Straw Treatment Research Articles

Impact of incorporating wheat straw together with basal nitrogen ratio on panicle formation and grain yield in rice

Increasing spikelets differentiation, reducing their degradation and promoting big panicle formation are crucial approaches to increasing grain yield in rice. Straw incorporation and nitrogen (N) application have vital effects on rice yield, but the influence of incorporating wheat straw with N fertilizer ratio on spikelet differentiation, degeneration, and grain yield in rice is not clear. In this experiment, hybrid rice Fengyouxiangzhan (FY) and Yongyou 2640 (YY) were used as materials. Under the condition of total nitrogen application rate of 270 kg ha− 2, the effects of local farmers’ fertilizer practice (FP, basal fertilizer: tillering fertilizer: panicle fertilizer = 5: 1: 4) and improving basal fertilizer proportion (IP, basal fertilizer: tillering fertilizer: panicle fertilizer = 7: 1: 2) on the grain yield, branch and spikelet differentiation and degeneration of the above rice varieties were studied under the conditions of non-wheat straw returning (NR) and wheat straw full returning (WR). The 2-year (2020–2021) results in field trials showed that: (1) under NR, compared with FP, although the panicles per unit area were increased, the spikelet number per panicle, filled grains, and grain weight decreased to varying degrees, and finally the grain yield decreased significantly in IP. Under WR, although the filled grains and grain weight were decreased in IP treatment, the total spikelets (panicles per unit area × spikelet number per panicle) was increased significantly, and the grain yield was finally increased significantly compared with FP, with an increase of 6.85 ~ 7.08%. (2) There was a strong positive link between the total spikelets and grain yield, but a substantial negative relationship between the total spikelets and the number of filled grains and grain weight. (3) Straw treatment and nitrogen treatment mainly affected the spikelet number per panicle by affecting the differentiation and degeneration of secondary branches and spikelets. Under WR, IP increased the differentiation number of secondary spikelet in the middle and basal parts of FY by 22.0% and 30.9% with FP, respectively, but also increased the number and rate of secondary spikelet degeneration in the middle and basal parts. Under IP, compared with NR treatment, the differentiated number, degenerated number, surviving number, and degradation rate of the middle and basal parts of the secondary spikelets in the two varieties were increased in WR treatment. Overall, these results demonstrated that under WR, IP was beneficial to increase effective panicle numbers and the spikelet number per panicle. More secondary spikelet differentiation in the middle and basal parts per panicle was a main reason for increasing the spikelet number per panicle to increase grain yield under IP treatment.

Effects of Increasing Vocal Tract Insertion Depth in Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercises on an Excised Canine Model.

Straw phonation therapy, a form of semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercise, is commonly used to help treat various voice disorders. Although straw phonation therapy has been studied extensively for decades, the impact of straw depth on vocal function remains unexplored. This study aims to quantify the effects of various straw vocal tract insertion depths (VTID) into the vocal tract on common aerodynamic parameters such as phonation threshold pressure (PTP), phonation threshold flow (PTF), and phonation threshold power (PTW) in an ex vivo canine model. It was hypothesized that increasing the VTID of the straw would reduce the PTP, PTF, and PTW. Five excised canine larynges were mounted on a pseudolung apparatus and attached to a simulated vocal tract in an acoustic sound booth. Two straw depths (20.0 and 60.0mm) were tested to determine the effect of VTID on ease of phonation as indicated by the aerodynamic parameters of PTP, PTF, and PTW. The control had no straw and a VTID of 0.0mm. The straw diameter and length above the simulated vocal tract were consistent between the straws. Sustained phonation was achieved, and aerodynamic data was collected and analyzed. Both straw treatment groups exhibited significant reductions in PTP and PTW compared to the control. However, there were no significant differences between the 20.0 or 60.0mm straw depths in PTP, PTF, or PTW. The presence of a straw significantly reduced PTP and PTW, but VTID did not appear to influence these outcomes. This supports previous straw phonation therapy research suggesting that straw phonation therapy is beneficial primarily due to the presence of the straw rather than the depth of insertion. Future studies should explore the combined effects of varying straw diameters, lengths, and depths to optimize SOVT therapy for clinical use.

