Rice Straw Manure Research Articles

Rice straw incorporation in winter with fertilizer-N application improves soil fertility and reduces global warming potential from a double rice paddy field

Proper rice straw management in paddy fields is necessary in order to sustain soil productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A field experiment was carried out from 2008 to 2011 in subtropical China: (1) to monitor rice yield, soil available nutrients, CH4, and N2O emissions and (2) to evaluate the effects of timing of rice straw incorporation and joint N application rate in a double rice cropping system. The total amount of rice straw from one cropping season was incorporated in winter (WS) or in spring (SS) and mineral N was jointly applied with rice straw incorporation at rates of 0, 30, and 60 % of the basal fertilization rate (N0B, N30B, and N60B) for the first rice crop. Soil water was naturally drained during the period of winter fallow (PWF) and controlled under intermittent irrigation during the period of first rice growth (PFR). Compared with SS, WS significantly (P < 0.05) increased the first rice yield only in the flooding year (2010), and increased the soil available K concentration after PWF and PFR in 2008–2009 and the hydrolysable N concentration after PWF in 2010–2011. Meanwhile, WS significantly decreased the total CH4 emission by about 12 % in 2009–2010 and 2010–2011, but increased the total N2O emission by 15–43 % particularly during PWF in all 3 years, resulting in a lower GWP in WS in the flooding year and no differences in the nonflooding years. Compared with N0B, joint N application (N60B and N30B) increased the soil hydrolysable N after PWF in all 3 years. Meanwhile, it decreased the total CH4 emissions by 21 % and increased the N2O emissions during PWF by 75–150 % in the nonflooding years, but the net GWP was lower in N60B than in N0B. The results suggested that the rice straw incorporation with joint N application in winter is more sustainable compared with the local practices such as rice straw incorporation in spring or open-field burning.

Molecular analyses of the functional microbial community in composting by PCR-DGGE targeting the genes of the β-glucosidase

The study investigated the β-glucosidase-producing microbial communities and the enzymatic dynamics of CMCase and β-glucosidase during the process of cattle manure-rice straw composting. In order to analyze the succession of functional community by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGEs), three sets of PCR primers were designed to amplify the family 1 and 3 β-glucosidase genes from both bacteria and fungi. The results showed in general that the stable functional community composition as well as for the high level enzymatic activities of both cellulase and β-glucosidase occurred during the last phase (days 14–31) of composting. In the process of composting, that functional groups were determined by the stable bands (GH1-F, GH1-H, GH1-G, GH3E-D and GH3E-E) may significantly contribute to the increase of β-glucosidase activities in the later phase. Especially, the bands from the family 1 β-glucosidase genes were appeared before that from the family 3 β-glucosidase genes from fungi, then the former was substituted for the latter gradually in the cooling phase. We found significant correlations between the β-glucosidase activity and the communities of the functional bacteria and fungi. The results indicated that different β-glucosidase-producing microbe release different amounts or activities of β-glucosidase, and that the composition of microbial communities may play a major role in determining overall β-glucosidase activity during the composting process.

Alternative Rice Straw Management Practices to Reduce Field Open Burning in Thailand

Alternative Rice Straw Management Practices to Reduce Field Open Burning in Thailand

Structure of chemical components in different compost extracts characterized by chromatogram and spectroscopy analysis and its influence on plant growth promotion

Pig manure rice straw compost was extracted using different extraction methods, and the composition of each extraction was identified by chromatogram and spectroscopy in order to investigate plant growth promoting factors. Compared with direct extraction, aerated and non-aerated fermentation extractions were better for nutrient accumulation, especially for high molecular weight substances. Cucumber yields of aerated fermentation extraction of compost (AFEC) treatment were 16.5 and 57.6 % higher than the direct extraction of compost (DEC) and non-aerated fermentation extraction of compost (NAFEC) treatments. Humic acid-like and fulvic acid-like substances were the main components in all extracts. Furthermore, AFEC showed the most humification and aromatization. Humic substances extracted from AFEC (H-AFEC) increased shoot dry weight by 2.8 and 7.4 %, compared to humic substances extracted from DEC (H-DEC) and humic substances extracted from NAFEC (H-NAFEC). In conclusion, AFEC was the best extraction method to get more humic substances to stimulate plant growth.

