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Scientific Article details

Title Strategies for economic utilization of rice straw residues into value-added by-products and prevention of environmental pollution
ID_Doc 14752
Authors Singh, Y; Sharma, S; Kumar, U; Sihag, P; Balyan, P; Singh, KP; Dhankher, OP
Title Strategies for economic utilization of rice straw residues into value-added by-products and prevention of environmental pollution
Year 2024
Published
DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167714
Abstract Rice straw management, along with the prevalent practice of residue burning, poses multifaceted challenges with substantial environmental and human health implications. After harvest, a considerable amount of straw is left behind, often disposed of through burning, releasing several pollutants into the environment. Carbon dioxide (CO2) dominates at 70%, accompanied by methane (CH4) at 0.66%, carbon monoxide (CO) at 7%, and nitrous oxide (N2O) at 2.09%. This process further compounds issues by depleting soil nutrients like nitrogen and organic matter. This review focuses on strategies for residue management and using straw as value-added by-products. We address research gaps and offer potential recommendations for rice straw management using economically feasible and practical routes. We elaborate that to improve rice straw digestibility, utilization in mushroom cultivation, and other value-added products, low silica (Si) rice varieties must be developed using modern technologies including marker-assisted selection breeding or genome editing. Developing low Si rice could also reduce arsenic uptake by rice, as rice plants use the same transporters for the uptake of both elements. Conversely, silica is also indispensable for quality rice production; hence, optimizing silicon content in rice is worth investigating. More research is required to understand the extent of silicon's effect on the utilization of straw for various purposes. This review also discusses the importance of educating farmers about the straw burning issue and its environmental consequences. We highlight the significance of tailoring rice straw management methods to local suitability, moving away from a universal approach. More extension work is needed to encourage farmers to opt for environmentally and economically sound options for rice straw management. Policy intervention to incentivize farmers and develop technologies for the widespread use of rice straw for various industries and product development could help in the management of rice straw and will also create a circular economy.
Author Keywords Agricultural waste; Rice straw; Silica; Waste management; Environmental pollution
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
EID WOS:001106088300001
WoS Category Environmental Sciences
Research Area Environmental Sciences & Ecology
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