Search Results (199)

Using common corn stalks as raw materials, a functional dense-structured carbon microsphere with good elastic deformation and certain rigid support was modified from biomass through a step-by-step hydrothermal method. The composition, thermal stability, fluid-loss reduction performance, and reservoir protection performance of the modified carbon microspheres were studied. Research indicates that after hydrothermal treatment, under the multi-level structural action of a small amount of proteins in corn stalks, the naturally occurring cellulose, polysaccharide organic compounds, and part of the ash in the stalks are adsorbed and encapsulated within the long-chain network structure formed by proteins and cellulose. By attaching silicate nanoparticles with certain rigidity from the ash to the relatively stable chair-type structure in cellulose, functional dense-structured carbon microspheres were ultimately prepared. These carbon microspheres could still effectively reduce fluid loss at 200 °C. The permeability recovery value of the cores treated with modified biomass carbon microspheres during flowback reached as high as 88%, which was much higher than that of the biomass itself. With the dense network-like chain structure supplemented by small-molecule aldehydes and silicate ash, the subsequent invasion of drilling fluid was successfully prevented, and a good sealing effect was maintained even under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions. Moreover, since this functional dense-structured carbon microsphere achieved sealing through a physical mechanism, it did not cause damage to the formation, showing a promising application prospect. Full article

This study focuses on the development of lignin-based carbon-fiber-reinforced laminated veneer lumber (LVL) beams for garden timber structures, addressing wood shortages and environmental concerns. The research consisted of three main phases: the extraction and characterization of the lignin from corn stalks; the preparation and characterization of lignin-based carbon fibers; the fabrication and testing of reinforced LVL beams. Lignin was extracted from corn stalks using a deep eutectic solvent, followed by the preparation of lignin-based carbon fibers through electrospinning. These carbon fibers were integrated with poplar veneers to create reinforced LVL beams. The test results demonstrated significant improvements in mechanical properties, with the reinforced LVL beams exhibiting a 17% increase in elastic modulus and a 30% enhancement in flexural strength compared with conventional LVL beams. Notable improvements were also observed in tensile strength, compressive strength, and shear strength. This research provides a novel approach for producing high-value-added carbon fibers from agricultural waste, advancing the development of sustainable building materials. Full article

Maize production in Fuxin City, Liaoning Province, China, is threatened by northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) and Fusarium stalk rot, with straw return under conservation tillage exacerbating the NCLB severity by 20% in local fields. This study evaluated the efficacy of combining difenoconazole, a commonly used fungicide, with a Trichoderma bioagent for disease control in straw-incorporated soils. Field trials in Fuxin showed that applying 300 g/ha difenoconazole with 1.5 L/ha Trichoderma fermentate achieved superior results: a 72.4% reduction in the NCLB disease index and a stalk rot incidence of only 0.61%. These outcomes significantly outperformed single-component treatments like difenoconazole alone (56.2% NCLB suppression) or other fungicides (e.g., carbendazim, triadimefon). The combined treatment also outperformed the single treatments with biocontrol agent (67.1% NCLB inhibition). The results highlight the synergistic potential of integrating chemical and biological agents to manage residue-borne diseases, offering a practical strategy for sustainable disease control in conservation agriculture systems with straw return in Liaoning, China. Full article

In this study, a method for creating networked macropores through tillage using Eisenia fetida attracted by food sources derived from decomposing straw was proposed. The effects of Eisenia fetida activity and corn stalk addition, as well as the synergistic effects of Bacillus subtilis, on macropore formation were systematically studied. A 3D visualization technique was used to render the pore network model. When compared with undisturbed soil, the results demonstrate that cultivation using earthworms attracted by food sources from decomposing straw creates a soil pore structure with the most significant effect. The 3D porosity of the soil increased 6.90-fold, its average pore volume increased 5.49-fold, and its equivalent diameter increased 4.88-fold. Cylindrical pores, which accounted for the largest proportion (4.38%), had a channel radius of 1–5 mm and comprised approximately 86.7% of all macropores. The channel length increased by 28.5%, the average roundness decreased by 2.5%, and the average coordination number increased by 33.3%. The macroporous network structure formed by these earthworm-generated pores was more beneficial for improving the structure of phaeozem, offering technical support for the field application of earthworm farming. Full article