Influence of Nitrogen Containing Wastes Addition on Natural Aerobic Composting of Rice Straw

Problem statement: Rice straw is an agricultural residue. Typically, the rice straw can be burn in the rice field after the harvesting process . The burning can cause air pollution. Another alternative rice straw management method is animal feed. The amount of rice straw is enormus in Thailand. Another sustainable way to manage rice st raw is required. Rice straw is used as main waste to compost with nitrogen containing wastes such as golden apple snail, cattle dung and urea in natural aerobic composting reactors. The golden apple snail is a pesticide and cattle dung is an animal waste. Both materials are all waste of low values. The mai n purpose of this study was to determine the influence of nitrogen containing wastes addition to rice straw on the performance of natural aerobic composting process in terms of the following parameters: pH, temperature, organic matter, C/N ratio, electrical conductivity and GI. The impact of this study is to reuse agriculture residue by composting . Approach: The experiments was consisted of three reactors. T he reactor 1 contains the rice straws and golden apple snails while the reactor 2 contain s the rice straws, golden apple snails and urea. Th e reactor 3 contains the rice straws, cattle dung and urea. The experiments were carried out in designed natural aerobic reactors (60 L) under cont rolled laboratory conditions over 60 days. The analysis was done every 5 days however the temperature was measured daily. Results: The experimental results showed that the initial C/N ra tio was 30.7, 30.3 and 31.8 in the reactor 1, 2 and 3, respectively. After the 60-day period, the final C/N ratio was reduced to 17.9, 16.9 and 18.4 in the reactor 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The main nutr ients (N: P: K) from all reactors achieved the standard level for Thai compost standard. The rice straw as agricultural residue was suitable for co- composting with golden apple snails and cattle dung as the nitrogen containing wastes. Conclusion: The final compost is the good quality compost accor ding to the Thai compost standard. The moisture content is slightly higher than the Thai c ompost standard. The final compost can be dry in the air to reduce moisture before use. The final co mpost can be use as a fertilizer.

Effect of rice straw application on CH4 emission in continuous and recently converted paddy fields

Management of rice straw is of environmental concern because it significantly affects methane (CH4) emissions from rice paddies. To evaluate straw-application effects on paddies those have different cultivation histories, we measured CH4 emissions in continuously cultivated rice paddy (CP) and recently converted paddy (RP) (from soybean cultivation) with rice straw treatments (+S). Further, we hypothesized that changes in i) soil Fe (III) reduction and ii) population dynamics of methanogens were responsible for the different responses of CH4 emissions due to straw application between CP and RP. Methane (CH4) emission from CP+S was 2-fold larger than that from RP+S, although relative enhancement was higher in later (492%) than the former (289%) compared with no straw application. Stoichiometric evaluation revealed that applied rice straw acted as an exogenous source of electron donor for CH4 production, especially in CP. Our results showed that the increase in CH4 emissions by straw application was much greater in continuous than short term paddy.

Assessing energy efficiencies and greenhouse gas emissions under bioethanol-oriented paddy rice production in northern Japan

