Pusa-2090 Alternative to Pusa-44

• 09 Nov 2023

Source: IE

Why in News?

With the Supreme Court emphasizing the need to cease stubble burning in states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, the discussion surrounding Pusa-2090 rice variety from its ability to provide an alternative to the problematic long-duration Pusa-44 variety.

What is Pusa-44 and Pusa-2090?

• Pusa-44:
  • Pusa-44, a long-duration paddy variety bred by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), has been a key contributor to stubble burning.
  • Its growth cycle of 155-160 days, from nursery sowing to harvesting, leads to late October maturity, leaving a short window for field preparation for the next crop.
  • Due to time constraints, farmers resort to burning the stubble, causing severe environmental issues.
  • Despite its longer duration, the high-yielding nature of Pusa-44, averaging 35-36 quintals an acre, makes it popular among farmers.

Note: In the current kharif season, Pusa-44 covers a significant portion of the paddy cultivation in Punjab, especially in non-basmati varieties. Whereas, basmati varieties, producing softer straw, contribute less to stubble burning, but their cultivation area is relatively smaller.

• Pusa-2090: A Potential Solution
  • IARI has developed Pusa-2090, an improved version derived from a cross between Pusa-44 and CB-501, an early-maturing Japonica rice line.
  • It matures in a shorter duration of 120-125 days while maintaining comparable yields, addressing the core issue of stubble burning.
  • It combines the high yield attributes of Pusa-44 with the quicker maturation cycle of CB-501, making it a promising alternative.
  • It has undergone testing at the All-India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project and has been identified for cultivation in regions like Delhi and Odisha.
    • Farmers in regions where Pusa-2090 has been tested have reported promising yield results.

What can be the Alternatives to Stubble Burning?

• PUSA Decomposers: The decomposers are in the form of capsules made by extracting fungi strains that help the paddy straw to decompose at a much faster rate.
• Happy Seeder: It is a tractor-mounted device offering an eco-friendly alternative to stubble burning.
  • It works by cutting and lifting rice straw, simultaneously sowing wheat into the exposed soil and depositing the straw over the sown area as protective mulch.
• Palletisation: Paddy straw, when dried and transformed into pellets, becomes a viable alternative fuel source.
  • When mixed with coal, these pellets can be utilized in thermal power plants and industries, potentially saving coal usage and lowering carbon emissions.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)
Prelims

Q. Consider the following agricultural practices: (2012)

1. Contour bunding
2. Relay cropping
3. Zero tillage

In the context of global climate change, which of the above helps/help in carbon sequestration/storage in the soil?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None of them

Ans: (b)