Herein, a novel super-hygroscopic material, steam-exploded modified corn stalk pith (SE-CSP), was developed from corn stalk pith (CSP) via the steam explosion (SE) method, and its hygroscopic properties and mechanisms were evaluated. The results confirmed that SE effectively removed lignin and hemicellulose, disrupted the thin cell walls of natural CSP, and formed an aligned porous structure with capillary channels. SE changed the bonding distribution and surface morphology, and enhanced the crystallinity and thermal stability of CSP. The equilibrium hygroscopic percentage of SE-CSP (62.50%) was higher than that of CSP (44.01%) at 25 °C and 80% relative humidity (RH), indicating significantly greater hygroscopicity. The hygroscopic process of SE-CSP followed a Type III isotherm and fitted the Guggenheim–Anderson–de Boer (GAB), Peleg, and pseudo-first-order kinetic models. This process exhibited multi-layer adsorption with enthalpy-driven, exothermic behavior, primarily through physical adsorption involving hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. This work offered a new approach for advancing sorption dehumidification technology. Full article

This study investigates the efficacy of fermented corn straw as a viable corn substitute in rabbit diets, evaluating its impact on growth performance, intestinal health, cecal microbiota, and metabolite profiles to determine its potential for addressing corn shortages in animal husbandry. Over 35 days, 120 New Zealand rabbits were assigned to four treatments: (i) 12% corn (C100), (ii) 6% corn + 6% fermented straw (FS50), (iii) 12% fermented straw (FS100), and (iv) 6% corn + 6% dry straw (DS50). Fermented straw enhanced the rabbits’ average daily feed intake (ADI) and average daily gain (ADG) and elevated cecal cellulase activity. It also downregulated TLR4 in the jejunum mucosa, upregulated MUC2 in the ileum mucosa, strengthened the intestinal barrier, and reduced the diarrhea index and incidence in weaned rabbits. Specific microbial families influenced amino acid and phospholipid concentrations, altering the cecal metabolic environment. In summary, replacing corn with fermented corn straw in rabbit diets significantly boosts ADG and ADI, potentially lowers the feed-to-gain ratio, and enhances cecal microbiota and metabolite profiles without compromising growth performance. Full article

Hard carbon (HC) anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) face challenges such as sluggish Na⁺ diffusion kinetics and structural instability. Herein, we propose a synergistic nitrogen-doping and defect-engineering strategy to unlock ultrahigh-rate capability and long-term cyclability in biomass-derived hard carbon. A scalable synthesis route is developed via hydrothermal carbonization of corn stalk, followed by controlled pyrolysis with urea, achieving uniform nitrogen incorporation into the carbon matrix. Comprehensive characterization reveals that nitrogen doping introduces tailored defects, expands interlayer spacing, and optimizes surface pseudocapacitance. The resultant N-doped hard carbon (NC-2) delivers a remarkable reversible capacity of 259 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 A g⁻¹ with 91% retention after 100 cycles. And analysis demonstrates a dual Na⁺ storage mechanism combining surface-driven pseudocapacitive adsorption (89% contribution at 1.0 mV s⁻¹) and diffusion-controlled intercalation facilitated by reduced charge transfer resistance (56.9 Ω) and enhanced ionic pathways. Notably, NC-2 exhibits exceptional rate performance (124.0 mAh g⁻¹ at 1.0 A g⁻¹) and sustains 95% capacity retention over 500 cycles at 1.0 A g⁻¹. This work establishes a universal defect-engineering paradigm for carbonaceous materials, offering fundamental insights into structure–property correlations and paving the way for sustainable, high-performance SIB anodes. Full article

This study explored the impact of licorice stem and leaf forage in the diet of meat sheep on their growth performance, physiological parameters, immunity, and gut microbiota. Conducted in the Hotan region of Xinjiang, the experiment involved 40 healthy local Hotan sheep (5–6 months old) that were randomly assigned to four groups, with both corn stalks and corn grain partially substituted at varying levels (30%, 40%, and 50%) by licorice stems and leaves for 80 days. Daily feed intake and refusal were recorded to assess feeding behavior and efficiency, while body weight was measured every 20 days to monitor growth performance. On day 80, blood samples were collected via venipuncture for biochemical and immune function analysis, followed by slaughter to obtain meat samples for quality assessment. Results showed that dietary licorice supplementation significantly improved growth performance. Sheep in the 40% replacement group had the highest final body weight and average daily gain (p < 0.05), indicating better feed efficiency. These findings suggest that replacing corn stalks and grain with licorice stems and leaves at a 40% ratio can significantly improve growth performance. Biochemical results showed improved protein metabolism and lipid profiles, with increased TP and ALB and decreased TC and TG levels. Immune indicators, including IgG, IgM, IgA, and IL-6, were also elevated in licorice-fed groups. In summary, licorice stems and leaves demonstrated clear nutritional and immunological benefits, especially at the 40% inclusion level. Gut microbiota analysis showed that licorice stems and leaves increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes while reducing Bacteroidota. At the genus level, UCG_005 and Bacteroides increased with higher licorice concentrations, whereas Treponema decreased. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that UCG_005 was positively correlated with TP, ALB, IgM, and IL-6 and negatively correlated with TG and TNF-α. These findings suggest that using licorice stems and leaves as a replacement for both corn stalks and corn grain modulates gut microbiota composition and is closely associated with immune and biochemical responses in sheep. Full article