To establish energetically and environmentally viable paddy rice-based bioethanol production systems in northern Japan, it is important to implement appropriately selected agronomic practice options during the rice cultivation step. In this context, effects of rice variety (conventional vs. high-yielding) and rice straw management (return to vs. removal from the paddy field) on energy inputs from fuels and consumption of materials, greenhouse gas emissions (fuel and material consumption-derived CO2 emissions as well as paddy soil CH4 and N2O emissions) and ethanol yields were assessed. The estimated ethanol yield from the high-yielding rice variety, “Kita-aoba” was 2.94 kL ha−1, a 32% increase from the conventional rice variety, “Kirara 397”. Under conventional rice production in northern Japan (conventional rice variety and straw returned to the paddy), raising seedlings, mechanical field operations, transportation of harvested unhulled brown rice and consumption of materials (seeds, fertilizers, biocides and agricultural machinery) amounted to 28.5 GJ ha−1 in energy inputs. The total energy input was increased by 14% by using the high-yielding variety and straw removal, owing to increased requirements for fuels in harvesting and transporting harvested rice as well as in collecting, loading and transporting rice straw. In terms of energy efficiency, the variation among rice variety and straw management scenarios regarding rice varieties and rice straw management was small (28.5–32.6 GJ ha−1 or 10.1–14.0 MJ L−1). Meanwhile, CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions varied considerably from scenario to scenario, as straw management had significant impacts on CH4 emissions from paddy soils. When rice straw was incorporated into the soil, total CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions for “Kirara 397” and “Kita-aoba” were 25.5 and 28.2 Mg CO2 ha−1, respectively; however, these emissions were reduced notably for the two varieties when rice straw was removed from the paddy fields in an effort to mitigate CH4 emissions. Thus, rice straw removal avers itself a key practice with respect to lessening the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions in paddy rice-based ethanol production systems in northern Japan. More crucially, the rice straw removed is available for ethanol production and generation of heat energy with a biomass boiler, all elements required for biomass-to-ethanol transformation steps including saccharification, fermentation and distillation. This indicates opportunities for further improvement in energy efficiency and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions under whole rice plant-based bioethanol production systems.

Improving fertility and productivity of a highly-weathered upland soil in subtropical China by incorporating rice straw

The transfer of rice straw from paddy fields to upland areas was proposed in our study as an innovative practice to improve the fertility of the highly-weathered and poor upland soils, as well as to mitigate environmental impacts from rice production system (e.g., the large application of chemical fertilizers, straw burning, CH4 emission from decomposed straw) in the subtropical China. Data from an 8-year field experiment with sweet potato and rapeseed show that, the contents of organic matter and total nitrogen (N) in the surface soil (0–20 cm) with rice straw incorporation were increased by 13%, and the amounts of soil microbial biomass carbon (C), N, and phosphorus (P) by 18–43%, compared with the values when chemical fertilizers (NPK) were applied alone. Physical conditions and crop productivity of the test soil were effectively promoted with the straw incorporation, as indicated in significant changes in soil field water-holding capacity, total porosity, and bulk density in the 10–15 cm soil layer, and the rise (about 10% and 20%, respectively) of sweet potato and rapeseed yields. In conclusion, these results suggest that the practice shift from conventional rice straw management (‘on the spot’ incorporation) to upland incorporation is effective in improvement in fertility and productivity of the upland soil, which has potentials to reduce the amounts of chemical fertilizers applied and to increase soil C storage in farmlands in the region.

Rice straw management: the big waste

AbstractRice is one of the major foods, with consumption per capita of 65 kg per year, accounting for 20% of global ingested calories. Rice production is expected to increase significantly in the near future in order to feed the rising human population. Today, paddy rice culture produces 660 million tons of rice, along with 800 million dry tons of agricultural residues, mainly straw. This biomass is managed predominantly through rice straw burning (RSB) and soil incorporation strategies. RSB leads to significant air pollution and has been banned in some regions, whereas stubble and straw incorporation into wet soil during land preparation is associated with enhanced methane emissions. Therefore, both strategies have important deleterious environmental effects and fail to take advantage of the huge energy potential of rice straw. Using rice straw as lignocellulosic biomass to produce bioethanol would appear to be a promising and ambitious goal to both manage this agricultural waste and to produce environmentally friendly biofuel. Technical difficulties, however, associated with the conversion of lignocellulose into simple, fermentable sugars, have hampered the massive development of rice‐straw‐derived bioethanol. Recent technical advances in straw pre‐treatment, hydrolysis and fermentation may, however, overcome these limitations and facilitate a dramatic turnover in biofuels production in the near future. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd

Estimation of methane and nitrous oxide emissions from rice field with rice straw management in Cambodia

