Solid-state anaerobic digestion of spent wheat straw from horse stall

The spent wheat straw from horse stall bedding has lower cellulose and hemicellulose contents, but higher volatile fatty acid content than raw wheat straw. Biogas production from solid-state anaerobic digestion (SS-AD) of spent wheat straw and raw wheat straw was compared in this study. The SS-AD tests were conducted at 22% total solids (TS) content using inoculum from a liquid AD system at three feedstock-to-inoculum (F/I) ratios of 2.0, 4.0, and 6.0. Daily methane yields of spent wheat straw peaked 8 and 3 days earlier than those of raw wheat straw at F/I ratios of 2.0 and 4.0, respectively. The highest methane yield of 150.0 L/kg volatile solids (VS) was obtained from spent wheat straw at an F/I ratio of 4.0, which was 56.2% higher than that of raw wheat straw. The corresponding cellulose and hemicellulose degradation of spent wheat straw was 24.1% and 49.4% higher than those of raw wheat straw, respectively.     

Properties of medium density fiberboards made from renewable biomass

The goal of this study was to determine the comparative properties of dry-formed medium density fiberboards (MDF) made from renewable biomass (wheat and soybean straw) and those from conventional soft wood fiber. The MDF properties evaluated were modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, internal bond strength, thickness swell, and screw holding capacity. The results show that MDF made from wheat straw fiber and soy straw fiber have weaker mechanical and water resistance properties than those made from softwood fiber. Soybean straw is comparable to wheat straw in terms of both mechanical and water resistance properties to make MDF. Water resistance of MDF decreased drastically with increasing straw fiber composition. Wheat straw fiber and soybean straw fiber should be physically or chemically treated to increase their water resistance property for MDF production.     

NO formation during agricultural straw combustion

NO formation during combustion of four typical kinds of straw (wheat straw, rice straw, cotton stalk and corn stalk) which belong to soft straw and hard straw was studied in a tubular quartz fixed bed reactor under conditions relevant to grate boiler combustion. Regarding the real situation in biomass fired power plants in China, NO formation from blended straw combustion was also investigated. Nitrogen transfer during blended straw pyrolysis was performed using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) coupled with a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. The results show that NO conversion for the four straws during combustion is distinctive. Over 70% fuel-N converts into NO for cotton stalk, while only 37% for wheat straw under the same condition. When wheat straw and cotton stalk were mixed, N-NO conversion increases. The limestone addition promotes NO emission during cotton stalk combustion. The presence of SO₂ in atmosphere suppresses NO formation from straw combustion.     

施氮对关中还田玉米秸秆腐解和养分释放特征的影响

在陕西关中平原的冬小麦-夏玉米轮作区,采用尼龙网袋田间填埋与¹⁵N同位素标记玉米秸秆相结合的方法,设置不施氮和施氮200 kg·hm^-2两个处理,研究施氮对小麦生长期内还田玉米秸秆腐解的影响以及腐解过程中秸秆碳、氮、磷、钾的养分释放.结果表明: 从小麦播种到越冬期,施用氮肥对秸秆碳和干物质分解无显著影响,但可促进秸秆中磷的释放,抑制氮和钾的释放.灌浆到成熟期,氮肥对秸秆腐解及其N、P、K养分的释放无显著影响,但秸秆碳的释放显著增加.不同生育期,玉米秸秆碳的释放与干物质分解变化趋势一致,C/N逐渐下降.种植一季小麦后,秸秆干物质累计腐解率不足50%;秸秆碳释放率为47.9%～51.1%,不施氮和施氮处理的秸秆C/N分别由32.2降低到20.2和17.9.小麦收获时,秸秆氮、磷、钾均为净释放,氮释放量为7.2～9.4 kg·hm^-2,占秸秆氮的12.7%～16.6%;磷释放量为1.29～1.44 kg·hm^-2,占29.0%～32.4%;钾的释放量大、释放快,越冬前超过80%,成熟时释放量为51.8～52.5 kg·hm^-2,占90.5%～91.7%.在秸秆还田条件下,应考虑秸秆归还的钾,减少小麦钾肥用量,适量补充氮、磷.     

