Straw Burning Research Articles

Ecological Village Planning and Green Building Design from the Perspective of Rural Environmental Aesthetics

The society is making continuous progress, and the results of urban planning and construction are obvious to all. However, there are still many problems in the planning and construction of villages and towns, resulting in relatively backward development. The purpose of this article is to study the planning of ecological villages and towns and the design of green buildings from the perspective of rural environmental aesthetics. This article briefly introduces the principles and problems of ecological village planning through literature research and investigation and puts forward some suggestions on ecological village planning. Through investigation and experiment, the energy problem, structural material problem, and planning problem in green building design are analyzed. The results show that due to various limitations, the use and promotion of solar energy are blocked. Only by helping farmers solve their difficulties can clean energy be used in green buildings and the burning of straw be reduced. Nationwide, the proportion of brick-concrete structures, brick-wood structures, and reinforced concrete structures in rural housing reached 57.2%, 26%, and 12.5%, respectively. Many rural buildings pursue reinforced concrete structures, but brick and wood structures may be more suitable for most rural areas.

14 year applications of chemical fertilizers and crop straw effects on soil labile organic carbon fractions, enzyme activities and microbial community in rice-wheat rotation of middle China

Traditional fertilization management can damage soil structure and lead to severe soil erosion. The practice of crop straw returning to the field reduces the negative impact of straw burning and improves soil quality. We investigated the effects of these agricultural practices on soil organic carbon components, enzyme activities, and soil microorganisms over 14 years of field experiments. Specifically, we studied four management strategies: no fertilizer or crop straw returning (CK), traditional chemical fertilization (NPK), crop straw returning (S), and crop straw returning with chemical fertilizer (NPKS). We found NPKS treatments significantly (P < 0.05) increased the dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), particulate organic carbon (POC) and readily oxidized organic carbon (ROC) concentrations by 79.32 %, 82.16 %, 92.46 %, and 104.32 % relative to CK. Furthermore, under NPKS, the activities of soil enzymes related C, N, and P (α-glucosidase (αG), β-glucosidase (βG), cellulase (CBH), xylanase (βX), acetyl β-glucosaminidase (NAG), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), and acid phosphate (AP)) were increased by 54.66 %, 113.26 %, 76.73 %, 52.41 %, 45.74 %, 56.69 %, and 68.92 % relative to CK, respectively. Redundancy analysis and structural equation modelling showed that straw returning had positive effects on soil microbial community diversity and richness, and also improved microbial activity which is favorable in the degradation of soil carbon. Furthermore, we found that soil fungi were more sensitive than bacteria to changes in soil carbon composition and enzyme activities following straw returning. These results suggest that straw returning combined with chemical fertilizer can be an effective strategy to improve soil labile organic carbon components, enzyme activities, and ecological function of microorganisms.

Identification of Smoke from Straw Burning in Remote Sensing Images with the Improved YOLOv5s Algorithm

Controlling straw burning is important for ensuring the ambient air quality and for sustainable agriculture. Detecting burning straw is vital for managing and controlling straw burning. Existing methods for detecting straw combustion mainly look for combustion products, especially smoke. In this study, the improved You Only Look Once version 5 (YOLOv5s) algorithm was used to detect smoke in Sentinel-2 images captured by remote sensing. Although the original YOLOv5s model had a faster detection speed, its detection accuracy was poor. Thus, a convolutional block attention module was added to the original model. In addition, in order to speed up the convergence of the model, this study replaced the leaky Rectified Linear Unit (leaky ReLU) activation function with the Mish activation function. The accuracy of the improved model was approximately 4% higher for the same detection speed. The improved YOLOv5s had a higher detection accuracy and speed compared to common target detection algorithms, such as RetinaNet, mask Region-Based Convolutional Neural Network (R-CNN), Single-Shot Multibox Detector (SSD), and faster R-CNN. The improved YOLOv5s analyzed an image in 2 ms. In addition, mAP50 exceeded 94%, demonstrating that with this study’s improved method, smoke can be quickly and accurately identified. This work may serve as a reference for improving smoke detection, and for the effective management and control of straw burning.