To estimate the greenhouse gas emissions from paddy fields of Cambodia, the methodology of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines, IPCC coefficients, and emission factors from the experiment in Thailand and another country were used. Total area under rice cultivation during the years 2005-2006 was 2,048,360 ha in the first crop season and 298,529 ha in the second crop season. The emission of methane from stubble incorporation with manure plus fertilizer application areas in the first crop season was estimated to be 192,783.74 ton higher than stubble with manure, stubble with fertilizer, and stubble without fertilizer areas. The fields with stubble burning emitted the highest emission of methane (75,771.29 ton) followed by stubble burning with manure (22,251.08 ton), stubble burning with fertilizer (13,213.27 ton), and stubble burning with fertilizer application areas (3,222.22 ton). The total emission of methane from rice field in Cambodia for the years 2005-2006 was approximately 342,649.26 ton (342.65 Gg) in the first crop season and 36,838.88 ton (36.84 Gg) in the second crop season. During the first crop season in the years 2005-2006, Battambang province emitted the highest amount of CH(4) (38,764.48 ton) and, in the second crop season during the years 2005-2006, the highest emission (8,262.34 ton) was found in Takeo province (8,262.34 ton). Nitrous oxide emission was between 2.70 and 1,047.92 ton in the first crop season and it ranged from 0 to 244.90 ton in the second crop season. Total nitrous oxide emission from paddy rice field was estimated to be 9,026.28 ton in the first crop season and 1,091.93 ton in the second crop season. Larger area under cultivation is responsible for higher emission of methane and nitrous oxide. Total emission of nitrous oxide by using IPCC default emission coefficient was approximately 2,328.85 ton. The total global warming potential of Cambodian paddy rice soil is 11,723,217.03 ton (11,723 Gg) equivalents of CO(2).

Effect of rice straw management and organic fertilizer application on growth and yield of dry direct-seeded rice

The objectives of this research were to investigate the effect of rice straw management and application of different types of organic fertilizer on growth and yield of dry direct-seeded rice grown under rainfed conditions. The experiment was conducted in a farmer’s field at Muang Yai village, Khon Kaen province in 2005. A split-plot design was used, with the main plot under rice straw management (incorporating into the soil and burning), and sub-plots by type of organic fertilizer (green manure, cattle manure and powder organic fertilizer) and one plot under no-fertilizer application. It was found that rice straw incorporated into the soil had no significant effect on grain yield when compared with the effect of burning. Organic fertilizer of cattle manure and powder organic fertilizer significantly increased grain yield over that of green manure and no-fertilizer application.

Kinetics of phosphorus and potassium release from rock phosphate and waste mica enriched compost and their effect on yield and nutrient uptake by wheat ( Triticum aestivum)

An attempt was made to study the efficient use of rice straw and indigenous source of phosphorus and potassium in crop production through composting technology. Various enriched composts were prepared using rice straw, rock phosphate (RP), waste mica and bioinoculant ( Aspergillus awamori) and kinetics of release of phosphorus and potassium from enriched composts and their effect on yield and nutrient uptake by wheat ( Triticum aestivum) were carried out. Results showed sharp increases in release in water-soluble P and K from all the composts at 8th to 12th day of leaching, thereafter, it decreased gradually. Maximum release of water-soluble P and K were obtained in ordinary compost than enriched composts during the initial stages of leaching, but their differences narrowed down at latter stages. Data in pot experiments revealed that enriched composts performed poorly than diammonium phosphate during initial stages of crop growth, but they out yielded at the latter stages, particularly at maturity stage, as evident from their higher yield, uptake, nutrient recoveries and fertility status of P and K in soils. Moreover, enriched composts prepared with RP and waste mica along with A. awamori resulted in significantly higher biomass yield, uptake and recoveries of P and K as well as available P and K in soils than composts prepared without inoculant. Results indicated that enriched compost could be an alternate technology for the efficient management of rice straw, low-grade RP and waste mica in crop production, which could help to reduce the reliance on costly chemical fertilizers.

