Bio-decomposer to tackle stubble burning

• IAS NEXT, Lucknow
• 13, Oct 2021

The Delhi government has started spraying bio-decomposer solution in farmlands to decompose the stubble left after the harvest.

Background:

The Delhi government sees the bio-decomposer as a solution to stubble burning and has been urging other States to adopt this method. The government first sprayed it last year and claimed that the results were positive.

How were these bio-decomposers formed?

Pusa Decomposer is a mix of seven fungi that produce enzymes to digest cellulose, lignin and pectin in paddy straw.

• The fungi thrive at 30-32 degree Celsius, which is the temperature prevailing when paddy is harvested and wheat is sown.

How these decomposers are used on fields?

• A liquid formulation is formed using decomposer capsules and fermenting it over 8-10 days and then spraying the mixture on fields with crop stubble to ensure speedy bio-decomposition of the stubble.
• The farmers can prepare 25 litre of liquid mixture with 4 capsules, jaggery and chickpea flour. The mixture is sufficient to cover 1 hectare of land.
• It takes around 20 days for the degradation process to be completed.

 Benefits of PUSA decomposers:

1. Improves the fertility and productivity of the soil as the stubble works as manure and compost for the crops and lesser fertiliser consumption is required in the future.
2. It is an efficient and effective, cheaper, doable and practical technique to stop stubble burning.
3. It is an eco-friendly and environmentally useful technology.