大气CO2浓度升高对稻季土壤中麦秸降解及氮素分趋的影响

利用中国唯一的稻麦轮作FACE(free-air carbon dioxide enrichment,开放式空气CO2浓度增高)试验平台,研究大气CO2浓度升高对稻季土壤中小麦秸秆降解速率及其氮素分趋的影响.试验设置Ambient(目前空气对照)和FACE(Ambient+200 μmol·mol-1)两个CO2浓度以及低氮处理(LN,150 kg·hm-2)和高氮处理(HN,250 kg·hm-2)两个氮肥水平,在稻季之初按标记麦秸/土壤重量比0.3%添加15N标记小麦秸秆,根据水稻生长时期依次采样测定秸秆降解速率,并通过分析土壤全氮、植株全氮及其15N丰度来观察已降解秸秆的氮素分趋情况.结果发现,大气CO2浓度升高对高氮处理土壤中小麦秸秆降解速率没有显著影响,但显著促进了低氮处理土壤中小麦秸秆的降解(p < 0.05),使其提高到与高氮处理土壤相当水平;大气CO2浓度升高显著增加了已降解秸秆中氮素的流失,在高氮处理土壤中尤为严重,而对植物吸收已降解秸秆中的氮素没有显著影响.结果表明,大气CO2浓度升高在土壤氮素相对不足时会加速土壤中小麦秸秆的降解,而在土壤氮素相对充足时又会加大降解秸秆中氮素的流失.     

Studies on biological decomposition of wheat straw

Summary The screening of micro-organisms decomposing wheat straw was done under laboratory conditions on the basis of the amount of carbon mineralized from wheat straw during a period of four months. In general, inoculation of wheat straw with different micro-organisms had favorable effect on the amount of carbon mineralized. Among the bacterial and fungus cultures isolated from baited wheat straw an Aspergillus sp. (Isolate No. 18) proved to be the most rapid wheat straw decomposer under laboratory conditions. re]19751008     

Oyster mushroom cultivation with rice and wheat straw

Cultivation of the oyster mushroom, Pleurotus sajor-caju, on rice and wheat straw without nutrient supplementation was investigated. The effects of straw size reduction method and particle size, spawn inoculation level, and type of substrate (rice straw versus wheat straw) on mushroom yield, biological efficiency, bioconversion efficiency, and substrate degradation were determined. Two size reduction methods, grinding and chopping, were compared. The ground straw yielded higher mushroom growth rate and yield than the chopped straw. The growth cycles of mushrooms with the ground substrate were five days shorter than with the chopped straw for a similar particle size. However, it was found that when the straw was ground into particles that were too small, the mushroom yield decreased. With the three spawn levels tested (12%, 16% and 18%), the 12% level resulted in significantly lower mushroom yield than the other two levels. Comparing rice straw with wheat straw, rice straw yielded about 10% more mushrooms than wheat straw under the same cultivation conditions. The dry matter loss of the substrate after mushroom growth varied from 30.1% to 44.3%. The straw fiber remaining after fungal utilization was not as degradable as the original straw fiber, indicating that the fungal fermentation did not improve the feed value of the straw.     

Nature of the Interference Mechanism of Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) Straw

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) straw left in the field after harvest interferes with the growth of winter and summer weeds. In the last years, there was a progressive move away from burning sugarcane straw to retaining it on the soil surface after harvest to prevent soil degradation and environmental pollution. Water-soluble phenolics leachated from straw into soil may suppress weed growth. A study was carried out to investigate (1) the effect of biotic (unautoclaved) soil treated with burned and unburned sugarcane straw leachates on seedling growth and foliar proline content of beggarticks (Bidens subalternans L.) and wild mustard (Brassica campestris L.), (2) the modification of sugarcane straw phytotoxicity in abiotic (autoclaved) soil and biotic (unautoclaved) soil plus activated charcoal, and (3) changes of inorganic ions and phenolic contents in biotic soil after treatment with burned and unburned sugarcane straw leachate. Unburned straw leachate significantly inhibited root elongation of 7-d-old beggarticks and wild mustard seedlings. Burned straw leachate did not affect seedling growth of the assayed weeds suggesting that organic straw phytotoxins were involved. Experiments with activated charcoal, however, did not provide clear evidence supporting the involve of organic molecules in straw phytotoxicity. Unburned straw leachate incorporated in biotic soil was more inhibitory than in abiotic soil on root growth suggesting that microbial activity is involved in sugarcane straw interference. There was no evidence of nutrient microbial immobilization. Unburned sugarcane straw leachate increased total phenolic content in biotic soil more than in abiotic soil or biotic soil plus charcoal. Burned sugarcane straw leachate did not increase phenolic compounds levels in biotic soil. Linear regression analysis indicated a strong correlation between levels of soil phenolic contents and root growth inhibition. Soil characteristics evaluated in soil treated with burned and unburned sugarcane straw leachate suggest that straw phytotoxicity is related with organic molecules, such as phenolic compounds, rather than to variations in inorganic nutrients. Unburned straw leachate induced proline accumulation in seedling leaves of both beggarticks and wild mustard. Proline foliar content was higher in seedlings grown in biotic soil than in seedlings grown in biotic soil plus charcoal suggesting that straw organic constituents induced proline accumulation. Proline foliar content of seedlings grown in biotic soil treated with burned straw leachate was not significantly different from water control. The present study showed that sugarcane straw leachate interferes with seedling growth of beggarticks and wild mustard and that water-soluble phenolics can play a role in the seedling growth inhibition of the assayed weeds.     