Design and Optimization for Straw Treatment Device Using Discrete Element Method (DEM)

Due to the dense crop residue in the Huang-Huai-Hai region, challenges such as large resistance, increased power consumption, and straw backfilling arise in the process of no-till seeding under the high-speed operations. This paper presents the design of a straw treatment device to address these issues. The cutting edge of a straw-cutting disc is optimized using an involute curve, and the key structural parameters of the device are designed by analyzing the process of stubble cutting and clearing. In this study, the Discrete Element Method (DEM) was employed to construct models of compacted soil and hollow, flexible wheat straw, forming the foundation for a comprehensive interaction model between the tool, soil, and straw. Key experimental variables, including working speed, rotation speed, and installation centre distance, were selected. The power consumption of the straw-cutting disc (PCD) and the straw-clearing rate (SCR) were used as evaluation metrics. Response surface methodology was applied to develop regression models linking the experimental factors with the evaluation indexes using Design-Expert 12 software. Statistical significance was assessed through ANOVA (p < 0.05), and factor interactions were analyzed via response surface analysis. The optimal operational parameters were found to be a working speed of 14 km/h, a rotation speed of 339.2 rpm, and an installation centre distance of 100 cm. Simulation results closely matched the predicted values, with errors of 1.59% for SCR and 9.68% for PCD. Field validation showed an SCR of 86.12%, improved machine passability, and favourable seedling emergence. This research provides valuable insights for further parameter optimization and component development.

Evaluating the impact of Bt rice straw return on Eisenia fetida: AHP analysis, biomarkers, and Bt protein fate.

A 90-d laboratory experiment was carried out using Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) rice straws (BTTY and GK775) and non-Bt rice straws (MXZ2, HH1179, and HH38). The objective was to investigate the differences in the effects of Bt and non-Bt rice straws on the earthworm Eisenia fetida. The analytic hierarchy process was applied to assess the risk of returning rice straw to soil on E. fetida by measuring their survival rate, relative growth rate, reproduction, total protein, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX). The results showed that returning Bt rice straw to soil poses no risk to E. fetida over time and that the impacts varied depending on the rice variety. The correlation analysis indicated that GSH-PX activity can be regarded as a biomarker to evaluate the impact of returning rice straw to soil on E. fetida, with GSH-PX activity negatively correlated with potential risk. Cry1Ab protein degraded rapidly, with E. fetida activity slightly accelerating the process. The rice variety was a key factor affecting soil nutrients among the different rice straw treatments, which significantly affected E. fetida's biological and biochemical parameters. Therefore, returning rice straw to soil presented different effects on E. fetida owing to the differences in rice variety rather than the presence of Cry1Ab protein.

Effects of Straw at Different Fermentation Phases on Soil Nutrient Availability and Microbial Activity

Returning corn straw to the field is beneficial for improving soil fertility, but the fermentation phase significantly affects the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content. However, there is limited research on the effects of straw at different fermentation phases on soil microorganisms and soil nutrients. This study examined the effects of high-temperature fermentation phase straw (HF) and completely fermentation phase straw (CF) on soil nutrient activation and microorganism activity through pot experiments. The pot experiment results indicated a significant increase in soil DOC content following the application of corn straw, among which the high-temperature fermentation phase straw treatment (THF) exhibited the highest DOC content, which was 14% higher than the completely fermentation phase straw treatment (TCF). THF also significantly increased soil alkaline hydrolyzed nitrogen and available phosphorus content as well as urease and phosphatase, and promoted the uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus from soil by Brassica chinensis. THF significantly enhanced bacterial diversity and reduced the presence of pathogenic fungi. Compared to the TCF, the relative proportion of Fusarium under the THF decreased by 32.24%, effectively mitigating the impact of pathogenic fungi. THF also increased soil DOC content, enriched beneficial microbial community structure, increased soil enzyme activity, activated soil nutrients, thereby promoting the uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus by crops. Taken together, the results reveal that the application of high-temperature fermentation phase straw is conducive to soil fertilization and crop growth.

