Search Results (1,193)

Cellulose crystallinity is frequently associated with lignocellulosic biomass digestibility, yet its development during multistep biorefinery processing and its relationship with enzymatic hydrolysis remain difficult to isolate. This study investigated the evolution of cellulose crystallinity in wheat straw (Triticum aestivum) during Hot-Water Pretreatment (HWP), Water Pretreatment (WP), Organosolv extraction, sequential washing, and drying, and related these changes to enzymatic glucose yield. Crystallinity was determined using X-ray diffraction and an ATR-FTIR-based PLS model, while enzymatic hydrolysis was evaluated by HPLC-based glucose quantification. HWP caused a temperature-dependent decrease in crystallinity from 47.5 ± 1.3% in untreated straw to 27.0 ± 2.2% at 120 °C, whereas WP at room temperature caused no significant change. However, without subsequent Organosolv extraction, both pretreatments alone resulted in low glucose yields of approximately 10%, indicating that cellulose crystallinity is only one of several factors governing enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency. During washing after Organosolv extraction, crystallinity increased from 40.6 ± 2.1% to 54.2 ± 1.3%, whereas, under the tested conditions, glucose yield was more closely associated with the estimated residual ethanol concentration than with the change in crystallinity. Drying had the strongest effect, increasing crystallinity by up to 53.6% relative to the wet state. Overall, cellulose crystallinity should be considered as one of several interacting factors governing enzymatic digestibility, and sample moisture history must be carefully controlled when comparing crystallinity data. Full article

Improving nitrogen (N) use efficiency while reducing environmental losses remains a major challenge in crop production. Zeolites, due to their high cation exchange capacity, have been proposed as carriers for ammonium-based fertilizers, potentially modifying N retention and release in soils. However, the effect of varying ammonium-loaded zeolite application rates, while supplying equal amounts of zeolite-derived nitrogen, on soil N dynamics is not well understood. In this study, a greenhouse pot experiment with spring wheat was conducted to investigate the effects of ammonium-loaded zeolite applied at different rates (30, 36, 42 and 48 g pot⁻¹; Zeo30–Zeo48), each supplying 700 mg zeolite-derived N pot⁻¹ in addition to a basal ammonium sulfate application, on N leaching, plant growth and N recovery. Nitrogen leaching was strongly influenced by the amount of zeolite applied. Lower application rates (Zeo30 and Zeo36) resulted in higher nitrate and ammonium leaching losses, particularly during early growth stages, whereas higher application rates (Zeo42 and Zeo48) significantly reduced total N losses. Despite these differences, total aboveground plant N uptake and N recovery (68–71%) did not differ significantly among treatments. However, increasing zeolite application rates tended to improve grain and straw yields and influenced nitrogen partitioning within the plant, as reflected by differences in grain-to-straw N ratios. Residual soil ammonium decreased with increasing zeolite application rate, indicating differences in ammonium retention and release among zeolite treatments. Overall, the results indicate that under the conditions of this greenhouse pot experiment, the amount of zeolite carrier material influenced nitrogen retention patterns and leaching losses. Together, these findings suggest that the effectiveness of ammonium-loaded zeolite depends on the balance between ammonium loading and zeolite mass, although the absence of an equivalent mineral-N control limits the separation of zeolite effects from effects of total N supply. Full article

Background/Objectives: Reductive soil disinfestation (RSD) is increasingly viewed as a viable alternative to chemical fumigation, yet the role of organic amendment quality in regulating greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes, soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics, and net climate forcing remains poorly understood. Methodology: In a 30-day anaerobic incubation experiment, we set up three treatments—a flooded control (CK), soil amended with wheat straw (WS, C/N = 55.5), and soil amended with kiwifruit branches (KB, C/N = 110.8)—each replicated three times under identical conditions. Results: Both WS and KB additions strongly stimulated CO₂ and CH₄ production, while suppressing N₂O emissions by over 85% relative to CK. The WS treatment exhibited a substantially higher global warming potential (GWP, 823.52 t ha⁻¹) than KB (636.23 t ha⁻¹), with CH₄ accounting for more than 99% of total GWP. Although WS surpassed KB in short-term carbon sequestration efficiency (25.79% vs. 20.11%) and showed greater hydrolytic enzyme activities (βG, CBH, and XYL), the two organic amendments diverged clearly in carbon fraction distribution: C_mic was 17.9% higher under WS, whereas C_min was 16.2% higher under KB. When factoring in the CO₂ equivalent benefit derived from carbon sequestration, the net GWP (NGWP) indicated that both RSD treatments remained net GHG sources. Notably, KB yielded a markedly lower NGWP (611.60 t CO₂-eq ha⁻¹) than WS (798.19 t CO₂-eq ha⁻¹), highlighting a fundamental trade-off: WS favored rapid SOC accumulation at the expense of elevated methane emissions, whereas KB achieved a smaller climatic footprint despite more moderate carbon retention. Conclusions: These findings underscore that selecting organic amendments for field RSD requires balancing the competing goals of carbon sequestration and GHG mitigation. Full article