Process Simulation-based Net Energy Analysis for Future Bioethanol Production as Commercial Biofuel from Waste Rice Straw in Sri Lanka

As the staple food crop in Sri Lanka, paddy rice occupies around 34% (over 0.87 million hectares of land) of the total arable area in the country, corresponding to an average rice production of 3,774,344 t/year. Rice straw is the major biomass waste from rice cultivation, which approximates to an average of 2,830,758 t/year generation at a theoretical straw/grain ratio of 0.75. Open burning of rice straw in paddy fields is the common practice, which could result in an average GHG emissions of 92 kg CO2 eq/t of dry rice straw and other harmful airborne emissions. Application of rice straw into soil as an organic fertiliser is also an inefficient practice, compared to bioenergy generation using rice straw. The average composition of the Sri Lankan rice straw (i.e. 30.0 wt.% cellulose, 3.9 wt.% hemicellulose, 38.2% lignin, 16.1 wt.% wax, and 12.3 wt.% silica) shows the possibility to be used as a second-generation bioethanol feedstock. Existing studies indicate that bioethanol production from rice straw is more environmentally-benign, compared to alternative options, such as gasification for combined heat and power and dimethyl ether (DME) production. This study analyses the net energy indicators of a possible bioethanol production process from rice straw in Sri Lanka. Chemical process simulations using Aspen Plus software were utilised to evaluate the bioethanol production process from rice straw, with a plant output capacity of 1,000 litres/hr of dehydrated bioethanol (99.7 vol.% ethanol) that can be blended with gasoline as a commercial fuel (e.g. E10: 10% bioethanol+gasoline) without any vehicle engine modification. The cradle to gate bioethanol production process from waste rice straw, considered for net energy analysis consists of three major stages: 1. Rice straw preparation, 2. Rice straw transportation, and 3. Bioethanol conversion. The results show that the considered bioethanol production process has a positive net energy gain and increased renewability factor. Detailed analysis indicates that only around 8% of the total process energy consumption is utilised for the bioethanol dehydration operation that is favourable for converting any existing rice straw ethanol plant into commercial gasohol production plant. The sensitivity of bioethanol yield and process energy parameters for the net energy indicator results are further analysed and discussed. The findings from this study can support decision making for a future waste-to-biofuel plant using waste rice straw in Sri Lanka.Keywords: Rice straw, Bioethanol production, Net energy analysis, Process simulation, Waste-to-biofuel

Rice straw recycling: A sustainable approach for ensuring environmental quality and economic security

One of the major challenges in Asian countries is the effective management of rice straw. To ensure food security for their ever-growing population, Asian countries grow more rice, leading to increasing rice straw generation. Burning of rice straw, a common practice, is detrimental to both environmental and human health. However, if managed effectively, rice straw has the potential to safeguard the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems and to uplift the economic security of the population depending on rice farming. Judicious management of rice straw involving minimum soil disturbance along with retention of residues alters the soil carbon cycle through reduced carbon emissions and increased levels of total soil organic carbon. Several alternative uses of rice straw, such as production of livestock feed, bioethanol, biochar, biogas, electricity, mushroom, and paper, can add prosperity to rice farmers’ life by fetching extra income. It is evident that efficient management of rice straw is of enormous economic value. Therefore, it is essential to create awareness among the different rice stakeholders of these alternative economic avenues associated with rice straw. This review is an attempt to provide effective options for sustainable rice straw management and rice straw value chains for harnessing its economic potential. It further identifies gaps in our understanding of the effects of rice straw on ecological sustainability, particularly concerning the multifaceted connections between the diverse mechanisms of rice agro-ecosystems, which may greatly influence food security in the 21st century.

Field assessment of straw pellet combustion in improved heating stoves in rural Northeast China

Straw pellets are widely promoted and expected to be a cleaner alternative fuel to unprocessed crop residues and raw coal in rural China. However, the effectiveness of these dissemination programs is not well evaluated. In this field study, emission characteristics of burning straw pellets, raw coal, and unprocessed corn cobs in heating stoves were investigated in a pilot village in Northeast China. Emission measurements covering the whole combustion cycle (ignition, flaming, and smoldering phases) shows the promotion of improved heating stoves and straw pellets could reduce pollutant emissions (e.g., SO2 and CO), but increase NOX and PM2.5 emissions compared to the initial stove-fuel use pattern in the studied area. There is a significant variance in emission characteristics between different combustion phases. The normalized emission concentrations of the different stove-fuel combinations were higher than the limits in the Chinese national standard for heating stoves, indicating that the standard is not met for real-world emissions. Coal consumption was lower than official data. Household surveys were conducted to identify the barriers to fuel and stove access associated with existing promotion strategies, management, and policies. The pilot program was of the typical “subsidy-and-policy-dependence” pattern and was unlikely to be implemented on a large scale. Technological innovation, operational optimization, and proper policies considering the local socioeconomic factors are needed to sustain the promotion of biomass straw pellets and stoves.

