Coal-fired power plants are quietly depleting India’s rice and wheat production, destroying up to 10% of yields in multiple states, according to new research by researchers at Stanford University in the United States.
Coal power plants emit carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, fly ash, soot, suspended particulate matter and other trace gases. These pollutants are associated with smog, acid rain, eutrophication and various other environmental burdens.
Elusive links
In the new study, doctoral student Kirat Singh and his colleagues have attracted attention (No) for the consequences of less nitrogen dioxide (No)2) Crop productivity.
Typically, nitrogen oxides are an established side effect of Indian coal dependence. They are phytotoxic, meaning they stress plants and are known to hinder cellular function and interfere with critical enzyme activities. Oxides also help to form ozone, which in turn aggravates crop damage and produces particulate matter, limiting the amount of sunlight that can be used for photosynthesis.
“We know that coal-fired power plants have made a significant contribution to air pollution,” Singh said. “We also know from past research that various pollutants, including no2will have a negative impact on the growth of crops. However, no study was linked systematically at the dynamic plant level, especially at the dynamic level in India. ”
Track plant health
In order to make up for the lack of ground monitoring stations in agricultural areas2 Concentration across India. Because multiple power plants are ineffective2 Pollution across different distances, researchers summarized all coal-free pollution2 Emissions reach each location instead of isolating a single source. This approach gives them a comprehensive understanding of the amount of pollution exposed in agricultural areas.
Then, estimate how2 From coal-fired power plants affecting crop yields, researchers have turned to satellite-derived vegetation index. They use physical signals called vegetation (NIRV) near-infrared reflectivity as agents for plant health. NIRV measures green. Healthy crops are richer in chlorophyll, visible light cannot be detected, but are sensitive to near-infrared light. Therefore, leaves in healthy plants reflect a higher percentage of near-infrared light.
Using pre-established coefficients, researchers can connect to No2 Levels measured by Tropomi satellites to vary NIRV. Their Indian specificity coefficients for monsoon rice were 0.0006 and winter wheat were 0.0007. Per 1 mole/m2 no2for example, the corresponding drops in NIRV are 0.0006 and 0.0007, respectively.
Previous studies have shown a linear relationship between NIRV and crop yield, allowing researchers to directly estimate how much yield is lost due to contamination. They set the baseline NIRV to 0.007, representing the growth of zero crops and calculated the percentage of yields based on the decline driven by green pollution. This approach helps them quantify agricultural damage without2 No physics measurement is required.
Blowing in the wind
They also analyzed wind direction patterns to distinguish pollution from coal plants from other industrial and environmental sources. This step helped the team dissolve the major differences in the impact of coal pollution in various states.
For example, Chhattisgarh, the main hub of coal-fired power supply, has the highest share of the state of Chhattisgarh, which is the largest in the market.2 Coal-fired power plants pollution: about 19% NO2 It was found during the monsoon season and was found at 12.5% in winter.
Surprisingly, Uttar Pradesh generally has no2 Levels, but only a small portion comes from coal, while Tamil Nadu is relatively low2 Pollution, but most of it comes from coal.
The contribution of coal to air pollution varies by region. Not all power plants have the same impact: those power plants located near fertile farmland will cause the greatest agricultural damage, Singh said.
Neglected losses
Crop Damage Strength – Monetary Loss per GWH for wheat and rice, $17,370/gwh (Rs 15 lakh at 6 February 2025) and $13,420/gwh (Rs 1177 crore) respectively.
During the monsoon season, about 20% of coal-fired power generation accounts for half of all coal2Loss associated with rice, while 12% of the total winter season is associated with 50% of wheat loss.
This suggests that targeting a subset of relatively small, highly polluted power plants may still have significant benefits for agricultural productivity. According to the study, West Bengal’s farmland accounts for 5.7% of coal-fired power plants may increase by 5-10%, while 1.66% of the gains may exceed 10%. Similarly, in Madhya Pradesh, yields of 5.9% of farmland may increase by 5-10%, while another 11.9% yields may increase by more than 10%.
For comparison, the annual yield growth of Kharif rice and rabbi wheat averaged only 1.7% and 1.5% between 2011 and 2020.
According to the study, rice production in India can be earned $420 million a year, while wheat can be earned $400 million a year, totaling about Rs 70 million.
Eliminating the expected yield of nitrogen dioxide concentrations in major rice and wheat produces benefits. Farmland in all key states is expected to increase by 1% by eliminating coal-related NO2. Data for the 2019 growth season. |Picture source: PNA: 122 (6) E2421679122
India and coal
As the 2025-2026 economic survey and energy experts have pointed out, coal currently plays a crucial role in India’s growth. The 2025-2026 union budget has provided 255% of the budget for the Ministry of Coal, which surpasses the revised estimates for fiscal 2024-2025.
India’s demand for food is also soaring. In 2024, the Global Hunger Index ranked 105th among the 127 countries in food security. Rice and wheat are staples of India, and these grains are exported to many parts of the world.
Singh said he hopes to provide information on policy reforms to allow the coal and agricultural sectors to meet in the middle. “When you develop policies around pollution in the power sector, taking into account the impact of crops along with health and greenhouse gas emissions can help decision makers determine where pollution control equipment should be installed,” he said.
“If you want to optimize the funds for investments to install all of these pollution control equipment, then you want to focus on power plants, which will bring the greatest benefits. Policy makers may find information in our research that might help figuring out which power plants are prioritized,” he added.
Singh grew up in New Delhi and said his poor air quality inspired him to study the consequences of air pollution on humans and crop health. In the future, Singh plans to further examine how coal power plants affect large-scale agriculture in India, including other pollutants on crop productivity.
Ashmita Gupta is a science writer.
publishing – February 27, 2025 at 05:30 am IST
