Impacts of Crop Residue Burning on Ambient Particulate Matter and Soil Properties: A Case Study from Chandrakona, West Bengal, India

Abstract

Crop residue burning (CRB) is widely used for rapid field clearing after harvest and can produce short-term particulate pollution as well as changes in soil properties. This study examined these effects in Chandrakona-II, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, using two complementary datasets. A portable, auto-calibrated, laser-scattering particle monitor was used to record location-specific PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations during field-burning events in December 2025. Hourly PM2.5 and PM10 observations from the Chandrakona Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS), operated by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB), were also analysed for the November–January post-monsoon periods of 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. Daily and monthly means were calculated. In addition, paired soil samples collected before and after burning at four locations were analysed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), available N, P and K, and selected micronutrients. During a representative burning event, PM2.5 increased from about 25–30 to approximately 1000 µg/m³, while PM10 increased from about 40 to nearly 400 µg/m³. Elevated concentrations persisted after burning. CAAQMS records showed that daily and monthly particulate concentrations remained above the WHO 24-h guidelines and the Indian NAAQS during the study periods, with the highest monthly means recorded in December 2025. All four paired soil sites showed lower OC and available N, P and K after burning, together with declines in the measured micronutrients. The findings provide a local baseline for Chandrakona and support residue-management approaches that avoid open-field burning.