Analysis of the fluorescence spectral characteristics of dissolved organic matter in a black soil with different straw return amounts

Straw return improves soil carbon pool and dissolved organic matter (DOM) characteristics in black soil. Optimal straw return rate is the key to promoting straw return practices in farmland in Northeast China. The experiment was conducted at the Science and Technology Park of China Grain Storage and Northern Corporation in NenJiang, Heilongjiang Province, straw return at 0 kg hm−2, 3000 kg hm−2, 4500 kg hm−2, and 9000 kg hm−2. In the seventh year of the experiment, we used three-dimensional excitation-emission matrices combined with Parallel Factor analysis to characterize the fluorescence characteristics of DOM of black soils. The results showed substantial improvement in soil physical characteristics and soil organic matter (SOM) following straw return, SOM content rises in proportion to the amount of straw returned, and a significant positive correlation coefficient between water-holding capacity (WHC) (p < 0.001, r = 0.82) and dissolved organic matter (DOC) (p < 0.01, r = 0.77). Moreover, straw return significantly increased the richness of three fluorescent components, namely fulvic acid (UV and visible fulvic acids), humic-like acid, and protein-like (short and long-wavelength tryptophan). The fluorescence intensities of these components were lower in straw treatments than in no straw return. The fluorescence intensities of fulvic and humic acids showed decreasing and increasing trends, respectively, with increasing straw return amount. The fluorescence spectroscopy data of DOC demonstrated the key role of high straw return amounts in enhancing substantially the metabolic activity of soil microorganisms. Overall, straw-returning practices improve soil fertility and can be beneficial for black soil farmlands, with the optimal return rate observed at 4500 kg hm−2.

Calculation and Evaluation of Cotton Lint Carbon Footprint Based on Different Cotton Straw Treatment Methods: A Case Study of Northwest China

At present, although there have been many studies on the carbon footprint (CF) of cotton, only a few studies have comprehensively considered the carbon sequestration effect of cotton. The raw material extraction stage of cotton can be divided into two stages: the cotton cultivation-harvesting stage and the ginning stage. During the cultivation stage, cotton plants exhibit a carbon sequestration effect due to photosynthesis, and the biomass produced is ultimately transferred to seed cotton and cotton straw. In this study, quantitative models for carbon sequestration effect during the raw material extraction stage were established based on the carbon sequestration pathways of cotton plants and three treatment methods of cotton straw. The CF allocation principles between main and by-products have been determined as economic relationships and mass relationships. Based on these four carbon sequestration models and two allocation relationships, six different scenarios were proposed to optimize the CF of producing 1 ton of cotton lint during this stage. Results indicate that the CF of 1 ton of cotton lint harvested during the raw material extraction stage was negative in all six scenarios, suggesting carbon reduction. Converting cotton straw into biomass fuel after harvesting sequesters more carbon compared to crushing and returning it to the field. Economic allocation results in a higher CF value for cotton lint compared to mass allocation. The primary contributors to the CF of cotton lint are fertilizer, electricity, and agricultural films. This study offers valuable methodological and technical insights for assessment on cotton fiber textiles, with potential implications for emissions reduction and fostering sustainable development within this industry.