On the concentration of acetic acid in straw and soil

Summary Freshly harvested wheat straw contained 0.096 g water g^–1 dry straw and 180 mM acetic acid. The straw absorbed water more rapidly from wet soil. The concentration of acetic acid fell to about 10 mM within 6 h of incorporation of straw in the soil and then remained relatively constant for a period of 12 days, irrespective of soil moisture content. In soil at its maximum water holding capacity after gravitational drainage, the decline in acetic acid concentration (c) with distance (d) from wheat or barley straw was exponential, with c=c_o e^–nd where c_o is the concentration of acetic acid at the straw surface and n is a constant (0.46 for barley and 0.42 for wheat straw). The presence of acetic acid seems to be a major cause of poor establishment and growth when seeds and seedling roots come into contact with straw.     

Methane emissions associated with a green manure amendment to flooded rice in California

The goals of sustainable food production and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions may be in conflict when green manures are used in flooded rice systems. A field study was initiated in early spring 1992 near Sacramento, California to quantify the potential for enhanced methane emissions following a green manure amendment to rice. Replicate flux measurements were made twice a day every 3–4 days throughout the growing season in four treatment plots: burned rice straw, spring incorporated rice straw, burned straw plus purple vetch and spring incorporated straw plus vetch. Seasonal methane emissions ranged from 66–136 g CH₄ m⁻² and were 1.5 to 1.8 times higher from the straw plus vetch treatments relative to the straw only treatments. No significant differences in emissions were found between the two straw only treatments or the straw plus vetch treatments. Methane fluxes were exponentially related to soil temperature, but no effect of redox potential or floodwater depth were observed. The potential impact of these results on the global methane budget is discussed.     

施氮和秸秆还田对晚播小麦养分平衡和产量的影响

在大田条件下,研究了水稻秸秆还田和施氮量对晚播小麦产量、养分积累、秸秆养分释放及养分平衡的影响.结果表明: 水稻秸秆还田并配施适当的施氮量有利于提高晚播小麦籽粒产量.晚播小麦全生育期的干物质、氮、磷、钾积累量均随施氮量增加而显著增加,相同施氮量(270 kg N·hm^-2)下,秸秆还田处理的干物质、磷、钾积累高于不还田处理,氮积累则呈相反趋势.随着施氮量增加,秸秆腐解和养分释放率增加,且拔节后秸秆养分释放量占总释放量的比例降低;随生育进程的推进,秸秆的干物质、磷、钾释放量呈倒“N”型变化趋势,而氮释放量则呈“V”型变化趋势.计算养分表观平衡结果表明,秸秆还田并增加施氮量,养分总盈余量显著升高;在获得较高产量的施氮条件下,氮、钾素显著盈余,磷素投入较为合理.晚播小麦实行秸秆还田后,可适当增加氮肥用量至257 kg·hm^-2,并减少钾肥投入.     

秸秆还田和施肥对砂姜黑土理化性质及小麦-玉米产量的影响

通过安徽省蒙城县砂姜黑土上连续4a的冬小麦-夏玉米连作长期定位试验,研究了秸秆还田配合施用不同量氮肥对土壤理化性质及作物产量的影响。结果表明,秸秆还田可降低土壤容重2.5%—9.2%,提高含水量8.2%—28.5%和表层土壤贮水量4.1%—19.9%;增加土壤总孔隙度1.1%—8.9%、毛管孔隙度18.9%—41.0%,非毛管孔隙度降低6.4%—38.8%,土壤毛管孔隙度占土壤总孔隙度的比例增加。秸秆还田所有处理耕层的土壤硝态氮含量高于秸秆移除处理,施氮540、630、720 kg N hm-2a-1时,秸秆还田处理的硝态氮含量显著高于秸秆移除,而铵态氮含量无明显变化规律。无论秸秆还田还是秸秆移除,耕层土壤的硝态氮含量随氮肥用量的增加呈指数趋势增加,硝态氮含量与施氮量的相关性秸秆移除处理高于秸秆还田处理;秸秆还田处理的铵态氮含量随施氮量增加成指数趋势增加,而秸秆移除处理呈指数趋势减小,相关性均不显著。秸秆还田条件下,小麦和玉米获得高产的年氮肥用量分别为630、696 kg N hm-2a-1,秸秆移除为579、627 kg N hm-2a-1。经作用力分析,秸秆还田是影响土壤物理性质的最重要因素,作物产量受秸秆还田和施氮量的影响,但氮肥水平大于秸秆还田。     