Evolution of light absorption properties during photochemical aging of straw open burning aerosols

Straw burning comprises more than 30% of all types of burned biomass in Asia, while the estimation of the emitted aerosols' direct radiative forcing effect suffers from large uncertainties, especially when atmospheric aging processes are considered. In this study, the light absorption properties of primary and aged straw burning aerosols in open fire were characterized at 7 wavelengths ranging from 370 nm to 950 nm in a chamber. The primary rice, corn and wheat straw burning bulk aerosols together had a mass absorption efficiency (MAE) of 2.43 ± 1.36 m2 g−1 at 520 nm and an absorption Ångström exponent (AAE) of 1.93 ± 0.71, while the primary sorghum straw burning bulk aerosols were characterized by a relatively lower MAE of 0.95 ± 0.54 m2 g−1 and a higher AAE of 4.80 ± 0.68. Both the MAE and AAE of primary aerosols can be well parameterized by the (PM-BC)/BC ratio (in wt.). The MAE of black carbon (BC) increased by 11–190% during photoreactions equivalent to 16–60 h of atmospheric aging, which was positively correlated with the (PM-BC)/(BC) ratio. The MAE of organic aerosols first slightly increased or leveled off, and then decreased. Specifically, at 370 nm, the first growth/plateau stage lasted until OH exposure reached 0.47–1.29 × 1011 molecule cm−3 s, and the following period exhibited decay rates of 1.0–2.8 × 10−12 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 against the OH radical, corresponding to half-lives of 46–134 h in a typical ambient condition. During photoreactions, competition among the lensing effect, growth/bleach of organic chromophores, and particle mass and size growth complicated the evolution of the direct radiative forcing effect. It is concluded that rice and corn straw burning aerosols maintained a warming effect after aging, while the cooling effect of fresh sorghum straw burning aerosols increased with aging.

Study on Spatiotemporal Characteristics of the Impacting Factors of Agricultural Carbon Emissions Based on the GTWR Model: Evidence from the Yellow River Basin, China

Scholars have turned their attention to the ecological protection and high-quality development of China’s Yellow River Basin in recent years. The basin is a major agricultural production area in China, hence investigating agricultural carbon emission reduction strategies in the basin is crucial. The research object in this article is the agricultural departmen.ts of China’s nine provinces in the Yellow River Basin from 2005 to 2018. Agricultural carbon emissions are measured using agricultural land usage, rice planting, crop planting, straw burning, and livestock breeding as agricultural carbon sources. In addition, the GTWR model is used to examine the spatiotemporal aspects of the impact of five factors on agricultural carbon emissions in this paper. The findings reveal that the five factors have varying degrees and directions of influence.

Production of Irrigated Rice in the Second Stage of the River Formoso Project in the Brazilian Savanna Region

The information survey was carried out in the second stage of the Formoso River Project in Formoso do Araguaia - TO, in the COPERJAVA area - Mixed Cooperative Rural Valley of Javaés Ltda, located in the Brazilian savanna region. During the research period, some practices related to the production of irrigated rice were monitored, such as straw burning, soil preparation, sowing, nitrogen fertilization cover, and phytosanitary treatments to control weeds, insect pests, and diseases. Monitoring was made in the cultivated areas to observe the development of irrigated rice, and to regulate the height of the water depth in the plots and its uniformities of the water depth. Activities were developed to regulate equipment and facilities involved in rice production. These provided an increase in the knowledge acquired about the irrigated rice crop, emphasizing the need and importance of the association between the theoretical basis acquired during the course and the practice in the field.

A New Process of Preparing Rice Straw-Reinforced LLDPE Composite.

