Microbial Bio-decomposers for Crop-Residue Management and Air-Pollution Mitigation in Northern India: A Critical Mini Review

Abstract

Open-field crop-residue burning remains an important episodic source of fine particulate matter, carbonaceous aerosol and reactive gases across northern India. Microbial bio-decomposers are increasingly promoted as a biological option for accelerating in-situ residue breakdown, but their environmental value depends on more than microbial activity alone. This critical mini review evaluates the biological basis, field efficacy, operational constraints and air-quality relevance of bio-decomposer-assisted residue management. Evidence was synthesised from peer-reviewed mechanistic studies, farmer-field and multi-location trials, semi-controlled experiments, atmospheric studies and selected institutional reports. The literature confirms that lignocellulose degrading fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes can accelerate biochemical transformation of crop residues. However, field outcomes are strongly influenced by chopping, incorporation, moisture, starter nutrients, residue type and treatment duration. Independent multi-location evidence indicates that physical incorporation can produce larger decomposition responses than inoculation alone, while several farmer-field studies evaluate bundled management packages rather than the marginal effect of the microbial product. Consequently, pot-scale or package-level efficacy should not be interpreted as direct evidence of field-scale microbial additionality. Air-quality benefits require a further causal step: treatment must enable timely crop establishment and demonstrably displace burning. Bio-decomposers are therefore best positioned as components of integrated residue-management systems. Future studies should use operationally equivalent non-inoculated controls, standardised decomposition endpoints, multi-location validation, complete system-cost accounting and georeferenced verification of non-burning before avoided emissions are attributed to bio-decomposer programmes.

Keywords: Crop-Residue Burning; Microbial Bio-Decomposer; Paddy Straw; Sugarcane Trash; Lignocellulose; PM2.5 ; Indo-Gangetic Plain; Residue Management

Citation

Prashant Ravish. Microbial Bio decomposers for Crop-Residue Management and Air-Pollution Mitigation in Northern India: A Critical Mini Review. WebLog J Environ Sci. wjets.2026.j1704. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23607853