稻、麦秸秆对球形棕囊藻(Phaeocystis globosa)生长的抑制作用

考查了秸秆及其浸出液对球形棕囊藻(Phaeocystis globosa)生长的影响,分析了秸秆附着微生物及秸秆物理吸附作用对秸秆抑藻活性的影响,观察了稻杆浸出液对藻细胞形态的影响。结果显示,一定量的物理破碎稻杆、麦杆及其浸出液均可有效抑制棕囊藻的生长,灭菌与未灭菌秸杆之间抑藻效果相差不大。不同条件处理的秸杆浸出液总酚含量与抑藻作用间均存在很大差异,但两者之间并无明显相关性。原子力显微镜观察发现,秸秆处理组细胞膜破裂、细胞塌陷,结构不完整,细胞粗糙度明显增加。这些结果提示微生物和物理吸附对秸杆抑藻作用的贡献很小,秸秆中存在的或降解产生的抑藻活性成分是秸秆抑藻的主要原因;除了酚酸类物质外,秸杆中可能存在其他可以显著抑制藻类生长的物质;秸秆通过破坏藻细胞的膜结构,导致藻细胞出现空洞,细胞内容物流出,从而抑制或杀灭藻细胞。     

Methane emission from paddy soils as affected by wheat straw returning mode

To study influence of wheat straw returning mode on CH₄ emission from paddy soils, a field experiment was conducted at Jurong, Jiangsu Province, China in 2006. Five treatments, no wheat straw applied (CK), wheat straw evenly incorporated into the topsoil (WI), wheat straw buried in ditches (WD), wheat straw strip-mulched onto the field surface (WM) and wheat straw burned in-situ (WB), were laid out in a randomized block design. Results showed that seasonal CH₄ emissions ranged from 6.9 to 28.1 g CH₄ m^?2. Wheat straw incorporation significantly increased CH₄ emission. No significant difference was observed between Treatments WI and WD in total CH₄ emission. Compared with Treatment WI, Treatment WM reduced total CH₄ emission by 32% and Treatment WB by 42%. Treatment WM was about 27% higher than Treatment CK in grain yield. Based on the findings, the best management of wheat straw prior to rice cultivation is strip-mulching wheat straw onto the field surface, which largely reduced CH₄ emission from rice fields with no decrease in rice yield.     

Ammonia-treated barley straw and rolled barley offered either together, in a mixed ration, or successively to beef steers

Barley straw treated with anhydrous ammonia at a rate of 40 g per kg of straw dry matter (DM) and rolled barley were offered to 20 steers weighing initially 350 kg. Each steer was offered in total approximately 600 kg of straw DM and approximately 525 kg of barley DM. Ten steers were offered the straw alone in the long form at the beginning of the trial followed by the rolled barley alone. The remaining 10 steers were offered straw which had been ground through a 40-mm screen and mixed with the rolled barley in a complete diet. Dry matter digestibility coefficients of the ammonia-treated straw and the mixed straw plus barley diet were 0.52 and 0.57 ± 0.026, respectively. The DM digestibility coefficient of rolled grain in the mixed diet was predicted from the digestibility of starch to be 0.78 and the DM digestibility of straw in the mixed diet, determined by difference, was 0.39. Although steers offered the straw followed by rolled barley took on average 39 days longer to consume their total food allowance, cold dressed carcass weights of the two groups were not significantly different nor was there any difference in the carcass composition of the two groups of steers as determined by specific gravity measurements. Maintenance energy requirements were calculated for the two groups of steers and although the same amount of food was consumed by both groups and the energy required for maintenance was higher in the group offered straw followed by barley, the depression in the energy available from straw offered in a mixed diet caused the same total amount of metabolizable energy to be available for carcass gain to both groups.     

