ANNOUNCEMENTS
Biomass burning in recent times has become a world-wide as well as a national source of atmospheric aerosols and trace gas emissions having a major impact on climate and human health (Vander werf et al., 2006; Kharol and Badarinath, 2006; Pandey et al., 2005). In India, Indo-Gangetic plains plays an important role in terms of crop production as it is considered as one of the most fertile lands in the world. Agricultural crop residues in the plains are scorched during the months of October and November each year having a significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions and aerosol loading (Badarinath et al., 2009). The Indo-Gangetic plain region of India accounts for around 12 million hectares where there is rice-wheat crop production culture is popular among the farmers of Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh (Badarinath et al., 2009). Punjab is the third largest producer of rice and is known as the “breadbasket” of India. Due to burning of rice straw, clouds of smoke engulf Punjab which then in due course of time reaches Delhi during October-November each year. The open burning has resulted in perturbations to regional atmospheric chemistry which is also a health hazard to local inhabitants (Wang andChristopher, 2003).
Two major techniques of biomass management in-situ and ex-situ options are discussed based on the field results from Ludhiana and Patiala. A fire severity map os also being developed to understand the severity of the fire incidents during the months of September and October.
Keywords: Biomass management, In-situ management, Ex-situ management, Machinery use, Fire hotspots, Crop burning