To reduce the pollution resulting from discarding waste plastic film and burning straw, a new method of preparing straw-reinforced LLDPE composites was developed to utilize these wastes. The straws were first laid parallel on an LLDPE film and then rolled up. The rolls containing long straws were laid into a mat and then hot-pressed into a long straw composite board (the mass of straw accounted for 60%). Slope-cutting the straw, grinding the straw, and twisting the roll were designed to improve the physical and mechanical properties of long straw composites. Among them, slope-cutting the straw combined with twisting the roll provided the best properties. Compared to the extruded straw particle composite, the composite prepared with the new method improved the tensile strength, bending strength, impact strength, and water resistance by 358%, 151%, 416%, and 81%, respectively. Slope-cutting exposed more inner surface at the end of the straw. Scanning electron microscope observations showed that the straw inner surface was more tightly bonded with the LLDPE matrix than the outer surface. Meanwhile, the integrity of the straw was retained as much as possible, and thus greatly improved the performance of the resulting composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis show that the viscous deformation of the composites prepared by the new method was reduced and the rigidity was increased, and the combination of straw and LLDPE forms a dense composite material with good interfacial bonding. It greatly slowed down the degree of its pyrolysis.

AN OPTIMIZED REMOTE SENSING RECOGNITION APPROACH FOR STRAW BURNING IN HENAN PROVINCE, CHINA

Abstract. In the paper, Henan Province with prevalent straw burning was taken as the study case. Aimed at remote sensing recognition of the straw burning fire points in a large-scale area with complex terrain and climate conditions, an optimized recognition strategy of straw burning was proposed based on the MOD021KM data. In our new recognition strategy, the threshold determination method was optimised by systematic statistical analysis of spectral features. Then the non-straw burning fire points were eliminated by extracting the agricultural land from MCD12Q1 image. Thus, the true straw-burning fire points were determined. The results showed that the recognition accuracy of straw burning fire points was effectively improved by optimized threshold determination method.

Interprovincial Joint Prevention and Control of Open Straw Burning in Northeast China: Implications for Atmospheric Environment Management

Large-scale open burning of straw residues causes seasonal and severe atmospheric pollution in Northeast China. Previous studies focused on the causes or assessment of atmospheric pollution in a single city. However, studies conducted on the interaction range, degree and policy control of pollutant transport on a large scale are still to be performed. In this study, we propose combined control of straw burning by dividing region the straw burning in Northeast China in recent 20 years, determining the transport routes between main cities, and analyzing the interaction characteristics of straw burning under different scenarios. The fire point data suggest that the most intense straw burning years in Northeast China in the past 20 years occurred in the range from 2014 to 2017, mainly after the autumn harvest (October–November) and before spring cultivation (March–April). The burning areas were concentrated in the belt of Shenyang-Changchun-Harbin, the border of the three provinces and Eastern-Inner Mongolia, and the surrounding area of Hegang and Jiamusi City. The lower number of fire points before 2013 indicates that high-intensity burning has not always been the case, while the sharp decline after 2018 is mainly due to scientific control of straw burning and increased comprehensive utilization of straw. Compared with S2, the PM2.5 concentrations increased by 6.2% in S3 and 18.7% in S4, indicating that burning in three or four provinces at the same time will significantly increase air pollution and exert a regional transmission effect. Straw burning in Northeast China is divided into six main regions based on correlation analysis and satellite fire monitoring. Under typical S3, the case analysis results indicate that there is regional transmission interaction between different cities and provinces, focusing on multi-province border cities, and it is affected by Northwest long airflow, and Southeast and Northeast short airflow. These results provide scientific and technological support for implementing the joint prevention and control plan for straw incineration in Northeast China.

Aqueous Extracts of Lemon Basil Straw as Chemical Stimulator for Gray Oyster Mushroom Cultivation.

