Agricultural waste is composed of organic wastes from farms and slaughterhouses as well as non-organic waste such as plastics and machinery. It is produced from various agricultural operations and includes manure, harvest waste, and pesticides and fertilizers that run off into the environment. There is no single legal definition but some countries define it as waste from agricultural premises. Common components include wet and dry organic matter, inert materials, and potentially hazardous chemicals. Agricultural waste accounts for 60-80% of total waste produced in India and common treatment methods include landfarming, anaerobic digestion, and composting to process the waste safely.

1. AGRICULTURAL WASTE
Prepared by-Arup N. Das
Note: Important Instructions on Slide
No. 15 & 16.

2. Agricultural Waste
Agricultural waste is composed of organic wastes (animal
excreta in the form of slurries and farmyard manures, spent
mushroom compost, soiled water and silage effluent) and
waste such as plastic, scrap machinery, fencing, pesticides,
waste oils and veterinary medicines.
Agricultural waste is waste produced as a result of various
agricultural operations. It includes manure and other wastes
from farms, poultry houses and slaughterhouses; harvest
waste; fertilizer run- off from fields; pesticides that enter into
water, air or soils; and salt and silt drained from fields.

3. Agricultural Waste – Formal Definitions
There is no legal definition of agricultural waste in India & EU
countries, but a few countries adopted national definitions.
Example: England + Wales
The legal definition of “agricultural waste”: “waste from premises
used for agriculture within the meaning of the Agriculture Act 1947.”
The Agriculture Act 1947 defines “agriculture” as including:-
“…horticulture, fruit growing, seed growing, dairy farming and
livestock breeding and keeping, the use of land as grazing land,
meadow land, osier land, market gardens and nursery grounds,
and the use of land for woodlands where that use is ancillary to the
farming of land for other agricultural purposes, and ‘agriculture’
shall be construed accordingly.”

4. Agricultural Waste – Forestry

5. Agricultural waste – food production

6. Application of chemicals in agriculture
source of hazadrous wastes

7. Necessity of Waste Management
• 1. If not managed properly they can pollute
surface and groundwater.
• 2. Proper management of waste can• 2. Proper management of waste can
contribute to farm operations.
• 3. Waste management helps to maintain a
healthy environment for farm animals.

8. Agricultural Waste composition
Agricultural waste is composed of organic wastes (animal
excreta in the form of slurries and farmyard manures, spent
mushroom compost, soiled water and silage effluent) and
waste such as plastic, scrap machinery, fencing, pesticides,
waste oils and veterinary medicines.
Typical constituents:
- wet organic matter (food waste, sludge)
- dry organic matter (wood, straw)
- inert materials (sand, soil)
- recyclable materials (plastics, metal, glass and paper)
- hazardous materials (chemicals)

9. Example: Production of agricultural wastes in India in 2012
Total production of waste: 42 200 300 tons
Agricultural waste 136 400 tons
Agricultural Waste statistics
Agricultural waste 136 400 tons
Hazardous agricultural waste 3 300 tons

10. The general waste management hierarchy should
basically be followed.
Agricultural Waste processing
If preferred options (prevention, minimisation,…….) are not
applicable, there are a number of methods used to treat
agricultural waste. These include for example spreading the
waste on land (landfarming) under strict conditions,
anaerobic digestion and composting.

11. Agricultural Waste processing - landfarming

12. Agricultural waste processing
Anaerobic Digestion

13. Agricultural waste processing - Composting

14. Relative representation of Industrial and Agricultural waste
All the waste types generated in India
Agricultural waste 60 – 80%
electrical and electronic waste 0.2 %
Mining waste 20 – 30 %Mining waste 20 – 30 %
Construction and demolition waste 20 %
Hazardous waste 1 %
Industrial waste 2 %
Municipal waste 10 – 15 %

15. Important for Exam
1. Definition of Agricultural Waste.
2. Typical hazardous components in agricultural waste.
3. Main treatment processes for agricultural waste in India.
4. Management of Agricultural Waste.

16. Assignment for You all
Prepare a notes on different types of
Agricultural waste and its management.
Send the Softcopy or Scan copy of the Notes toSend the Softcopy or Scan copy of the Notes to
my Whatsapp No. 9101878176.
Any Query – Call to the above contact no.
E-mail-ID- arupn8@gmail.com