OPPORTUNITIES – ALTERNATIVES FOR APPLICATION OF AGROECOLOGICAL MEASURES AND USE OF POST-HARVEST RESIDUES

Abstract

In most of the cases, the standard cultivation of cereal crops by agricultural producers is carried out by applying agricultural practices, which are unsustainable in long term. Especially the treatment of post-harvest residues (mostly burning the stubble of rice, wheat and barley), contributes to the increase of the risk faster and mostly irreversible or very slow reversible degradation of natural resources. The treatment of the post-harvest residues must be in accordance with the strategies and practices of good agricultural practice, which are compatible with the EU strategy in the field of agricultural policy. Only in Bregalnica region, on an annual level, around 100 000 tons (96,082 tons) of “post-harvest residues” remain on productive agricultural arable land. These amounts are obtained from around 31 100 hectares of arable land on which the most common cereal crops (wheat, corn, barley, rye and oats) are grown. On average, from all crops, on an annual level, about 3,2 t/ha of post-harvest aboveground plant biomass remained, which represents a significant resource, that is often used irrationally and sometimes harmful to the environment, by agricultural producers. The practice of agricultural cereal crop producers has been analysed and alternative approaches for using post-harvest residues have been proposed. The additional financial implications for farmers, which can be achieved by proper treatments of the post-harvest residues are emphasized. Proposed measures and activities for sustainable management of plant residues after harvest are explained.