To reduce the burning of lemon basil straw (LBS)—the byproduct of basil seed production—we propose utilizing LBS as a replacement substrate for mushroom cultivation. LBS can stimulate both mycelial growth and percentage biological efficiency; however, the rigidity of this material limits particle size reduction. In this work, aqueous extractions were facilely performed without using either hazardous chemicals or complex procedures to valorize LBS as a stimulator for gray oyster mushroom cultivation. An aqueous extraction at solid-to-liquid of 50 g/L was employed. The macerated-LBS and decocted-LBS extracts were tested for mycelial growth in potato dextrose agar and sorghum grains. Following this, both aqueous extracts were applied as a wetting agent in cylindrical baglog cultivation to estimate mycelial growth, biological efficiency, and productivity. It was found that LBS extracts insignificantly enhanced the mycelia growth rate on all media, while the diluted LBS (1:1 v/v) extracts improved 1.5-fold of percentage biological efficiency. Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer results indicated 9-octadecaenamide is a major component in LBS aqueous extract. Results demonstrated that the LBS extract is a good stimulator for the production of Pleurotus mushroom.

Contribution of straw disposal to carbon source and sink under the framework of carbon neutrality

Exploring the spatio-temporal variation characteristics of carbon source and carbon sink under different disposal methods of crop straw is of great significance for optimizing the utilization policy of crop straw resources in China and realizing the goal of maximizing carbon emission reduction and carbon neutralization. Based on data from National Statistical Yearbook, we examined the changing trends of both the amount and value of carbon emission, carbon emission reduction, carbon sink enhancement under different crop straw disposal methods in 31 provinces of Chinese mainland. The results showed that the mean annual carbon emissions of straw burning in China from 2008 to 2019 were 8.74 million tons of CO2e. Since 2014, the mean annual reduction rate of carbon emissions was 17.3%. The mean annual carbon emission reduction of energy utilization was 39.82 million tons of CO2e, with solid briquette fuel produced by straw contributing the most with a contribution of about 98%. The amount of carbon sequestration of straw returning to field was increasing annually, with an average annual value of 271 million tons of CO2e. There was a carbon ecological surplus in straw disposal in China. The annual growth rate of net carbon emission reduction was 9.8%. The net carbon emission reduction intensity and its value were increasing, reaching 2.62 t·hm-2 and 76.19 yuan·hm-2 in 2019, respectively. A spatial pattern of 'high in the east and low in the west' was observed for the mean annual carbon emissions of straw, energy carbon emission reduction, carbon sink of straw returning to the field, and net carbon emission reduction in China, with main external characteristics of the regional differences and spatial aggregation.

Paddy straw management: A potential approach to a sustainable agriculture

Paddy straw is the vegetative part of rice plant which is left behind after harvesting the grains. It is the most abundant lignocellulosic waste material amounting to 731 million tons/year. Management of paddy straw remains a challenge in Asia where more rice is grown each year to meet rising hunger demands. The widespread burning of paddy straw in the open air is a major factor causing air pollution that is associated with a number of health issues. Researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs are developing a range of possible solutions that turn paddy straw into a commodity with the help of which sustainable value chains can be built to benefit the environment. This waste to wealth approach can prove beneficial in the coming time. This review paper presents an overview of some efficient paddy straw management practices for the benefit of mankind and sustainable agriculture.

Investigation and Reflection on Prohibition of Burning and Comprehensive Utilization of Crop Straw in Taojiang County

Investigation and Reflection on Prohibition of Burning and Comprehensive Utilization of Crop Straw in Taojiang County

Groundwater Saving in Punjab: Role of Short Duration Paddy Varieties in Agricultural Sustainability

There are two types of varieties of paddy grown in the state i.e. long duration and short duration. To compare the economic viability of paddy varieties, most preferred long duration variety, Pusa 44 and short duration varieties, PR121 and PR126 were chosen for the study. A random sample of sixty farmers was taken from two blocks of Ludhiana and Barnala districts. The analysis revealed that expenses on fertilizers, plant protection measures, human labour use, and expenses on diesel for irrigation was considerably higher in Pusa 44 variety visa-vis short duration varieties. Total variable cost incurred while growing Pusa 44 variety was Rs. 39956 per hectare whereas it was Rs. 37056 and Rs 34724, respectively in case of PR 121 and PR 126 varieties. Although gross returns and returns over variable costs (ROVC) were higher in case of Pusa 44 than short duration varieties, but it requires more number of irrigation and input usage. Pusa 44 being long duration variety, results in delayed harvesting due to late maturity of crop leading to paddy straw burning due to shortage of window between paddy harvesting and wheat sowing affecting timely sowing of the wheat crop in season. The benefits of short duration paddy varieties in terms of rabi saving ground water and judicious input usage should be weighed in terms of agricultural sustainability perspective for Punjab vis-à-vis higher returns from long duration paddy varieties.

