The Supreme Court of India has recently underscored the need to put an end to stubble burning, a practice prevalent in states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. This has fueled discussions around the Pusa-2090 rice variety, which offers an alternative to the troublesome long-duration Pusa-44 variety. The Pusa-2090 rice variety is under the spotlight for its potential in alleviating the environmental issues resulting from stubble burning.
Pusa-44: A Contributor to Stubble Burning
Pusa-44 was bred by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI). It is known for its extended growth cycle of 155-160 days, encompassing the period from nursery sowing to harvesting. As this cycle culminates in late October, farmers are left with a tight timeframe to ready their fields for the subsequent crop. Owing to this time pressure, they often resort to burning the remaining stubble— a practice that causes severe environmental harm. Yet, despite its lengthy duration, the high yield rate of Pusa-44, averaging 35-36 quintals per acre, secures its popularity among farmers. In the current kharif season, Pusa-44 accounts for a large portion of rice cultivation in Punjab, particularly in non-basmati varieties.
Pusa-2090: A Viable Alternative
The IARI’s Pusa-2090 offers an improved solution derived through crossbreeding Pusa-44 and CB-501, an early-maturing Japonica rice line. Maturing within a shorter period of 120-125 days and yielding comparable amounts, it directly addresses the primary issue associated with stubble burning. The variety combines the advantageous high yield of Pusa-44 and the rapid maturation cycle of CB-501, making it an encouraging substitute. Following testing at the All-India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project, Pusa-2090 has been earmarked for farming in areas like Delhi and Odisha. The variety has garnered positive feedback from farmers in regions where testing occurred.
Possible Alternatives to Stubble Burning
A range of alternatives exists that could supersede the environmentally damaging practice of stubble burning.
PUSA Decomposers
These decomposers come in the form of capsules made from extracted fungi strains capable of accelerating the decomposition of paddy straw.
Happy Seeder
This tractor-mounted tool provides an eco-friendly alternative to stubble burning. In one broad stroke, it cuts and lifts rice straw, sows wheat into the exposed soil, and deposits the straw onto the newly sown area as a protective mulch layer.
Palletisation
When paddy straw is dried and turned into pellets, it becomes a potential alternative fuel source. Mixed with coal, these pellets can then be used in thermal power plants and industries, potentially reducing coal consumption and lowering carbon emissions. This could contribute to mitigating climate change.
While discussing agricultural practices and implications with respect to global climate change, a previous question from the UPSC Civil Services Examination asked about Contour bunding, Relay cropping, and Zero tillage. The question was which of these agriculture practices helps in carbon sequestration/storage in the soil? The correct answer was ‘Zero tillage only.’
