Farmers have to clear the stubble soon after harvest so as to prepare the field for sowing the next crop.
For clearing the farm waste, they usually have a short span of 10 to 15 days during which they prefer burning the stubble to other methods as it is considered the cheapest and least time-consuming solution. The residue and stubble are an important source of organic matter for the soil. Burning off this organic matter will gradually reduce soil organic matter levels. Burning can made the soil hotter and drier on the surface, creating a hard seedbed. Burning can temporarily seal the soil surface to some extent. Burning will result in the loss of some of the volatile nutrients, such as nitrogen, in the residue. Phosphorus and other minerals are not volatilized by burning and will remain on the field in the ash, unless the ash is blown away.
Picture Credit : Google