Use of straw in organic farming

Abstract

The article describes the results of a study on the use of crop residues (straw) as a fertilizer in the organic farming system. The studies were carried out in two farms of Ryazan region and consisted in disposing of crop residues as a fertilizer using a special machine. It is a device for utilizing the non-grain part of the crop as a fertilizer and using the standard technology with the addition of biological products with the help of a sprayer. The design of the developed machine allows selection and grinding of the plant material with its simultaneous treatment with a working solution of biopreparations or stubble destructors. Recycled plant residues were treated with various biopreparations: Agrinos-1 1.2-2 l/ha, Sternifag SP 80 g/ha, Ecorost 0.4 l/ha and Biocomplex BTU 1 l/ha. As a control, the straw was crushed and embedded in the upper soil layers without treatment with biopreparations. From the moment of disposal of crop residues and until the beginning of spring barley sowing in April 2019, the activity of cellulose-degrading bacteria in the soil was recorded (using the linen method). Content of the main micro and macro elements was established by a comprehensive chemical analysis. Before harvesting in August 2019, biological productivity was recorded (it was 15.2% higher on variants using biopreparations for stubble destruction) and the quality was assessed by the protein content in the grain.

Improving the efficiency of using straw as a fertilizer

“…The experiment proved the results of the experiment of 2018-2019 [1] with the efficiency of biopreparations-destructors Agrinos-1 and Sternifag SP at negative temperatures, while the variants with the treatment with Biocomplex BTU and Ekorost decreased their intensity.…”

“…Straw decomposition was more intensive as compared to that of 2018-2019 [1] that might indicate a positive cumulative effect when using plant residues for several years.…”

“…Harvester-thresher Acros 595 Plus harvested the entire crop, while the non-grain part was placed behind in the swath (the straw chopper was off). Straw from the swath was picked up by a special machine or an aggregate for utilizing the non-grain part of the crop as a fertilizer (MTZ-82 + ADU NCHU based on Kverneland fx 230 (Figure 1)) [1]. Then the straw was crushed and treated with biopreparations-destructors: Agrinos-1 (2 l/ha, USA), Sternifag SP (0.08 kg/ha, Russia), Biocomplex BTU (1 l/ha, Ukraine), humic product Ekorost (0.4 l/ha, Russia).…”

“…Provided that the reserves for expanding agricultural areas are limited, the load per hectare of arable land grows, since more and more crops need to be harvested from this area with each new season. It is known that when the crop is formed, nutrients are removed from the soil, which must be compensated [1]. So, for example, in the production of cereals, the resulting biological crop consists of both the main product or grain and the by-product or a non-cereal part (straw, chaff, husk), while, in terms of the organic matter content, one ton of straw is equivalent to 3.5-4 tons of manure [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10].…”

“…The only limiting factor in the use of straw as a fertilizer is the long period of its decomposition in the soil, which occurs with the release of phototoxic compounds, which negatively affects the yield of subsequent crops [3][4][5]. Currently, scientific and practical interest is a way to increase the efficiency of using straw as a fertilizer by treating straw with biological biopreparations-destructors before embedding in the soil [1,8].…”