Avoid burning of leaves in orchards: Expert

Srinagar, Dec 07: A SKUAST-Kashmir expert Wednesday appealed to farmers to avoid the burning of leaves in orchards.
The burning of biomass, particularly the fallen apple tree leaves, picks momentum across Kashmir with the beginning of the autumn season as people prepare for the approaching harsh winter by preparing charcoal from leaves and twigs.
Dr Tariq Rasool, Associate Professor Plant Pathology at SKUAST-K, said the burning of leaves has a number of environmental hazards associated with it including pollution.
“Those people who do not use the dry leaf for livestock should avoid burning of leaves in orchards and the better way is to use the leaves for making compost in pits,” he said.
He said apart from the compost, people can collect leaves and clean the orchard and use it as food for livestock like sheep and goats during the harsh winter months.
Dr Tariq said that many people burn the leaves in orchards for the sake of destroying disease or pest eggs which should be avoided.
“Normally one manure quintal costs Rs 1200 a quintal and people can make the compost in the same orchards and it should be encouraged. They can save money. Farmers should dig pits in orchards and put the leaves in them to make vermicompost that could be used as fertilizer which is a good idea,” he said.
In 2018, the government announced enforcing an existing ban on the burning of leaves and wood pruned from trees. At that time the government had said such burning is hazardous to peoples’ health and ash from the fires contributes to melting of glaciers in the region.