Optimization of wheat straw co-composting for carrier material development.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Science
• Soil Science

Background:

• Agriculture generates substantial harvesting residues, necessitating sustainable management.
• Developing eco-friendly fertilizers is crucial for food security and environmental protection.
• Wheat straw (WS) is a promising, underutilized resource for creating smart fertilizer carriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To statistically optimize the water holding capacity (WHC) and organic matter stability of co-composted wheat straw (WS).
• To develop an effective carrier material for smart fertilizers using a multi-response optimization method.
• To identify optimal parameters for WS co-composting, including particle size, microbial treatment, and nitrogen addition.

Main Methods:

• Co-composting of wheat straw (WS) with varying particle sizes (<1, 1-2, >2 cm).
• Inoculation with Trichoderma harzianum (0, 7, 14 discs) and nitrogen addition (0, 0.95, 1.95 g/kg).
• Statistical multi-response method to optimize WHC and organic matter stability.

Main Results:

• Optimized WS carrier exhibited significantly higher WHC (91.7%) compared to raw WS.
• Enhanced material showed increased porosity, structural changes, and improved stability (C:N ratio 59.5).
• Characterization revealed a slightly alkaline pH (~8.0), high OM structural complexity (E4:E6 ~7.9), and enhanced sorption properties (~11.6 total acidity).

Conclusions:

• Optimal co-composting involved fine particle size WS (<1 cm), 14 discs of T. harzianum, and 0.98 g/kg NH4NO3.
• The developed WS carrier material demonstrates high potential for improving soil water and nutrient holding capacity.
• This research offers a sustainable solution for agricultural residue valorization and advanced fertilizer development.