Crop waste management: perspectives on alternative uses in India

Abstract

Abstract India, which is primarily agricultural, produces approximately 683 million tonnes (MT) of crop waste. This waste is mostly used for animal feed and fuel. In India, roughly 178 MT of surplus crop leftovers and 92 MT of crop trash are burned each year because of a lack of sustainable agricultural management practices, resulting in severe air pollution. This has grown into a significant environmental issue, contributing to global warming. This crop residue burning can be prevented by adopting sustainable crop management practices through the support of government initiatives and policies. Crop waste generation, demand and feasibility differ from region to region. As a result, crop residue management plan tailored to the needs of each region should be developed. The central and state governments in India have launched a number of strategies to deal with excess crop leftovers. The majority of innovations have focused on rice husk, straw, maize waste, bagasse and banana crop waste, which account for 56% of India’s crop waste. In addition, several millet crops and cereals such as bajra, sorghum and others generate more than 352 MT of crop waste annually. These wastes are potentially available in most of the Indian states and cover 44% of crop waste, and these are not being used effectively. This review suggests advanced and practical research to develop millet crop residue management using conservation agricultural methods.