Wheat straw

Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Applied Biotechnology and Food Science, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology Group

Organisation/Data provider's nameBudapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Applied Biotechnology and Food Science, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology Group
Name of contact
Dr. Molnár Mónika, Dr. Feigl Viktória
Telephone/fax
+36-1-4632347
Denomination of the waste or by-productWheat straw
Type of the waste or by-product data-sheet
General characterization
Functional characterisation
Non-hazardous waste from food industry
EWC code of waste
  • 02 WASTES FROM AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AQUACULTURE, FORESTRY, HUNTING AND FISHING, FOOD PREPARATION AND PROCESSING
  • 02 01 wastes from agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, forestry, hunting and fishing
  • 02 01 03 plant-tissue waste
Consistency of the waste or by-product
Solid
Description of the waste generating technology

Residue of wheat harvesting. Straw is an agricultural by-product, it is the dry stalks of cereal plants, after the grain and chaff have been removed. Straw makes up about half of the yield of cereal crops.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw

Is it a hazardous waste?
no
Characterisation of the waste as a chemical substance
Product
Chemical substance, Main group|Chemical substance, Subgroup
  • Not a chemical substance
Other type of chemical substance
Total mineral content
Is the contained chemical substance main component, component or contaminant of the waste or by-products / biochar?
Component
Concentration of the chemical in the waste or by-product / biochar
8.3 %
Chemical substance, Main group|Chemical substance, Subgroup
  • Other inorganic chemical compounds
  • nitrogen (total)
Is the contained chemical substance main component, component or contaminant of the waste or by-products / biochar?
Component
Concentration of the chemical in the waste or by-product / biochar
0.62 %
Chemical substance, Main group|Chemical substance, Subgroup
  • Other inorganic chemical compounds
  • phosphorous
Is the contained chemical substance main component, component or contaminant of the waste or by-products / biochar?
Component
Concentration of the chemical in the waste or by-product / biochar
0.07 %
Chemical substance, Main group|Chemical substance, Subgroup
  • Other inorganic chemical compounds
  • potassium
Is the contained chemical substance main component, component or contaminant of the waste or by-products / biochar?
Component
Concentration of the chemical in the waste or by-product / biochar
0.79 %
Chemical substance, Main group|Chemical substance, Subgroup
  • Other inorganic chemical compounds
  • calcium
Other type of chemical substance
microelement
Concentration of the chemical in the waste or by-product / biochar
0.21 %
Chemical substance, Main group|Chemical substance, Subgroup
  • Not a chemical substance
Other type of chemical substance
Other organic component-proteins
Is the contained chemical substance main component, component or contaminant of the waste or by-products / biochar?
Component
Concentration of the chemical in the waste or by-product / biochar
3.9 %
Chemical substance, Main group|Chemical substance, Subgroup
  • Not a chemical substance
Other type of chemical substance
Raw fiber
Is the contained chemical substance main component, component or contaminant of the waste or by-products / biochar?
Main component
Concentration of the chemical in the waste or by-product / biochar
36.9 %
Chemical substance, Main group|Chemical substance, Subgroup
  • Not a chemical substance
Other type of chemical substance
Other organic component-lipids
Is the contained chemical substance main component, component or contaminant of the waste or by-products / biochar?
Component
Concentration of the chemical in the waste or by-product / biochar
1.5 %
Name of the waste/by-product
Wheat straw
Components of the waste/by-product

Raw fiber, proteins, lipids, nutritional elements.

Other characteristics of the waste/by-product

Partially or fully mineralised components can be introduced into the element-cycles by microbial and plant use. The nonmineralised part can take part in humus formation. Directly mixed into the soil we introduce high C/N ratio organic material, which leads to the accumulation of carbon respirating bacteria, and the build up of low N content into the temporary cells. This process results accessable N for plants. The N content of the microorganisms is released after their death, when the straw is consumed. If our aim is nutrition supplement, the straw should be mixed into compost or manure and together it is biodegraded by the microorganisms. If our aim is soil loosening, or the increase of humus content, the straw should be mixed into the soil directly. In this case we have to calculate with the change of the soil’s biological sructure.

