At present, the wheat harvesting season is drawing to a close. The effective utilization of wheat straw can not only improve the environment but also boost farmers' income. By employing biochemical technology to accelerate the decomposition of crop straw, it's possible to enhance composting temperature and speed, shorten the composting cycle, and produce high-quality compost year-round. This method is easy to operate, saves labor and time, and results in nutrient-rich compost. Here's how it works:
1. Choose a suitable location. Select an empty pit, ditch, or flat area, and create a 30-cm-high barrier to prevent water runoff.
2. Treat the straw. Before piling, soak the straw in water. The typical ratio of straw (based on dry weight) is 11:8, ensuring that the moisture content reaches 60% to 70%, which is crucial for successful composting.
3. Mix the materials. For every ton of wheat straw, add 1 kg of a straw-decomposing agent (such as "301" bacteria, preservatives, "HEM" bacteria, or enzyme bacteria), and 5 kg of urea (or 200–300 kg of decomposed human manure) to meet the nitrogen needs for microbial fermentation.
4. Pile the materials. Stack in three layers, with the first two layers being 60 cm thick and the third layer 40 cm. Sprinkle the decomposing agent and urea evenly between the layers. The pile should be about 1.6 to 2 meters wide and 1 to 1.6 meters high (up to 2 meters if needed, though it may be less convenient). After stacking, cover it tightly with mud. The compost can be ready in 20 to 25 days, yielding high-quality, nutrient-dense material.
This technology offers several advantages:
- It’s simple to use, allowing both dry and fresh straw along with weeds to be piled up.
- On-site composting eliminates the need for soil addition, saving time and effort.
- The composting process heats up quickly, leading to faster decomposition. Within 3 days, the heap can reach 50–70°C. Fresh straw decomposes in about 14 days, while dry straw takes 18–20 days. It can be done all year round without seasonal restrictions, requiring only one turning during the process.
In addition to composting, wheat straw has other useful applications:
1. Use wheat straw for fertilizer accumulation. In pigsties, mix straw with soil and water to create organic fertilizer during the hot and rainy months of July, August, and September. The stacking method is similar to composting, but without using decomposing agents or urea. Instead, adjust the layers as needed, keeping the straw-to-soil ratio around 1:3. This method takes longer, but the compost is ready after 50–60 days.
2. Use straw as animal feed. While raw straw is not very palatable, ammoniated straw significantly improves its nutritional value. Crude protein increases from 3–4% to 8%, and the digestibility of organic matter improves by 10–20%. It contains various amino acids and can replace 30–40% of concentrate feed, making it ideal for feeding sheep and cattle.
Author: Gao Yunfeng
Source: Science and Technology Information
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