Alternative Uses of Crop Stubble

Keeping in view the increasing problems associated with crop stubble burning in the state of Punjab, several initiatives for its proper management have been taken up. Various departments and institutions of the Punjab government are promoting alternative uses of straw instead of burning. This chapter outlines some of these alternative uses such as: use of rice residue as fodder; use of rice residue in bio-thermal power plants; its use for mushroom cultivation, for bedding material for cattle; its use for production of bio-oil; paper production; bio-gas and in situ. Other uses include incorporation of paddy straw in soil, energy technologies and thermal combustion.