Emission of Air Pollutants from Crop Residue Burning in India

Received: January 31, 2013
Revised: June 30, 2013
Accepted: June 30, 2013
Download Citation: RIS|BibTeX|https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2013.01.0031  

Cite this article:
Jain, N., Bhatia, A. and Pathak, H. (2014). Emission of Air Pollutants from Crop Residue Burning in India. Aerosol Air Qual. Res. 14: 422-430. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2013.01.0031

ABSTRACT

Agricultural crop residue burning contribute towards the emission of greenhouse gases (CO₂, N₂O, CH₄), air pollutants (CO, NH₃, NO_x, SO₂, NMHC, volatile organic compounds), particulates matter and smoke thereby posing threat to human health. In the present study a state-wise inventory of crop residue burnt in India and the air pollutants emitted was prepared using the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) national inventory preparation guidelines for the year 2008–09. Total amount of residue generated in 2008–09 was 620 Mt out of which ~15.9% residue was burnt on farm. Rice straw contributed 40% of the total residue burnt followed by wheat straw (22%) and sugarcane trash (20%). Burning of crop residues emitted 8.57 Mt of CO, 141.15 Mt of CO₂, 0.037 Mt of SO_x, 0.23 Mt of NO_x, 0.12 Mt of NH₃ and 1.46 Mt NMVOC, 0.65 Mt of NMHC, 1.21 Mt of particulate matter for the year 2008–09. The variability of 21.46% in annual emission of air pollutants was observed from 1995 to 2009.

Keywords: Air pollution; Biomass burning; Greenhouse gases; Crop residue