Straw return amplifies the stimulated impact of night-warming on N2O emissions from wheat fields in a rice-wheat rotation system

ContextThe rise in winter and spring nighttime temperatures is a hallmark of global climate change, and warming has been proven to stimulate N2O emissions from wheat fields. However, it remains elusive whether this increasing effect is influenced by straw return, a practice considered globally as a future climate-smart agricultural strategy. Objectives or methodsA 3-year field experiment (2020−2023) was conducted with two straw treatments (S0: straw removal; S1: straw return) and two warming treatments (W0: no-warming; W1: night-warming) to quantify the effects of straw return and night-warming on N2O emissions from wheat fields in a rice-wheat rotation system. ResultsStraw return (S1) boosted post-jointing N2O production, whereas night-warming (W1) stimulated N2O emissions before the booting stage. Notably, the interaction between straw return and night-warming significantly affected seasonal cumulative N2O emissions, with W1 causing an 11.1 % increase under S0 and a more substantial 18.1 % increase observed under S1. Moreover, both S1 and W1 increased N2O warming potential, yield-scaled, and biomass-scaled N2O emissions. Compared to S0W0, soil dissolved organic C and inorganic N content increased in S1W1, while pH declined. Both S1 and W1 enhanced soil nitrification enzyme activity, nitrate reductase activity, and nitrite reductase activity in comparison to their respective controls. Additionally, S1W1 increased N2O production and inhibited N2O reduction by upregulating AOB-amoA and nirS gene abundances and downregulating nosZ gene expression, as evidenced by the elevated (nirS+nirK)/nosZ ratio. Random forest analysis identified that denitrification enzyme activity was the most important factor influencing N2O emissions. Conclusions or implicationsOur findings suggest that rice straw return may amplify the increasing effect of night-warming on N2O emissions from wheat fields. From an environmental protection perspective, straw return under the context of future warming will lead to an increased risk of N2O emissions, which may further exacerbate climate warming.

Straw incorporation: A more effective coastal saline land reclamation approach to boost sunflower yield than straw mulching or burial

In coastal lands, soil salinity greatly impedes crops growth and severely affects the agricultural productivity. Returning the crop straw and residual to soil was considered an important land reclamation method; however, the approach of straw return varied, including mulching (SM), burial (SB), and incorporation (SI). This study aimed to determine which approach was most effective to ameliorate coastal saline land and boost crop yield. Field experiments were conducted under different straw amelioration treatments on dry farming sunflowers (Helianthus annuus Linn.) in Bohai coastal land of Northern China. The results indicated that SM and SB changed the soil salt profile and significantly reduced the topsoil (0–0.2 m) salt content mainly by their direct effects on soil water transport, with little impacts on soil structure changes. Differently, SI significantly increased 21.8 % soil organic carbon and 52.3 % soil mean weight diameter in straw incorporated layer. The improvement on soil aggregates and porosity reduced 24.1–38.9 % of topsoil salt content, by limiting soil salt accumulation and promoting salt leaching. Furthermore, SI significantly boosted the sunflower fine root (d< 1.0 mm) growth and resulted in the highest sunflower yield (4.7 t/ha in 2020 and 4.6 t/ha in 2021) among those straw treatments. Compared to SM and SB, the net revenues of two-years sunflower cultivation under SI were improved by 40.68 % and 31.22 %, respectively. Therefore, it concluded that straw incorporation was more effective to reclaim coastal saline soil than straw mulching or burial. In addition, a back propagation artificial neural network model was developed to predict the dynamic of sunflower yield. This outcome provides an insight into the management of coastal farmland by establishing an easily desalinized and fertile topsoil profile structure.

Macroscale properties and atomic-scale mechanisms of ash removal in low-temperature hydrothermal carbonization