Mechanisms for leveling the carbon footprint in the production of grain products

In this study, an attempt was made to determine the mechanisms for leveling the carbon footprint in the production of grain based on the development of the concept of state regulation. The article considers the impact of grain production on the formation of a carbon footprint - greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen), which were produced both with human participation and without. The most important determinants of carbon emissions are nitrogen fertilizers (8-49%), straw combustion (0-70%), machine energy consumption (6-40%), irrigation energy consumption (0-44%) and CH4 emissions. from the fields (15-73%). The mechanisms for regulating the carbon footprint are described, an assessment of its economic impact on domestic agricultural production is given, the threats to the carbon footprint and ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are identified.

Neglected biomass burning emissions of air pollutants in China-views from the corncob burning test, emission estimation, and simulations

Corncob is one of the major biomass sources and widely adopted as fuel in rural China. However, only few studies have discussed the emissions from corncob burning. The negligence of corncob burning emissions has resulted in biased or even unreasonable biomass burning emission results. In this study, the emission factors (EFs) of corncob burning were measured by the burning test simulation and dilution sampling system. Then, the measured EFs, field surveys, and GEOS-Chem simulation were adopted to estimate the emissions from corncob burning. The EFs of fine particles (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxides (NOX), ammonia (NH3), the totally measured 13 volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC) and the sum of water-soluble ions (Na＋, K＋, Mg2＋, Ca2＋, NH4＋, Cl－, NO3－and SO42－) (SWSI) for corncob were 7.95, 60.53, 0.29, 1.38, 3.46, 0.35, 3.91, 1.21, 0.19 and 0.53 g kg−1, respectively. The emissions of PM2.5, CO, SO2, NO, NOX, NH3, TVOCs, OC, EC and SWSI in 2014 were 312.20, 2377.1, 11.39, 54.19, 135.87, 13.74, 153.55, 47.52, 7.46 and 20.77 Gg, respectively. These emissions have the same change tendency, wherein the emission in 2014 were approximately 0.42, 0.50, 0.64 and 0.85 times those in 1992, 2002, 2007 and 2012, respectively. The comparison with other straw highlighted the considerable emissions of corncob burning in China. The biomass burning emissions have been substantially underestimated by 2.6%–36.2% in previous studies, wherein corncob burning emissions were not considered. Additionally, the GEOS-Chem simulation results showed that corncob burning produced much higher concentration values than corn straw burning. Our study provided credible evidence to confirm the important emission contributions of corncob burning to biomass burning. It can also help improve the biomass burning estimation and air quality modeling results in the future.

Determination of phytotoxicity and cytogenotoxicity due to exposure to particles originating from sugarcane burning using test systems Lactuca sativa L. and Allium cepa L.

ABSTRACT Sugarcane straw burning generates particulate matter with complex composition resulting in atmosphere pollution. Sugarcane straw sugarcane burning particles (PSSB) contain several chemical compounds that were previously identified to be associated with carcinogenic and mutagenic processes. The aim of the present study was to extract PSSB under lab conditions and subsequently determine phyto- and cytogenotoxicity of these particles using Lactuca sativa L. and Allium cepa L. bioassays. Seeds of lettuce var. Cinderela and onion cv. Vale-Ouro IPA-11 were germinated in Petri dishes containing different concentrations of PSSB at 25, 50, 100, 200 or 300 mg/ml as well as control for 72 hr. Seed germination of lettuce was inhibited by PSSB, in a concentration-dependent manner, accompanied by decreased root growth, suggesting phytotoxic effects. Further, reduction of mitotic index and high number of chromosomal alterations in onion of meristematics cells indicated a cytogenotoxic action attributed to PSSB. Although the chemical composition of PSSB in question has not been determined, the phyto- and cytogenotoxic effects may be linked to the possible presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are were identified as the main constituents of particulate matter resulting from burning of sugarcane straw, in addition to exerting adverse biological effects that might result in mutations and cancer. Data demonstrated that the use of plants bioassays might be an important tool for biomonitoring air quality.