Dry matter content (%)
92.6
Moisture content (%)
7.4
C/N ratio
230
Pozzolan activity
no
Other

Total organic content: 8.3%; N: 0.62%; P:0.07%; K:0.79%; Ca: 0.21%; Protein: 3.9%; Raw fiber: 36.9%; Lipid: 1.5%

Is this waste or by-product being utilised?
Yes
Utilisation

In mushroom compost as the base material; energetical utilization, animal feed, basketry, bedding: humans or livestock, biofuels, biomass, construction material, thatching.

Hazard characteristics
Not classified
No information
Measured harmful effects
No
Suspected harmful effects

Directly mixed into the soil high C/N ratio organic material is introduced to the soil, which leads to the accumulation of the carbon-respirating bacteria. In this case we have to calculate with the change of soil microbiodiversity.

Would it be suitable for soil reclamation in general?
Yes
Justification, references

Thanks to its high organic material content, wheat straw can be used for soil improvment.
http://phd.lib.uni-corvinus.hu/524/1/ferenc_krisztina.pdf
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/field/news/croppest/2007/05cp…
http://www.gardenguides.com/100402-add-wheat-straw-garden-soil.html
Denitrifikációs veszteség csökkentésére alkalmas: http://enfo.agt.bme.hu/drupal/etanfolyam/12612

TAN De-shui, JIN Ji-yun, HUANG Shao-wen, LI Shu-tian, HE Ping (2007) Effect of Long-Term Application of K Fertilizer and Wheat Straw to Soil on Crop Yield and Soil K Under Different Planting Systems, Agricultural Sciences in China 6(2), pp. 200-207

Coskan, A., Gök, M., Onac, I., Inal, I., Saglamtimur, T. The Effect of Wheat Straw, Corn Straw and Tobacco Residues on Denitrification Losses in a Field Planted with Wheat, (2002) Turk J Agric For 26:349-353

Shindo, H., Nishio, T. Immobilization and remineralization of N following addition of wheat straw into soil: determination of gross N transformation rates
by 15N-ammonium isotope dilution technique Soil Biology & Biochemistry 37 (2005) 425–432

Would it supply nitrogen, phosphorous and/or potassium to the soil?
Yes
Justification, references

It is a good nitrogen amendment, with some phosphorus content.
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/field/news/croppest/2007/05cp…
http://www.gardenguides.com/100402-add-wheat-straw-garden-soil.html

TAN De-shui, JIN Ji-yun, HUANG Shao-wen, LI Shu-tian, HE Ping (2007) Effect of Long-Term Application of K Fertilizer and Wheat Straw to Soil on Crop Yield and Soil K Under Different Planting Systems, Agricultural Sciences in China 6(2), pp. 200-207

Coskan, A., Gök, M., Onac, I., Inal, I., Saglamtimur, T. The Effect of Wheat Straw, Corn Straw and Tobacco Residues on Denitrification Losses in a Field Planted with Wheat, (2002) Turk J Agric For 26:349-353

Shindo, H., Nishio, T. Immobilization and remineralization of N following addition of wheat straw into soil: determination of gross N transformation rates
by 15N-ammonium isotope dilution technique Soil Biology & Biochemistry 37 (2005) 425–432

http://enfo.agt.

Would it supply mesoelements (Ca, Cl, Fe, Mg, Na, S, Si) to the soil?
No
Would it supply microelements (B, Co, Cu, Mn, Mo, Zn, V) to the soil?
No
Would it provide sufficient amounts of special nutrients to the soil?
No
Would it increase the humus/organic matter content of the soil?
Yes
Justification, references

Thanks to its high organic material content, wheat straw can be used for improving the humus content of soil.
http://phd.lib.uni-corvinus.hu/524/1/ferenc_krisztina.pdf

Would it suffice as a main component of growing media?
No
Would it suffice as an additive to growing media?
Yes
Justification, references

Thanks to its high organic material content, wheat straw can be used in growth media.
http://phd.lib.uni-corvinus.hu/524/1/ferenc_krisztina.pdf
http://greencenteracres.com/id34.html
WenJie Yang, FengLing Guo, ZhengJie Wan (2013) Yield and size of oyster mushroom grown on rice/wheat straw basal substrate supplemented with cotton seed hull,
Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, In Press

Daniel J. Royse, Jose E. Sanchez (2007) Ground wheat straw as a substitute for portions of oak wood chips used in shiitake (Lentinula edodes) substrate formulae Original Research Article, Bioresource Technology 98(11), pp. 2137-2141.

