I frequently visit farmer's fields in Bara and Parsa districts of Nepal. I heard many times that burning the straws is not farmers favorite choice but are compelled to do so for getting the next crop timely planted. Some of them know well about benefits of it(plant residues) if we could mix up it with soil again are doing the same thing; Burning. If we have something that vigor decaying activity, it would be boon for farmers, might be like herbicides..
Composting is he best way. You can reduce the time of composting when you apply EM (Effective microorganisms. Adding plant residues without composting will increase C/N ratio in the soil and will negatively affect the next crop at least for the beginning of the growing season.
Make the soil wet (irrigate the field) then plow straw in the soil. Apply some urea and wait for 5-7 days (usually 5 days, keep land wet). Now Plow land for crop cultivation. Straw will be rotten and will mix well with the field soil.
Thank you
Composting is he best way. You can reduce the time of composting when you apply EM (Effective microorganisms. Adding plant residues without composting will increase C/N ratio in the soil and will negatively affect the next crop at least for the beginning of the growing season.
By plowing the straws put the trichoderma inocula, which will help in faster decomposition and will produce vey good quality compost fertilizer.
Straws are high in Carbon and low in Nitrogen. By optimizing the Carbon to Nitrogen ratio the decay is much more accelerated. This usually is done by adding enough nitrogen to change ratios of straw many time over 60 to 1 Carbon to Nitrogen to 20 to 30 to 1.
The straw can be chopped and treated with potassium hydroxide which can reduce make lignocellulose more available to decay.
Materials should by about 65% moisture and have good aeration to promote rapid decay. The use of piles greter that 1 cubic meter can provide sufficient insulation to allow a high temperature compost which will make decay go rapidly. The use of amendment to give proper mineralization also speeds the break down of the organic matter.
To lower the Carbon to Nitrogen ratio of straws many times manures are used in the compost process. In commercial composting operations the use of thermometers allow the tracking of the decay process and turning mechanically of the piles give aeration.
Composting done properly ensures that straw materials do serve as resources for pathogens of crops which otherwise will tend to maintain themselves in the residues of crops. Composts also give residual benefits that are long lasting in the soil.
You can reduce to smaller pieces, spray water and introduce some already decayed organic matter to introduce microorganisms to quicken the decomposition.
You can add Nitrogen fertilizer like Urea for aggesting C:N ratio of your material
We use combined harvester in our farm which makes the straw into small pieces. It helps decaying straw quickly.
The shredding of straws gives an exponential increase in immediate area for microbial decomposition. The rapid decomposition by composting is favored by appropriate moisture 67% adequate aeration sufficient mineral and pH. The Carbon to Nitrogen ratio should start and 25:1 and with the decomposition it will convert to about 11:1 when the compost is finished. The size of the pile should be over 1 cubic meter as this will allow the temperature to increase for a quick compost and the heat will kill the pathogens. The process of composting is the measuring and monitoring of temperature. The compost done appropriate will never smell badly and will take on a pleasant rich soil smell.
Yes, Joshi, there are technologies that can decay the crop residues faster than they decay with simply incorporating in soil. For example, you may have heared that effective microorganism (EM) which is sold as a product is very effective in decomposing such crop residues within a short time; it hastens composting process and also reduces the bad smell released during composting.
Using biochar as a bulking agent during composting such residues can reduce the composting time and significantly reduces emission of greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide (N2O).
Déchiqueter les pailles.mais faut ensuite les mélanger avec de l'eau pour éviter que le vent les emporte.
Shredding of the material, application of N along with use of decomposer ( decomposing micro-organism complex) can hasten the time required for decomposition of crop residue. Decomposer are available in liquid form at different government agencies offices in India.
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