Toxicity and pollution of heavy metals in water environments are very serious threats, and how to efficiently remove heavy metals is a difficult problem in water ecosystems. This study takes Cr and Pb as examples to study the adsorption effects of different types of modified biochar on these two heavy metals and their influencing mechanisms, with the aim of providing precise treatment schemes for water ecological health. Biochar was prepared from apricot branches, apricot shells, and corn stalks through nitrogen doping modification, and its structure and properties were characterized and analyzed. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to investigate the microstructure and surface chemical characteristics of the biochar. Adsorption experiments were conducted to evaluate its removal efficiency for Cr⁶⁺ and Pb²⁺ from aqueous solutions. The results showed that nitrogen-doped biochar prepared from corn stalks at 600 °C exhibited the highest Cr⁶⁺ adsorption rate of 81.09%, while the biochar prepared at 500 °C demonstrated the highest Pb²⁺ adsorption rate of 91.61%. Comparative analysis of FTIR and SEM data between nitrogen-doped biochar and its original counterparts revealed the underlying adsorption mechanisms, which involve a synergistic effect of coordination interaction, electrostatic attraction, and chemical reduction. This study highlights nitrogen-doped biochar as an efficient and cost-effective material for the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous environments. It also provides theoretical and practical insights into the resource utilization of agricultural waste and the management of water pollution. Full article

Currently, in countries with warm climatic conditions, the average height of corn stalks during silage harvesting reaches 2.5 m. However, trailed forage harvesters are designed for mowing stalks not more than 1.5 m. That is why there is a demand to develop a compact forage harvester that can mow and shred tall stalks. This research proposes a two-level mowing method for tall stalks. According to the obtained analytical expressions, the technological distance between the vertical axes of the mowing rotors is determined to be 700 mm. A forage harvester is developed, equipped with a device that orientates itself by the length of stalks at the entrance to the shredding chamber and two mowing rotors designed for mowing tall stalks. Analytical expressions are obtained, which determine the required power for the mass transportation processes by the screw working device and the mass supply by the orienting drum into the chamber of the radial-knife blade shredding rotor. The required powers of the screw conveyor and the orienting drum are determined based on the obtained expressions; they are, respectively, equal to 0.42 kW and 0.11 kW. As a result of the conducted laboratory field tests, the required powers for mowing and for the general processes of mowing, shredding, and transporting the mass through the deflector are determined. The power balance of the harvester units is compiled. It is established that 75% of the consumed power is used for effective work, while 25% is for used for idling the harvester. During the mowing and shredding of corn stalks with a height of 2.9 m, the harvester’s productivity reaches 16.3 tons per hour, with a required power of 12.5 kW. During the tests, the harvester functioned without losses and without any violation of the technological process. The test proves the performance of the design and technological scheme and the accuracy of the obtained analytical expression determining the technological distance between the vertical axes of mowing rotors. Full article

Straw as a building material alternative is in line with sustainable development goals. To make effective use of straw resources such as rice and corn stalks in rural areas, a kind of steel wire mesh-reinforced straw concrete sandwich panel (SCSP) was developed. The SCSP was composed of cold-drawn low-carbon steel-wire mesh (SWM), fine gravel concrete (FGC), and straw. The used type of FGC was shotcrete. A cold-drawn low-carbon SWM was arranged on the upper and lower sides of the SCSP, and a vertical wire tie was arranged between the upper and lower cold-drawn low-carbon SWMs. The FGC was sprayed on the SWM to make the SCSP layer work together. The loading process of the SCSP could be divided into three stages: elastic working state, cracking state, and failure state. The results of the four-point loading test show that the maximum flexural moment of the SCSP can be up to 7.5 kN·m in the elastic range. The ultimate bearing capacity of SCSP reaches 10.9 kN·m, and the maximum crack width can reach 3~4 mm. At the same time, based on the assumption of the flexural section of SCSP, two simplified calculation models of SCSP bearing capacity were established. The average error was 2.99% and 9.41%, respectively, by comparing the experimental values with the two calculated values. The results obtained by using the two models were in good agreement with the experimental results. Full article

