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Press release…
Although it is forbidden to burn stubble, which occurs every year after harvest, harms the soil and causes environmental problems, it continues.
Stating that burning stubble causes the soil to lose all its properties, Union of Turkish Agricultural Chambers (TZOB) Chairman Şemsi Bayraktar said, “Since 70 percent of the micro-organisms in the soil are damaged during stubble burning, soil fertility decreases. Actually since 1993, stubble burning is prohibited. Our producers have to comply with this ban.”
Şemsi Bayraktar warned the farmers about burning stubble.
Burning stubble is prohibited since 1993!
Pointing out that burning stubble is a wrong practice that causes serious damage to soil fertility elements in the long term, Bayraktar emphasized, “Stubble burning has been prohibited in our country since 1993. Because it is costly to clean the plant stems left in the field after harvest, some producers prefer to burn these residues. During the burning of the stubble, not only the roots remaining after the harvest are burned in the soil, but also the important biological, physical and chemical properties of the soil are highly damaged.”
Indicating that the organic matter of the surface soil is destroyed by stubble fires, Bayraktar explained, “Organic matter provides absorption and retention of precipitation waters, prevents soil transport by erosion and provides aeration of the soil. After the drought experienced throughout the country, our producers should act by considering the damage caused by stubble burning to the soil and biodiversity.”
“It takes many years to recover the damage caused by stubble fires to the soil structure. The high temperature that occurs in the first few centimetres of soil destroys organic matter, which is one of the most important factors for productivity. A temperature of around 250 degrees occurs in the upper parts of the soil where the stubble is burned, and it also kills all small living things on the soil surface. However, as a result of the activities of these invisible creatures in the soil, organic materials are broken down into humus, which increases soil fertility,” Bayraktar added…
