Evaluation of ecosystem service of straw return to soil in a wheat field of China

Abstract

Crop straw is an important natural resource in China because it is rich in nutrients. When returned to fields after harvests, the straw can improve soil quality and the next crop's yield. Evaluating the economic values of the main ecological services of a farmland ecosystem while implementing the straw return technique can be a more systematic and comprehensive approach to better understand the contribution of straw return to the development of ecological agriculture. Based on the data of a field experiment established in 2010 with varying numbers of years of straw return, four ecological services, i.e., agricultural product and industrial raw materials, atmospheric regulation and purification, soil nutrient accumulation, and water conservation, were selected to estimate a net ecosystem service value (ESV) of a wheat field's ecosystem services. Agro-ecosystem service appraisal theories were applied to estimate the economic value of each service. Results showed that straw returning improved the total ESV in the wheat system. Compared to the no straw return treatment, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years or 7 years of straw returning altered the economic value of the agricultural product and industrial raw materials (EVAIM) by -5.93% to 7.84% and improved atmospheric regulation (EVAR) by 13.66%-30.80%, soil nutrient accumulation (EVSNA) by 59.87%-233.31% and water conservation (EVWC) by 2.60%-13.26%. The total ESV of wheat plots with 1-7 years of straw returning was 3.67%-27.41% higher than that with no straw return, and the total ESV increased with the increase in years of straw return. The proportion of EVAIM out of the total ESV in this wheat field system was highest (accounted for 47.09%-55.64%), followed by EVAR and EVWC. The value of EVSNA was the lowest. However, the proportion of EVSNA was higher than that of water conservation after the fifth year of straw return. In general, the adoption of continuous straw returning in a wheat field ecosystem is ecologically valuable. The results can inform the development and implementation of ecological compensation policies involving straw return.

Effect of vacuum negative pressure aerobic hydrolysis pretreatment on corn stover anaerobic fermentation

“…It is worth mentioning that after the combined pretreatment, the lignin of the CP group was significantly reduced, and there was almost no loss of cellulose and hemicellulose (Table 6). During the aerobic hydrolysis process, due to the removal of lignin, more cellulose was hydrolyzed, resulting in higher reducing sugar content in the CP group than in the CK group in the early stage of anaerobic fermentation [31] . The changing trend of reducing sugar content in each experimental group was roughly the same.…”

Reintroduction of Decomposed Straw To Maize Fields Resulted In Soil Microbial Community Change And Increased Corn Production

“…The burning of straw produces a large amount of PM 2.5 (Chen et al 2016) and can cause serious environmental pollution (Xiao 2012). Straw reincorporation has become a prevailing agricultural practice for improving soil fertility and reducing air pollution induced by crop straw burning (Cui et al 2021). It is well stablished that straw applied directly to the soil increases soil fertility and nutrient substrates for microbial attachment (Zhou et al 2016), stimulates the activity of soil heterotrophic microorganisms (Cai et al 2003), promotes the absorption of nutrients by the root system, and increases maize yield (Qin et al 2015; Zhang et al 2014).…”

Parameter Optimization of a Potted Seedling Tray Prepared from a Mixture of Rice Straw and Fermented Cow Manure Using the Response Surface Methodology

“…The major limitations for the large-scale application of biomass are related to its diverse physical and chemical properties, as well as the availability of seasonal and geographical patterns. At present, due to the presence of some restrictive factors, China faces the issue regarding excessive production of straws, and the issue is further complicated by burning straws in agricultural fields . A previous study reported that China’s animal husbandry has rapidly developed over the recent two decades, indicating that a great amount of animal manure has been produced accordingly .…”

“…At present, due to the presence of some restrictive factors, China faces the issue regarding excessive production of straws, and the issue is further complicated by burning straws in agricultural fields. 6 A previous study reported that China's animal husbandry has rapidly developed over the recent two decades, indicating that a great amount of animal manure has been produced accordingly. 7 Animal manure, containing N, P, K, and other valuable nutrients, is an excellent biofertilizer and raw material for producing bioenergy.…”