Effect of sugarcane trash burning on soil health and environmental indicators

Abstract

Sugarcane is one of the important commercial crops of Maharashtra. Burning of sugarcane trash inside the field in Maharashtra is a common practice among farmers. This is a hazardous practice that has affected soil health, air, human health. Kasabe digras village of Sangali district of Maharashtra were selected as a study area and total 10 soil samples were collected from burn and unburn sugarcane trash field and the results were indicated that the increase the soil properties like bulk density, soil pH, EC and decrease the macro and micronutrient status of sugarcane trash burning fields as compared to sugarcane trash unburn fields. Organic carbon is an indicator of soil quality and managing crop residue in unburned sugarcane trash fields found higher organic carbon than trash burned sugarcane fields. Result strongly indicated that burning of sugarcane trash highly influence on environment and soil physical, chemical and biological properties therefore it is urgent need to decompose in filed for conserving moisture, controlling soil temperature, reducing weed growth and improving microbial activities which is essential for sustain the soil fertility and productivity.