Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Crop Residue Burning in Punjab, India

In Punjab’s paddy-wheat crop rotation, one of the most serious environmental problems is crop residue burning. This research analyses the spatio-temporal patterns of burning in Punjab over a period of 20 years from 2004-2024 based on MODIS (Terra/Aqua) and VIIRS (S-NPP) satellite images. The study points to the seasonal differences, with the burning of paddy residues in Kharif (October-November) and wheat residue burning in Rabi (April-May). On an average basis throughout the study period, Kharif fire events were 3 to 4 times greater than residue burning in Rabi season. Persistent hotspot districts such as Sangrur, Barnala, Ludhiana, Bathinda, and Moga repeatedly exhibited the highest fire densities. A gradual decline in fire incidents observed in 2024, across both seasons, suggests the emerging impact of crop residue management initiatives. The decadal spatio-temporal pattern that has been observed allows for the development of robust empirical foundations for the implementation of region-specific strategies that are based on evidence to reduce residue burning, at the same time, maintain agricultural productivity.