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a major environmental issue due to its high heavy metal concentrations and low pH, posing risks to ecosystems and human health. In Hualgayoc, Cajamarca, Peru, AMD contamination from mining activities necessitates effective remediation strategies. This study evaluated the removal efficiency of organic amendments, municipal waste compost (MWC), cattle manure compost (CMC), vermicompost (HMS), corn stalk biochar (CSB), sludge biochar (SLB), pine biochar (PBC), and native macrophytes Carex pichinchensis (CAX), Juncus ecuadoriensis (JSP), and Myriophyllum aquaticum (MYA) in removing As, Cd, Cu, Fe, and Zn. A physicochemical characterization of AMD, amendments, and plants was conducted, and sorption capacity was determined through triplicate analyses. The results showed that SLB achieved a 100% Zn removal, while CSB removed over 90% of Cu and Fe. Among the organic amendments, CMC demonstrated the highest As and Cd removal (~100%). Regarding macrophytes, CAX achieved a ~97% Fe removal, and MYA exhibited Cd affinity. CSB had the highest sorption capacity for Cu (0.139 mg/g), Fe (1.942 mg/g), and Zn (0.149 mg/g), highlighting its potential for metal remediation. Organic amendments enhanced metal adsorption and stabilization, outperforming macrophytes in heavy metal removal. Combining organic amendments with native plants is recommended to assess their synergistic potential for AMD remediation. Full article

In a global context where sustainability is becoming a priority in construction, this paper analyzes the use of composite materials based on clay and plant waste, offering an ecological alternative to conventional materials. This article analyzes the mechanical properties of composite materials made from clay with walnut shell inserts, shredded biomass from corn stalks, wheat straw, and wool waste. These materials are developed for sustainable rural construction. The study evaluates flexural and compressive strength based on measurements at varying insert concentrations. The results indicate that mechanical strength decreases as insert concentration increases. The materials are suitable for partitions and insulating walls, and in lightweight buildings without floors, they can be used as load-bearing walls if reinforced with wood or metal. Future research directions include improving the estimation of mechanical behavior, studying rheological characteristics under environmental conditions, and expanding the application of clay and plant waste composites. Full article

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important agricultural crops in the world; however, its production is often threatened by several harmful insects, one of which is the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner). This study aimed to examine the efficacy of several biological control methods against this pest. A randomized block design was used in the study, which included three treatments: parasitic wasps (Trichogramma brassicae), common green lacewings (Chrysoperla carnea), a combination of both agents and a control. The results showed that the treatment with T. brassicae wasps, as well as their combination with C. carnea predators, significantly improved the maize grain yield over the control treatment. The same combined treatment significantly improved the yield over treatments with only Trichogramma and only C. carnea predators, suggesting a higher efficacy of the combination of both agents in improving grain yield. Fewer tunnels and larvae in stalks, compared to other treatments, including the control, were also observed in this treatment. The reduced number of tunnels and larvae in stalks directly enabled plants to allocate more resources into grain development, which contributed to improved grain yield. In light of the growing focus on minimizing insecticide applications to mitigate environmental impacts, a combination of parasitic wasp and lacewings predator could be a suitable biological alternative to the use of chemical insecticides. Full article

Fusarium stalk rot (FSR), a devastating soil-borne disease caused by Fusarium species, severely threatens global maize production through yield losses and mycotoxin contamination. Bacillus subtilis, a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR), has shown potential as a biocontrol agent against soil-borne pathogens, but its efficacy and mechanisms against maize FSR remain poorly understood. In this study, an identified strain of B. subtilis A3 was introduced to study its biological control potential against corn stalk rot. The bacteriostatic stability of the biocontrol strain was assessed, revealing that its inhibitory activity against F. graminearum remained consistent over five consecutive generations, indicating robust bacteriostatic stability. The strain also exhibited inhibitory effects on F. verticilliodes, F. proliferalum, and other pathogenic fungi, demonstrating it has broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Indoor experiments showed that treatment with the biocontrol strain significantly increased plant height, stem diameter, and fresh weight, indicating a positive impact on corn growth. Additionally, the biocontrol strain A3 markedly reduced the lesion length of corn stalk rot, confirming its efficacy in controlling the disease. Field trials demonstrated that the growth of the A3-coated corn seeds was better than the control seeds, the control effect of FSR disease was 45.75%, and the yield increase was 3.6%. Microscopic observations revealed that the biocontrol strain A3 caused the hyphal tips of F. graminearum to swell and exhibit a beaded morphology, inhibiting normal growth. The volatile substances produced by A3 also showed significant antibacterial activity, with the antibacterial spectrum aligning with that of the biocontrol strain. Using headspace solid-phase microextraction and GC-MS, various antibacterial compounds were identified in the volatile substances. Analysis of root-associated microorganisms indicated that A3 significantly changed the microbial community composition. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that A3-treated plants had fewer edges and lower negative correlations among bacterial communities. This study establishes the strong biocontrol potential of B. subtilis A3 against Fusarium stalk rot in corn, demonstrating its robust bacteriostatic stability, broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, positive impact on plant growth, and significant disease control efficacy, while also revealing its ability to alter root-associated microbial communities. These findings provide a foundation for further research into the mechanism of B. subtilis and its application in field biological control. Full article