A sustainable approach for soil amendment; available plant nutrients in rice straws

The main aim of this study is to estimate the potential of mitigating the soil degradation by the utilization of rice straws, In every crop huge quantity of crop residue is generated along with the food grains. Only small part of the crop residue is used as cattle feed and other applications, significant quantity of these crop residues are either left unutilized or disposed by means of open field burning by the farmers, because other disposal options are not economically viable for the farmers. Consequences of open field burning of crop residues in India are, contribution of particulate matter in the atmosphere, emission of CO₂, CO, NH₃, NO_x, SO_x, and smog. On burning of crop residue heat produced is also accounted for the damage of microbes and other nutrients also present on the top layer of the soil, loss of organic carbon; it adversely affects soil fertility and productivity. It has a great economic potential as it contains high carbon content and significant amount of other essential plant nutrients which are required for plant growth. Sun dried rice straw samples were collected and analysed for primary nutrients (C, H, S, N, P₂O₅ and K₂O) required for plant growth. Moisture content was 11.70%, Elemental analysis of paddy straw on dry basis was found C = 36.04%, H = 5.25%, S = 0.28% & N = 0.69% P₂O₅ = 0.43% and K₂O = 0.64% in the kharif season 2021. These elements were quantified by using different advanced analytical techniques.