Impact of Wheat Crop Residue Burning on Micro-Climate of a Rural Area

Abstract

Agricultural crop residue burning is a very common practice of managing the crop residues in Central India (Madhya Pradesh). Generation of crop residues from India is around 500 million tons per year out of which around 33.18 million tons per year from Madhya Pradesh itself. In Madhya Pradesh mainly wheat crop residue burnt during month of April and May. Burning of these agricultural crop residues emits a large number of pollutants as well greenhouse gases. However, this study mainly focused on impact of agricultural crop residue burning on climate of a rural area, Indore, India. To study the topic mainly two parameters is considered, CO2 and Temperature. Data were collected for the three period namely before crop residue burning (February March), during crop residue burning (April-May) and after crop residue burning (June-July). Last 10year data (2006–2015) was accessed for the above mentioned three periods for CO2 and temperature with the help of Giovanni web, Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS).Study results show that burning of agricultural crop residues plays an important role in climate change, although its effect is minor. Study also reveals that every year from 2006 to 2015 both CO2 and temperature were high during crop residue burning period than before burning period.