Utilization of Rice Straw as a Low-Cost Natural By-Product in Agriculture

Abstract

In Egypt, rice (Oryza sativa) is a major crop in terms of total production and it is considered the third most important grain crop in all over the world behind wheat and corn. Rice production is associated with large quantities of straw, which traditionally have been removed by the practice of open field burning. However, burning of the agricultural residues especially in Egypt, particularly rice straw (about 3 million tons per year) lead to what is known locally as “Black Cloud” in the media. This work aims to document the problems take place from Rice straw burning like potentially harmful effects on people's health, especially for those with sensitive eyes and respiratory problems, environmental impacts represented by increasing of global methane emission rates from rice fields and solutions represented by best management practices should be applied for rice straw annually produced under national and international scales. 

Keywords

• black cloud,Agricultural waste,environmental ecosystem and rice straw

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