Optimizing Agro-Waste in Mulching: An Alternative to Power Generation

Abstract

Agricultural waste generated by several agricultural activities has many alternative uses. Unfortunately much of it is burnt in the open fields leading to environmental pollution. For the management of agro-waste one way adopted is to produce electricity using this agro-waste as fuel. But Agro-waste power generation faces majors risks like fuel availability and unstable prices, problems of ash melting, slagging, clinkerisation at the base of boilers, super heater choking, agglomeration and drop in boiler temperature due to moisture in the bales. All these problems results in frequent shut downs of the plants and they do not operate continuously. Transportation of agro-waste from fields to power generation plants add to gas emission and labour cost. The other alternative for efficiently utilisation of agrowaste like paddy straw and rice husk is mulching. Mulching technically means covering of soil. Mulch provide the conditions that are favourable for the growth of plant and crop production. It is observed that mulching saves the irrigation water by increasing moisture retention of soil. This study was conducted to determine the optimal amount of mulching to save the irrigation water, because excessive use of crop residue as mulch is also not beneficial from economical point of view. The amount of optimal mulching is determined to be 8 tonnes per hectare. Further, mulching saves 45% of the commercial cost by way of reduced irrigation.