MODIS-Derived Fire Characteristics and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Cropland Residue Burning in Central India

Cropland residue burning is one of the major causes of the emission of greenhouse gases and pollutants into the atmosphere, and is a major global environmental problem. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal changes in greenhouse gas emissions from cropland residue burning in Chhattisgarh, India. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) active fire data was analyzed over a 21-year (2001–2021) period, and associated greenhouse gas emissions were estimated. A total of 64,370 fire points were recorded for all land cover types. The number of cropland fires increased from 49 to 1368 between 2001 and 2021, with a burning peak observed between December and March. Fires in cropland areas contributed to 32.4% (19,878) of the total fire counts in the last 21 years. The total estimated emissions of greenhouse gases between 2001 and 2021 ranged from 421.5 to 37,233 Gg, with an annual rate of emission of 8972 Gg from wheat residue burning, and from 435.45 to 64,108.1 Gg, with an annual emission of 15,448.16 Gg from rice residue burning. The Chhattisgarh plain region was the cropland fire hotspot of the state. The present study indicates increased cropland residue-burning activity in Chhattisgarh. Therefore, there is an immediate need to develop sustainable alternative methods for agricultural residue management and eco-friendly methods for the disposal of crop residues.