Availability and utilization of paddy straw at Balodabazar-Bhatapara district of Chhattisgarh

Abstract

Present study was conducted to analyze the availability of paddy straw and its uses at Balodabazar-Bhatapara district of Chhattisgarh state of India. India produces around 600 million tons of agricultural residues annually with wide regional variability. India generates 97.19 MT rice straw during the crop season 2016-17. In present investigation 160 sample farmers were selected and categorized them according to size of farm holdings into marginal (less than 1 ha.), small (1.0-2.0 ha.), medium (2.0-4.0 ha.) and large (more than 4 ha.). On an average the grain to straw ratio in study area was 1:1.27. Utilization of paddy straw depends on harvesting method and average total production of straw was 57.52 qt./ha. Manually harvest straw used for cattle feeding was 7.16 qt./ha. (12.45 percent) of total straw production. Mechanically harvested straw used for mulching 3.56 qt./ha (6.19 percent), left to decompose or incorporation in soil 46.40 qt./ha. was maximum of total production, burning of straw 0.18 qt./ha. (0.32 percent) and other purposes 0.20 qt./ha. (0.35 percent). total quantity utilized for feeding, mulching and other purposes was on an average 10.93 qt./ha. (19.00 percent) and remaining quantity was marketable surplus 46.59 qt./ha. (80.99 percent). Constraints faced in paddy straw collection were lack of market demand, used mostly for cattle feeding, high labour cost, lack of marketing facilities, lack of time and resource.