Biogenic ash is a significant impediment to the utilization of agricultural residues in biofuel production. Such challenge can be addressed by various treatments, as demonstrated in this study on the experimental and computational mechanisms involved in the hydrothermal treatment (HT) of wheat straw. A combination of classical (all-atom) molecular dynamics simulations of cellulose carrying silica and calcium species, along with first principles quantum chemical calculations, indicates the dissociation of inorganics from the cellulose with increased HT temperature. This observation is confirmed by experimental evidence of effective ash removal by HT, showing at least 50% removal of sulfur, chlorine, potassium, and calcium, and 12.5% of silica, leading to a reduced total ash content (from 6.7% to 4.2%).Changes in structural features upon HT, such as surface cellular structure and porosity, were revealed, accompanied by an increased specific surface area (from 1.17 to 6.34 m2/g). Our simulations suggest that silica binds tightly to the hydrophobic face of cellulose at room temperature, but HT significantly reduces the binding free energy of association with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces. Most significantly, ash removal leads to an increased calorific value, rising from approximately 16 MJ/kg to about 19 MJ/kg, along with improved thermal behavior. The improved integration combustion index parameter S indicates that the combustion properties improve with ash removal efficiency. The proposed atomic-level mechanism for the observed removal of inorganics during mild HT underscores the potential of such treatment in producing energy-dense wheat straw, a widely available agricultural residue.

Evaluating the potential of different crop straw biochar to capture carbon dioxide and increase the growth of Zea mays L.

The roles of biochar in capturing CO2 and ensuring food security are intertwined. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of these roles is crucial for optimizing the environmental benefits of biochar. Six crop straws: non-legumes (rice straw-RS, maize straw-MS, and wheat straw-WS), and legumes (chickpea straw-CS, mustard straw-MTS, and peanut straw-PS), were used to prepare biochar (RB, MB, WB, CB, MTB, and PB, respectively) at 700 °C and their ability to capture CO2, improve soil fertility, and enhance maize plant growth was evaluated. Our results revealed that the CO2 reduction potential (CRP) differed significantly, with CB being more efficient in retaining CO2. The CRP showed a significant polynomic relationship with ΔpH (R2 = 0.9646) and Δexchangeable acidity (R2 = 0.6356) but not with Δsoil organic carbon (R2 = 0.4181). Due to the differences in their physicochemical properties, straws and biochar had significantly different effects on soil pH, exchangeable acidity, nutrient uptake, maize growth, and maize biomass accumulation. Also, the N uptake potential of maize plants grown in biochar-amended soils was significantly larger than that of the respective straw. This significant difference in nutrient uptake between biochar and straw treatments was also observed for K, Ca, and Mg, and corroborates the significant differences recorded in plant growth parameters. Thus, converting crop residues to biochar sequesters carbon through the storage of captured CO2 thereby mitigating climate change. Also, by incorporating biochar in soil, soil acidity decreases, soil fertility increases, and the growth of maize plants improves. Nevertheless, it is important to carefully select biochar feedstock so as to achieve the optimal effects of carbon sequestration and soil fertility improvement when applied to agricultural soils.Graphical

Effects of Fallow Season Water and Straw Management on Methane Emissions and Associated Microorganisms

The effects of fallow season water and straw management on methane (CH4) emissions during the fallow season and the subsequent rice-growing season are rarely reported, and the underlying microbial mechanisms remain unclear. A field experiment was conducted with four treatments: (1) fields flooded in both the fallow and rice seasons (FF), (2) fields drained in the fallow season and flooded in the rice season (DF), (3) FF with straw retention (FFS), and (4) DF with straw retention (DFS). The CH4 emissions in fields under different water and straw treatments were monitored using the static closed chamber method. Methanogenic and methanotrophic communities in these fields were examined using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis based on the mcrA gene and pmoA gene encoding methyl coenzyme M reductase and particulate methane monooxygenase, respectively. The results showed that CH4 emissions were significantly affected by water management, straw retention, season, and their interactions. Over 80% of CH4 emissions occurred during the rice season. Field drainage during the fallow season reduced CH4 emissions by 47.0% and 53.8% with and without straw during the rice season, respectively. Water management altered the abundance and composition of methanogens and methanotrophs, whereas the effects of straw retention were less pronounced. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay revealed that field drainage in the fallow season decreased the mcrA gene abundance by 30.0% and 23.2% with and without straw in rice season, respectively, and increased the pmoA gene abundance by 108.9% and 213.7% with and without straw in rice season, respectively. CH4 flux was significantly positively associated with mcrA gene copy number and the ratio of mcrA to pmoA gene copy number, whereas it was significantly negatively correlated with the pmoA gene copy number. Results indicated that fallow drainage greatly decreased CH4 emission not only during the fallow season but also during the subsequent rice season by altering the community composition of methanogens and methanotrophs. These findings provide scientific insight into the role of water and straw management in controlling CH4 emissions through microbial community dynamics.

