Why in-situ paddy stubble management more beneficial than ex-situ? Can it revive Punjab’s depleted soils?

The ex-situ method, on the other hand, removes straws from the field for external uses such as biomass plants, brick kilns or other industries. Although the ex-situ management can prevent burning, experts argue it deprives soil of essential nutrients and organic matter crucial for maintaining soil fertility.

Despite being among the highly productive soils in India, the soil in Punjab is showing signs of exhaustion. Decades of intensive farming, excessive tilling, straw burning and high fertiliser use caused the depletion of soil organic matter to as low as 0.5 per cent, or even lower — far below international standards of 2-3 per cent. Over the past six decades, OM levels in Punjab have only increased by 0.11 to 0.12 per cent.

“Soil’s organic matter is the very foundation of its health. In-situ incorporation of crop residue is the simplest and most effective way to rebuild it,” says Dr Amrik Singh, Joint Director of the Punjab Agricultural Department, emphasising: “The economic and environmental benefits of the in-situ management far outweigh its costs.”

“By retaining and managing paddy straw in the field before sowing wheat, the soil gains approximately 10 quintals of organic matter, 14 kg nitrogen, 63 kg potash, 7 kg phosphorus and 3 kg sulphur per acre— nutrients worth nearly Rs 6,000. In contrast, farmers spend around Rs 2,000-2,500 per acre on wheat sowing using machines such as Happy Seeder or Super Seeder. This means the soil effectively gains nutrients and organic carbon worth Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,000 per acre,” Dr Singh explains.

Soil organic matter not only supplies essential nutrients but also improves the soil’s water-holding capacity, prevents erosion and enhances fertiliser efficiency.

According to Dr Sutantra Airi, former Director of the Punjab Agriculture Department, “Incorporating paddy and wheat residue directly into the soil can help raise organic matter levels by 0.5 to 1 per cent within a decade. This reduces the need for chemical fertilisers and improves overall crop productivity.”

“This natural enrichment not only saves fertiliser costs but also improves soil structure and fertility,” says farmer Pargat Singh, who witnessed a significant improvement in his soil’s OM levels. He no longer burns or removes stubble from his fields but instead keeps it in the field, which has increased his OM from 0.25 to 0.85 per cent over the past eight years.

“I want to take my soil’s OM to 5 per cent, a level that transforms barren land into a self-sustaining ecosystem,” says Pargat. “In parts of the world, OM reaches 10 per cent, where just seed and water can produce peak yields. But it takes decades to enrich the soil’s OM if it’s less than 10 per cent. We’re far from that, but even reaching 2-3 per cent, the international standard for OM, will revolutionise productivity in Punjab and reduce our dependence on costly inputs.”

“Fields with better organic matter require less irrigation, produce healthier crops, and ultimately yield higher returns,” he added.

With Punjab’s soil organic matter critically low, experts believe the in-situ residue management is no longer just an environmental necessity, but an agronomic imperative. “If we continue removing or burning residue, we are burning away the soil’s future,” warns an agricultural scientist at PAU.

As the state pushes ahead with its “No Burn Campaign,” experts stress the fight against stubble burning must also be viewed as a campaign to restore the soil life in Punjab, ensuring the state’s Green Revolution legacy does not fade into a tale of soil.

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