Spatio-Temporal Evaluation of Crop Residue Burning, Smog Formation and Energy Loss in Transboundary Punjab Regions of Pakistan and India

¹ Department of Structures and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
² Department of Farm Machinery and Power,Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
³ Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan

Academic Editor: Jose Ramon Fernandez

Published: 07 May 2026 by MDPI in The 3rd International Online Conference on Energies session Energy and Environment. Sustainable Transition

Abstract:

Introduction

Seasonal smog has become a major environmental and public health concern in the transboundary Punjab region of Pakistan and India. Extensive open field burning of crop residues upon harvesting of major crops like rice and wheat are the significant causes of air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and the loss of recoverable bioenergy. This research is intended to test the impact of the socio-spatial features of crop residue burning, its connection with smog formation and the loss of bioenergy in the transboundary regions of the Indo-Pak Punjab border.

Methods

The study focuses on four divisions in India (Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Patiala) and four divisions in Pakistan (Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Sahiwal). The method used in the estimation of crop residue generation was crop-to-residue ratio using crop production. The NASA FIRMS provides satellite-based fire data, which was examined with Geographic Information System (GIS) tools in order to determine the presence of residue burning hotspots and temporal changes in the past decade. Air quality indicators such as Air Quality Index (AQI) and particulate matter (PM) were also studied to determine the correlation with the occurrence of the residue burning events.

Results

It is revealed that about 15–22 million tonnes of crop residues are burnt in the study area every year. According to satellite reports, this coincides with the high levels of AQI and PM during periods of peak smog. The amount of energy lost in open field burning is estimated to be between 210 and 330 petajoules (PJ) every year, which is a huge loss of potential bioenergy resources.

Conclusions

The results indicate the close relationship between the burning of crop residues, poor air quality and wasted bioenergy resources within the transboundary region of the Punjab. The research also suggests that biomass briquetting may be an alternative solution to the utilization of crop residues that would help decrease emissions and promote energy recovery in the region and the transition to sustainable energy.

Keywords: Air Quality Index; Biomass Energy Recovery; Crop Residue Burning; Energy Loss Assessment; GIS and Remote Sensing; Punjab Region; Sustainable Energy Transition; Transboundary Smog

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