Effect of temperature on reaction rate and microbial community in composting of cattle manure with rice straw

The effects of temperature on microbial communities and mass reduction in composting were studied by comparing the mesophilic process with the thermophilic process of cattle manure-rice straw composting for 21 d. The respiratory quinone content (indicator of microbial biomass) continuously increased in the mesophilic process, but in the thermophilic process, it was much higher after 3 d and then decreased to the same level as that in the mesophilic process after 21 d. The diversity of quinones increased continuously in both the mesophilic and thermophilic processes with a higher value in the thermophilic process. The mesophilic microbial community was characterized by the predominance of ubiquinones and menaquinone (MK-8), which correspond to Proteobacteria and fungi. The thermophilic microbial community was characterized by the dominance of MK-7 in the initial period, and increases in the amounts of menaquinones with long and partially-saturated side chains in the later period, corresponding to Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, respectively. DNA fingerprinting by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16S ribosomal RNA genes also confirmed that diversity of microbial communities increased but differently in the two processes. Our results suggest that mesophilic composting is more effective for mass reduction in cattle manure composting than thermophilic composting because of the higher decomposition activity of the microbial community characterized by the predominance of Proteobacteria and fungi.

Soil carbon budget in a single-cropping paddy field with rice straw application and water management based on soil redox potential

An ideal state for agroecosystems to mitigate global warming should include both decreasing CO2 and CH4 emissions and increasing soil carbon storage. Two-year field experiments were carried out to examine the effects of water management (continuous flooding [CF] and Eh control [EH]) and rice straw management (application [+S] and removal [–S]) on the soil carbon budget in a single-cropping paddy field in Japan. The EH water management based on soil redox potential that the authors have proposed decreased the total CH4 emission during the rice growing period compared with CF. The +S increased CO2 emission as soil respiration during the non-flooded fallow period compared with –S, but also increased straw residues in the soil. However, there was little evidence for sequential carbon accumulation in the soil over the year by +S. The resultant annual budget of soil carbon was a loss of 32–103 g C m−2 in the EH+S treatment compared with a loss of 166–188 g C m−2 in the CF–S treatment. Taking into account the global warming potentials, the EH+S treatment also decreased the total CO2-equivalent emission compared with the CF–S treatment. Consequently, a combination of appropriate water management and straw application will be an effective option in decreasing both CO2-equivalent emission and sustaining soil carbon storage.

Effects of Rice Straw and Water Management on Riceland Mosquitoes

Rice fields are important sources of mosquitoes in many regions, and rice (Oryza spp.) growing practices can affect mosquito populations. Rice straw incorporation and winter flooding have become common methods to prepare seedbeds, largely replacing burning of straw. These methods increase nutrients during the growing season. We sampled mosquito larvae during 1999-2001 in 16 0.72-ha plots where straw was either burned or incorporated into soil after the previous growing season; these treatments were crossed with either winter flooding or no winter flooding. In 2000, all fields were drained mid-season for an application of herbicide, and then they were reflooded. Mosquitoes responded positively to straw incorporation and winter flooding, especially in combination. The mid-season reflood in year 2 was associated with an order of magnitude increase in Culex tarsalis Coquillett larvae. Results confirm that rice straw and water management can strongly influence mosquito populations.

Effects of Rice Straw and Water Management on Riceland Mosquitoes

Effects of Rice Straw and Water Management on Riceland Mosquitoes

Actinomycetes in rice straw decomposition

Actinomycetes are well known as lignocellulose decomposers. Forty-two cellulolytic actinomycete isolates have been recovered from soil. Those were identified to the genus level as: Streptomyces (26 isolates), Nocardiopsis (5 isolates), Micromonospora (4 isolates), Nocardioides (4 isolates) in addition to three isolates tentatively identified as Nocardia, Kibdelosporangium and Saccharomonospora. These actinomycetes were examined for their cellulolytic activity using filter paper strips and rice straw pieces. Four isolates of the four genera Kibdelosporangium, Micromonospora, Streptomyces and Nocardioides were able to efficiently degrade rice straw pieces in minimal medium causing significant weight loss between 50 and 61%. Application of this knowledge may improve the management of waste rice straw.