Turning Discarded Agricultural Remnants and Poultry Waste into Usable Hybrid Polymer Matrix Reinforcements: An Experimental Study

The primary objective of the present study was to transform discarded agricultural remnants and poultry waste into value-added materials. Rice straw and chicken feathers are disposed of after their primary consumption into landfills or are incinerated, causing pollution and environmental threats. In this study, epoxy composites were fabricated using different volume proportions (5–45%) of these raw and alkali-treated remnants, and their mechanical strength was tested. The flexural strength of the rice straw composites and chicken feather composites initially decreased with the addition of fibers from 5 to 35 vol% and then the values increased when the fiber content was more than 35 vol%. The chicken feather composites showed increased impact strength with fiber addition. Alkali treatment of the rice straw resulted in improved flexural and impact strengths of the composites due to the removal of the waxy layer on the fiber surface, which was observed in the FTIR studies. Alkali treatment of the chicken feathers did not produce any significant change in the flexural strength of the composites, but their impact strength increased with fiber addition. Hybrid composites fabricated using rice straw and chicken feathers exhibited enhanced flexural and impact strength properties both with and without the alkali treatment, corroborating the synergistic effect of these fibers. SEM analysis of the fractured samples showed noteworthy interfacial adhesion between the fibers and matrix. This study presents a better method for converting these disposable materials into value-added usable materials and increasing their life cycle in the circular economy.

Does higher ratio of wheat straw addition decrease PAHs degradation in PAHs-contaminated paddy soils and PAHs concentrations in rice?

There are considerable studies focusing on impacts of straw returning on PAHs degradation and bioavailability in PAHs-contaminated upland soils, while similar research in paddy soils is limited. Incubation experiments and pot trials were conducted to study effects of straw returning on PAHs degradation in paddy soils and PAHs accumulation in rice, respectively. There are threshold effects of straw returning on PAHs degradation in PAHs-contaminated paddy soils. The inflection point of PAHs degrading was recorded under 0.8 % wheat straw treatment (conventional (CS) and pretreated wheat straw (PS)), which increased PAHs degradation by 18.13–32.36 %. The lowest PAHs concentrations in rice were recorded under 1 % straw (CS and PS) treatment, which was attributed to the highest PAHs degradation in rhizosphere soils. Compared to CS treatment, PS treatment significantly (p < 0.05) increased PAHs degradation by 7.93–10.28 % and PAHs concentrations in rice by 12.38–45.87 % due to that increasing dissolved organic carbon (DOC) enhanced PAHs concentrations in porewater of rhizosphere soils. Higher diversity enhanced the metabolic pathways and function genes to degrade PAHs by improving bacterial phenotypes and biochemical processes under 1 % wheat straw and PS treatment. The present study firstly demonstrated that the effects of straw returning on PAHs degradation in PAHs-contaminated paddy soils and PAHs concentrations in rice depended on amount and methods of straw returning.

Effects of size and amount and burial depth on early decomposition of maize straw and the links to microbial and nematode communities in the Mollisol of China

