff up the hay and turn it over so that it may get dry.
It reduces the work of baler and in
Cost: Rs 2,70000/ (Approx)

18. Baler
It is  used to compress raked residues of rice, wheat, fodders, sugarcane, legumes etc into compact bales that are easy to handle, transport, and store.
Two different type of bale–rectangular or cylindrical, of various sizes, bound with twine, strapping, netting or wire.
Advantage
Crop residues are turned into bales which is used for animal feeding as well as bio fuels.
Creates alternative business for farmers to sell bales to power plants.
Save the environment from air pollution.
Cost: Rs 2,25,000 to 18,00000(Approx)

19. Super Straw Management System (Super SMS):
The Super SMS cuts the straw in small pieces and scatters it around behind the tail of the combine.
An additional straw management system could be fitted to Self Propelled combine harvesters
Advantages
Easy direct sowing of wheat with happy seeder
The scattered straw helps in conserving the soil moisture
Avoid burning straw or removal of straw.

20. GROUP’S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROMOTION OF RESIDUE MANAGEMENT MACHINERY
State Governments may be given full assistance for promotion through awareness by way of demonstration, training and capacity building
Higher slabs of subsidy may be given to farmers for procurement of machinery
More Custom hiring centres may be promoted for easy reach of costly equipment for small and marginal farmers at village level
Incentivize farmers for adoption of various residue management operations
Support for funding R&D/technological up-gradation to States
Strengthening of Agricultural Engineering Extension Services (Special Directorate of Agricultural Engineering) on the pattern of Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu
Farm mechanization components in different schemes like NFSM, NMOOP, MIDH etc. be brought under single umbrella of SMAM for effective implementation and uniformity of assistance

21. Thank you