J.-M. Savoie, N. Minvielle, N. Chalaux (1994) Estimation of wheat straw quality for edible mushroom production and effects of a growth regulator, Bioresource Technology 48(2), pp. 149-153.

Would it improve the structure of compacted soil and/or contribute to soil crumb formation of poorly structured soils?
Yes
Justification, references

Thanks to its high organic material content, wheat straw can improve the humus content of soil.
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/pub811/1tillage.htm table1-9

Blanco-Canqui, H., Lal, R. (2007) Impacts of Long-Term Wheat Straw Management on Soil Hydraulic Properties under No-Tillage Soil Science Society of America Journal 71(4), pp. 1166-1173.

Would it be suitable for physical stabilisation and/or texture improvement of loose, quagmire soils?
Yes
Justification, references

Straw bales are sometimes used for sediment control at construction sites. However, bales are often ineffective in protecting water quality and are maintenance-intensive. For these reasons the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and various state agencies recommend use of alternative sediment control practices where possible, such as silt fences, fiber rolls and geotextiles.
California Stormwater Quality Association. Menlo Park, CA. “California Stormwater BMP Handbook: Straw Bale Barrier.” Best Management Practice (BMP) No. SE-9. January 2003.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, DC. 'National Menu of Stormwater Best Management Practices: Straw or Hay Bales.' June 1, 2006.

Would it be suitable for amending sandy soils?
Yes
Would it be suitable for erosion prevention?
Yes
Justification, references

R. P. C. Morgan,R. Jane Rickson (1995) Slope stabilization and erosion control: a bioengineering approach, E & FN Spon

http://www.ndhealth.gov/wq/WasteWater/pubs/BMPManual.pdf

Would it be suitable for amending acidic soils?
No
Would it be suitable for amending saline and sodic soils?
No
Would it reduce the mobility and availability of the contaminants?
Yes
Justification, references

Feasible for the immobilization of heavy metals.
Forrás: http://www.google.de/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&v…

Would it intensify the mobility, availability of the contaminants?
No
Would it intensify physical, chemical, and/or biological degradation and decomposition of contaminants?
Yes
Justification, references

Biodegradable:
M. Valmaseda, G. Almendros, A.T. Martínez (1991) Chemical transformation of wheat straw constituents after solid-state fermentation with selected lignocellulose-degrading fungi, Biomass and Bioenergy 1(5), pp. 261-266.

Would it be suitable for production of geotechnical elements?
Yes
Justification, references

In many parts of the world, straw is used to bind clay and concrete. A mixture of clay and straw, known as cob, can be used as a building material. There are many recipes for making cob.
When baled, straw has moderate insulation characteristics (about R-1.5/inch according to Oak Ridge National Lab and Forest Product Lab testing). It can be used, alone or in a post-and-beam construction, to build straw bale houses. When bales are used to build or insulate buildings, the straw bales are commonly finished with earthen plaster. The plastered walls provide some thermal mass, compressive and ductile structural strength, and acceptable fire resistance as well as thermal resistance (insulation), somewhat in excess of North American building code. Straw is an abundant agricultural waste product, and requires little energy to bale and transport for construction. For these reasons, strawbale construction is gaining popularity as part of passive solar and other renewable energy projects.

Other potential utilisation in soil

Mulching:
Bilalis, D., Sidiras, N., Economou, G., Vakali, C. (2003) Effect of Different Levels of Wheat Straw Soil Surface Coverage on Weed Flora in Vicia faba Crops Journal of Agronomy & Crop Science 189(4), pp. 233-241.

S.X. Li, Z.H. Wang, S.Q. Li, Y.J. Gao, X.H. Tian (2013) Effect of plastic sheet mulch, wheat straw mulch, and maize growth on water loss by evaporation in dryland areas of China, Agricultural Water Management 116, pp. 39-49.

Risks associated with potential utilisation in soil

Directly mixed into the soil high C/N ratio organic material is introduced to the soil, which leads to the accumulation of the carbon-respirating bacteria. In this case we have to calculate with the change of soil microbiodiversity.

Datasheet id (original)
1320
Creator
Fekete-Kertész Ildikó
Status
Verified
Adatlap típusaWaste / by-product survey
Létrehozás
Módosítás