AbstractCrop straw is often incorporated into soil at different depths via agricultural practices like tillage, with regional variation in straw decomposition. However, the relative role of management practices on straw decomposition remains unclear. Here, a 5‐month field experiment using litterbags was conducted in three cold sites within China's Mollisol region, with two burial depths (15 and 30 cm) and four maize straw treatments (big straw and small straw at the amounts of 0.5% and 1.0%, respectively). The objectives were to determine the effects of the size and amount and burial depth of straw on its decomposition, microbial and nematode communities, and to identify the key factors regulating straw decomposition. Straw mass loss was affected by straw treatments rather than burial depths in all sites. Specifically, it was the lowest for 0.5% big straw among four straw treatments. Small straw lost more mass than big straw only at the amount of 0.5%, with the variations declining and even disappearing in the site experiencing relatively high temperatures. Microbial biomss and nematode abundance of specific groups were affected by the size and amount of straw in some cases, where the presence of 0.5% big straw corresponded with the lowest microbial biomass and the highest nematode abundance. All bacterial and fungal biomass and some nematode abundances were higher at 30 cm than at 15 cm in the sites with relatively low temperature. The abundance and Shannon index of nematodes were correlated with Gram‐positive bacterial biomass and microbial diversity and evenness index positively, and with other microbial biomass negatively. The straw decomposition explained 83.60% and 77.25% of variations in microbial and nematode community composition, respectively. These results suggest that the physical traits rather than burial depth dominate straw decomposition via changing microbial growth and their interaction with specific nematodes under similar climatic conditions, and the effects of straw physical traits are changed by climate on a large regional scale. Reducing the size and amount is a potential strategy stimulating straw decomposition, particularly in the cold regions.

Increasing Physical Soil Quality by Using Rice Straw Biomass

Paddy straw as an agricultural waste can be returned to the soil to increase the organic matter content. This study aims to determine the optimum inoculant treatment of rice paddy straw on soil quality. The straw handling was carried out by spreading the straw on paddy fields and sprayed with four inoculant treatments (0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 L/ha). The incubation process was carried out for 21 days and incorporated in the soil through plowing. Each treatment was repeated three times so that the total treatment was 15 units. The variables observed in each treatment were soil quality. The soil quality parameters observed were particle density, bulk density, porosity, field capacity and pH. ANOVA statistical analysis which was continued by the Tukey HSD Post Hoc Test to determine the effect of treatment on soil quality. The results showed that the inoculant treatments showed a significant difference (p-value=0.05) in soil volume, density, and porosity. P4 gave the optimum results which are statistically not significantly different from P3. P4 shows the physical properties of the soil which consist of the soil bulk density of 0.61 g/cm3; particle density 1.74 g/cm3; porosity was 64.91%, and pH 6.68. The utilization of straw biomass as source of organic material contributes to zero waste rice cultivation. Keywords: Effective microorganisms, Rice straw, Soil density, Soil pH, Soil porosity.

Effects of tomato straw fermentation on nutrients and bacterial community structure

Unsustainable straw treatment methods detrimentally affect the environment and ecology. Aerobic fermentation (AE) and anaerobic fermentation (AN) are environmentally friendly treatments that better utilise straw resources. In this study, high-throughput sequencing was used to investigate the effects of AE and AN on nutrient content and microbial community structure during tomato straw fermentation. Nitrate nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, and fulvic acid contents following AE were 1250.04 mg/kg, 80.34 %, 161.39 %, and 49.31 %, respectively, which were higher than those following AN. Ammonium nitrogen, humic acid, and humic substance levels following AN were 309.07 %, 31.18 %, and 17.38 %, respectively, which were higher than those following AE. Firmicutes (24.76 %) and Actinobacteria (12.93 %) were more abundant following AE, whereas Proteobacteria (33.82 %) and Bacteroidetes (33.82 %) exhibited higher abundance following AN. AE more effectively eliminated pathogenic bacteria (22.01%–0.26 %) and encouraged stronger interactions between dominant bacterial genera. Redundancy and Mantel test analyses revealed that electrical conductivity and temperature were the most important environmental factors affecting bacterial communities in AE and AN, respectively. AE had a stronger effect on effective nutrient release from tomato straw, implying its greater application potential as a fertiliser. Overall, our study provides a theoretical basis for the optimisation of fermentation methods and processes.

