Environmental impact analysis of crop residue burning in Madhya Pradesh: A multivariate comparison across key crops

Abstract

This study quantified the environmental impacts of residue burning of major produced and burned crops in Madhya Pradesh, central India. The environmental impacts were quantified using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) coupled with Monte Carlo simulation of 1000 iterations. Crop wise marginal impacts of the crops have been quantified using Multivariate regression model. The results showed that sugarcane and rice have the highest emissions in key impact categories, such as particulate matter formation (PMF) and global warming potential (GWP), whereas wheat and maize exhibit comparatively lower impacts. The combustion of residues significantly increases marine eutrophication (MEUT), agricultural land use (ALU), terrestrial acidification (TEAF) and GWP. Each kilogram of burned residue results in an increase of 21% in MEUT, 0.05% in ALU, 0.046% in TEAF and 0.028% in GWP, intensifying climate change. The results underscore the immediate necessity for specialized residue management strategies for sugarcane and rice crops. It is advisable to utilize sustainable alternatives such as composting or biochar production to mitigate emissions and enhance soil health, thereby addressing environmental and human health issues.