Assessing Alternatives for Mitigating Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Increasing Yields from Rice Production in China Over the Next Twenty Years

Assessments of the efficacy of mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from paddy rice systems have typically been analyzed based on field studies. Extrapolation of the mitigation potential of alternative management practices from field studies to a national scale may be enhanced by spatially explicit process models, like the DeNitrification and DeComposition (DNDC) model. Our objective was to analyze the impacts of mitigation alternatives, management of water, fertilizer, and rice straw, on net GHG emissions (carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide fluxes), yields, and water use. After constructing a GIS database of soil, climate, rice cropping area and systems, and management practices, we ran DNDC with 21-yr alternative management schemes for each of the approximately 2500 counties in China. Results indicate that, despite large-scale adoption of midseason drainage, there is still large potential for additional methane reductions from Chinese rice paddies of 20 to 60% over 2000-2020. However, changes in management for reducing CH4 emissions simultaneously affect soil carbon dynamics as well as N2O emissions and can thereby reorder the ranking of technical mitigation effectiveness. The order of net GHG emissions reduction effectiveness found here is upland rice > shallow flooding > ammonium sulfate > midseason drainage > off-season straw > slow-release fertilizer > continuous flooding. Most of the management alternatives produced yields comparable to the baseline; however, continuous flooding and upland rice significantly reduced yields. Water management strategies appear to be the most technically promising GHG mitigation alternatives, with shallow flooding providing additional benefits of both water conservation and increased yields.

05/02384 Possibility of using waste tire composites reinforced with rice straw as construction materials

To establish energetically and environmentally viable paddy rice-based bioethanol production systems in northern Japan, it is important to implement appropriately selected agronomic practice options during the rice cultivation step. In this context, effects of rice variety (conventional vs. high-yielding) and rice straw management (return to vs. removal from the paddy field) on energy inputs from fuels and consumption of materials, greenhouse gas emissions (fuel and material consumption-derived CO2 emissions as well as paddy soil CH4 and N2O emissions) and ethanol yields were assessed. The estimated ethanol yield from the high-yielding rice variety, “Kita-aoba” was 2.94 kL ha−1, a 32% increase from the conventional rice variety, “Kirara 397”. Under conventional rice production in northern Japan (conventional rice variety and straw returned to the paddy), raising seedlings, mechanical field operations, transportation of harvested unhulled brown rice and consumption of materials (seeds, fertilizers, biocides and agricultural machinery) amounted to 28.5 GJ ha−1 in energy inputs. The total energy input was increased by 14% by using the high-yielding variety and straw removal, owing to increased requirements for fuels in harvesting and transporting harvested rice as well as in collecting, loading and transporting rice straw. In terms of energy efficiency, the variation among rice variety and straw management scenarios regarding rice varieties and rice straw management was small (28.5–32.6 GJ ha−1 or 10.1–14.0 MJ L−1). Meanwhile, CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions varied considerably from scenario to scenario, as straw management had significant impacts on CH4 emissions from paddy soils. When rice straw was incorporated into the soil, total CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions for “Kirara 397” and “Kita-aoba” were 25.5 and 28.2 Mg CO2 ha−1, respectively; however, these emissions were reduced notably for the two varieties when rice straw was removed from the paddy fields in an effort to mitigate CH4 emissions. Thus, rice straw removal avers itself a key practice with respect to lessening the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions in paddy rice-based ethanol production systems in northern Japan. More crucially, the rice straw removed is available for ethanol production and generation of heat energy with a biomass boiler, all elements required for biomass-to-ethanol transformation steps including saccharification, fermentation and distillation. This indicates opportunities for further improvement in energy efficiency and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions under whole rice plant-based bioethanol production systems.

Fall Rice Straw Management and Winter Flooding Treatment Effects on a Subsequent Soybean Crop

ABSTRACT The effects of fall rice (Oryza sativa L.) straw management and winter flooding on the yield and profitability of subsequent irrigated and dryland soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] crops were studied for 3 years. Rice straw treatments consisted of disking, rolling, or standing stubble. Winter flooding treatments consisted of maintaining a minimum water depth of 10 cm by pumping water when necessary, impounding available rainfall, and draining fields to prevent flooding. The following soybean crop was managed as a conventional-tillage system or no-till system. Tillage system treatments were further divided into irrigated or dryland. Results indicated that there were no significant effects from either fall rice straw management or winter flooding treatments on soybean seed yields. Soybean seed yields for the conventional-tillage system were significantly greater than those for the no-till system for the first 2 yrs and not different in the third year. Irrigated soybean seed yields were significantly greater than those from dryland plots for all years. Net economic returns averaged over the 3 yrs were greatest ($390.00 ha−1) from the irrigated no-till system.