Barley straw as an inhibitor of algal growth III: the role of fungal decomposition

Rotting barley straw, which is known to inhibit algal growth, has been subjected to mycological examination. A wide range of fungi was isolated from submerged, aerated decomposing straw and tested for antialgal effects againstChlorella on agar plates. Three species, each the dominant isolate from different batches of straw, inhibited the alga. However, the general antialgal effects of decomposing straw are unlikely to be explained by antialgal properties of specific fungi.author for correspondence     

秸秆还田对水稻固碳特性及产量形成的影响

以中浙优1号为材料、秸秆不还田为对照,在大田试验条件下研究了不同秸秆还田量（4000、6000、8000 kg·hm^-2）对水稻群体干物质积累、运转、植株固碳及产量形成的影响. 结果表明： 与对照相比,秸秆还田处理的水稻群体干物质积累总量平均增加63.03 g·m^-2,以6000 kg·hm^-2处理的干物质积累量最高,比对照增加154.40 g·m^-2;在水稻各生育阶段中,秸秆还田处理对分蘖盛期—齐穗期干物质积累的影响最为明显,干物质积累量比对照平均增加71.25 g·m^-2;与对照相比,秸秆还田处理的茎叶干物质输出率和表观转变率分别平均增加4.2%和3.7%,均以6000 kg·hm^-2处理最高,分别为12.8%和11.1%.秸秆还田处理的群体植株固碳量比对照平均增加55.38 g·m^-2,以6000 kg·hm^-2处理的增幅最大,为17.8%;从固碳量在各器官中的分配来看,秸秆还田有利于生育前期茎叶固碳量的积累和生育后期固碳量向穗部的分配.秸秆还田处理的水稻产量比对照平均增加794.59 kg·hm^-2,增幅9.5%,其中6000和4000 kg·hm^-2处理的产量均显著提高,而8000 kg·hm^-2处理的产量增加不显著;从产量构成因素来看,秸秆还田处理单位面积有效穗数的增加是增产的主要原因,平均增加8.4穗·m^-2.     

Localization of processes involved in methanogenic degradation of rice straw in anoxic paddy soil

In anoxic paddy soil, rice straw is decomposed to CH(4) and CO(2) by a complex microbial community consisting of hydrolytic, fermenting, syntrophic and methanogenic microorganisms. Here, we investigated which of these microbial groups colonized the rice straw and which were localized in the soil. After incubation of rice straw in anoxic soil slurries for different periods, the straw pieces were removed from the soil, and both slurry and straw were studied separately. Although the potential activities of polysaccharolytic enzymes were higher in the soil slurry than in the straw incubations, the actual release of reducing sugars was higher in the straw incubations. The concentrations of fermentation products, mainly acetate and propionate, increased steadily in the straw incubations, whereas only a little CH(4) was formed. In the soil slurries, on the other hand, fermentation products were low, whereas CH(4) production was more pronounced. The production of CH(4) or of fermentation products in the separated straw and soil incubations accounted in sum for 54-82% of the CH(4) formed when straw was not removed from the soil. Syntrophic propionate degradation to acetate, CO(2) and H(2) was thermodynamically more favourable in the soil than in the straw fraction. These results show that hydrolysis and primary fermentation reactions were mainly localized on the straw pieces, whereas the syntrophic and methanogenic reactions were mainly localized in the soil. The percentage of bacterial relative to total microbial 16S rRNA content was higher on the straw than in the soil, whereas it was the opposite for the archaeal 16S rRNA content. It appears that rice straw is mainly colonized by hydrolytic and fermenting bacteria that release their fermentation products into the soil pore water where they are further degraded to CH(4). Hence, complete methanogenic degradation of straw in rice soil seems to involve compartmentalization.     

Growth inhibition of bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa by rice straw extract

AIMS: To inhibit the growth of the bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa using a rice straw extract. METHODS AND RESULTS: The cell numbers of the algal strain M. aeruginosa UTEX 2388 significantly decreased after treatment with different concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg l(-1)) of a rice straw extract for an 8-day cultivation period. Among seven tested allelochemicals from rice straw, salicylic acid at 0.1 mg l(1) exhibited the highest allelopathic activity (26%) on day 8. A synergistic effect on algal growth inhibition was found when adding two or three phenolic compounds from the rice straw. CONCLUSIONS: The growth of M. aeruginosa was inhibited by rice straw extract concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 10 mg l(1). This activity was due to the synergistic effects of various phenolic compounds in the rice straw. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The identification of rice straw as an effective material for the growth inhibition of M. aeruginosa implies it may have the potential to be used as an environment-friendly biomaterial for controlling the algal bloom of M. aeruginosa in eutrophic water.     

Interactions between rumen bacteria and ciliate protozoa in their attachment to barley straw

The attachment of ¹⁴C-choline-labelled mixed rumen protozoa to barley straw in vitro was not significantly affected when bacteria prepared from rumen fluid were added to the incubation mixture. There was similarly little effect on protozoal attachment when the straw had already been colonized by a bacterial population for 24 h. In contrast, it was deduced from measurements of enzyme activities associated with straw that bacterial attachment was reduced if protozoa were present. Bacteria that had colonized the straw for 25 h beforehand were less susceptible to predation by protozoa.