Knowledge Level of Women Dairy Farmers on Dairy Animal Management in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh

An investigation was undertaken to study knowledge level of women dairy farmers on dairy animal management in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. A total of 225 randomly selected women dairy farmers in three animal husbandry divisions of Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh viz., Pedaravuru, Guntur and Narasaraopeta. The farm women in the study area had good knowledge regarding importance of Artificial Insemination (96.40%), followed by identifying the animals in estrus (95.10%), importance of treatment of anestrus and repeat breeding animals (92.90%), culling of unproductive animals (87.10%) and pregnancy diagnosis at 3 months after insemination (86.70%). Poor knowledge was observed regarding dry period (20.90%), feeding concentrates according to the level of production (16.00%), strip cup test to detect mastitis (13.78%), urea treatment of paddy straw (4.90%) and practicing of dry cow therapy (4.89%) in the study area.

Straw Incorporation with Exogenous Degrading Bacteria (ZJW-6): An Integrated Greener Approach to Enhance Straw Degradation and Improve Rice Growth.

Rice straw is an agricultural waste, the disposal of which through open burning is an emerging challenge for ecology. Green manufacturing using straw returning provides a more avant-garde technique that is not only an effective management measure to improve soil fertility in agricultural ecosystems but also nurtures environmental stewardship by reducing waste and the carbon footprint. However, fresh straw that is returned to the field cannot be quickly decomposed, and screening microorganisms with the capacity to degrade straw and understanding their mechanism of action is an efficient approach to solve such problems. This study aimed to reveal the potential mechanism of influence exerted by exogenous degradative bacteria (ZJW-6) on the degradation of straw, growth of plants, and soil bacterial community during the process of returning rice straw to the soil. The inoculation with ZJW-6 enhanced the driving force of cellulose degradation. The acceleration of the rate of decomposition of straw releases nutrients that are easily absorbed by rice (Oryza sativa L.), providing favorable conditions for its growth and promoting its growth and development; prolongs the photosynthetic functioning period of leaves; and lays the material foundation for high yields of rice. ZJW-6 not only directly participates in cellulose degradation as degrading bacteria but also induces positive interactions between bacteria and fungi and enriches the microbial taxa that were related to straw degradation, enhancing the rate of rice straw degradation. Taken together, ZJW-6 has important biological potential and should be further studied, which will provide new insights and strategies for the appropriate treatment of rice straw. In the future, this degrading bacteria may provide a better opportunity to manage straw in an ecofriendly manner.

Effects of Straw and Biochar Amendments on Characteristics of Soil Fungal Community and Organic Carbon Pool in Jasminum sambac Garden

In order to elucidate the changes in the soil fungal community and soil organic carbon components of a Jasminum sambac garden after straw and biochar application, we measured the organic carbon components and soil fungal community of the 0-15 cm soil layer in a J. sambac garden, which was divided into a control group, straw treatment group, and biochar treatment group. The carbon pool management index （CPMI） was also calculated. The results showed that the diversity of the soil fungal community was decreased after straw and biochar application, and the structure of dominant fungal genera was changed in each treatment. The soil fungal community structure in the biochar treatment was significantly different from that in the straw treatment and control groups. Redundancy analysis （RDA） showed that soil fungal community structure was mainly affected by soil bulk density, C∶N, salinity, and TN. Secondly, compared with that in the control group, soil labile organic carbon （LOC） in the straw treatment group was significantly increased by 87.44% （P<0.05）, whereas soil dissolved organic carbon （DOC） and microbial biomass carbon （MBC） in the biochar treatment group were significantly increased by 22.27% and 23.17% （P<0.05）, respectively. Further, compared with that in the control group, the carbon pool activity （L） under straw treatment was significantly increased （P<0.05）, and the carbon pool index （CPI） under biochar treatment was significantly increased （P<0.05）. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the distribution characteristics of soil organic carbon active components were regulated by the dominant fungi. FUNGuild functional prediction results showed that saprophytic and its facultative nutritional fungi had an important impact on soil organic carbon active components and carbon pool management index after straw and biochar application.