In recent years, the burning of dry grass and plant residues has taken on a large scale.
In autumn and spring, grasses and reeds are burned, and in summer, crop residues are burned. Through such actions, the microflora and fauna of the upper soil layer are destroyed, insects and their larvae, plant pollinators, earthworms and other organisms involved in the process of soil formation, as well as small animals, birds and their nesting sites die. The composition of grasses is depleted, as the seeds of annual, biennial and some perennial plants are destroyed, the layer of dry grass that retained moisture, rotted and created the necessary conditions for the existence of many plants, animals and insects is destroyed, and formed the soil. The quality of soils and humus content decreases, their structure worsens, and their anti-erosion resistance decreases.
In addition, burning grass does not contribute to increasing soil fertility. After all, high temperatures during combustion destroy soil-forming microorganisms located in the upper layer of the soil. Under normal conditions, when the leaves or grass rot, the substances necessary for plant development are returned to the soil. During combustion, ash is formed, which, contrary to the generally accepted opinion about its usefulness as fertilizer, should be used very carefully so as not to harm plants. And so the burning of leaves and dead wood every year leads to more and more impoverishment of the soil.
People who smoke dry grass are always convinced that this improves the yield, but this statement is incorrect. When dead wood is burned, all the microflora that grows in the spring dies. The Earth’s fertile cover, on which grass is burned, is restored only after 5 or even 6 years! In addition, harmful substances that harm the respiratory system are released into the environment.
From now on, burning dry grass is regarded as sabotage is a crime for which you can get a sentence of imprisonment for a period of 10 to 15 years or life imprisonment with confiscation of property. The relevant amendments were made to the Criminal Code of Ukraine on March 3, 2022 (Burning dry grass was equated to sabotage: malefactors face 15 years in prison).
The best way to dispose of fallen leaves and grass is composting. You can use compost as fertilizer as early as a year after laying. Its useful properties will be preserved for another 4 years. The use of compost is also useful for basal top dressing of trees and shrubs.
Composting is not only the production of high-quality fertilizers with an optimal ratio of nutrients, decontaminated from pathogens and weed seeds, it is also a source of beneficial microflora that we introduce into the soil.