Organic amendments can improve soil C storage, nutrient availability, and crop production, particularly in purple soils with low organic matter and weak nutrient retention. They may also alter soil micro-food web processes. However, how different amendments affect bacteria–fungi–nematode associations remains unclear. We hypothesized that, relative to mineral fertilization alone, organic amendments would improve soil nutrient conditions, reshape bacterial and fungal communities, and increase microbivorous nematode abundance, whereas combined organic–mineral inputs would increase multitrophic co-occurrence network complexity. In a long-term wheat–maize rotation, soils were sampled in both seasons in 2023 under seven treatments: no fertilization (NF), mineral fertilization (NPK), manure (OM), straw return (RSD), mineral fertilization combined with manure (OMNPK), mineral fertilization combined with straw return (RSDNPK), and mineral fertilization combined with biochar (BCNPK). Among the organic amendment treatments, only RSD reduced wheat and maize yields relative to NPK. Fertilization mainly affected microbial community composition and nematode trophic structure, while microbial α diversity changed little. Network organization differed among fertilization regimes and between crop seasons. This study provides new insights into how long-term organic amendment regimes differentially regulate crop productivity, soil resource conditions, and soil micro-food webs, and advances our understanding of belowground multitrophic responses across wheat and maize seasons. Full article

The application of exogenous nutrient bags (ENBs) is critical for achieving high yields in morel mushroom cultivation; however, the high cost and lack of locally adapted formulations have become major constraints for the sustainable expansion of this industry. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ten treatments, including a conventional formulation control, incorporating locally available agricultural by-products (rapeseed straw, organic fertilizer, alfalfa, and oats), on soil fertility, enzyme activity, microbial community structure, and ultimately the yield and quality of cultivated Morchella sextelata in Jianzha County, Qinghai. A randomized complete block design was established, and soil physicochemical properties, microbial biomass carbon/nitrogen/phosphorus (MBC/MBN/MBP), and enzyme activities (urease, phosphatase, and catalase) were measured at 38, 62, and 137 days post-application, while bacterial and fungal community compositions were characterized via high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA and ITS2 genes. Our results demonstrated that the wa-60 treatment (30% wheat + 60% alfalfa) outperformed all the other formulations, delivering the highest yield (1.32 ± 0.08 kg/m²) and a 28.6% increase over the control (1.03 ± 0.06 kg/m²; p < 0.01), while maintaining a high total amino acid content (19.8 g/100 g). Soil analysis revealed that wa-60 notably enhanced urease activity (peaking at 85 µg/g/h at day 137) and alkaline phosphatase activity (322.55 µg/g/h), alongside significant increases in MBC and MBN. Microbiome profiling further demonstrated that wa-60 selectively increased the relative abundance of various taxa, particularly the bacterial phylum Bacteroidota and the fungal phylum Mortierellomycota. Correlation analyses indicated strong positive associations among these enriched taxa (primarily at the genus level), enhanced enzyme activities, and improved soil nutrient availability. Collectively, these findings establish that the wa-60 formulation, leveraging locally sourced alfalfa, represents a cost-effective and high-performance strategy for morel cultivation in the Qinghai Plateau, providing a microbial–ecological basis for optimizing ENB design and offering a practical pathway for recycling agricultural waste in edible mushroom production. Full article

The growing environmental impact of petroleum-based plastic packaging has accelerated the development of biodegradable materials from renewable resources. In this study, cellulose extracted from wheat straw was regenerated into biodegradable films using calcium-ion crosslinking and glycerol plasticization. A Box–Behnken experimental design optimized cellulose content (0.35–0.5 g), calcium chloride concentration (200–800 nm), and glycerol concentration (0.5–1.5%) to produce films with balanced mechanical and barrier properties. The optimized film was characterized for its physicochemical, mechanical, optical, antioxidant, and biodegradation properties and evaluated for fresh grape packaging. The film exhibited favorable mechanical strength of 30.82 ± 4.70 MPa, controlled water vapor permeability of 0.59 ± 0.06 10⁻¹⁰ gm⁻¹ s⁻¹ Pa⁻¹, elongation at break of 4.36 ± 0.35%, moderate transparency of 22.95 ± 0.65% mm⁻¹ at 600 nm, and ultraviolet light-blocking capability, allowing only 9.57 ± 1.44% of UV-B at 300 nm, and an IC₅₀ value of 0.33, indicating moderate antioxidant potential, with 35% biodegradation after 37 days at a soil moisture of 24%. During ambient storage, grapes packaged with the film reached 15% weight loss by 13 days, while slowing changes in total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, total phenolic content, and vitamin C, and delaying visible quality deterioration. Compared with the uncovered control, packaged grapes maintained acceptable quality for approximately six additional days, reaching 15 days of storage. Unlike conventional polystyrene film, which promoted excessive gas accumulation and fruit cracking, the wheat straw cellulose film provided a semipermeable barrier that balanced moisture and gas exchange. The systematic optimization of these formulations, followed by comprehensive characterization of the optimized films, demonstrates the potential of wheat straw cellulose as a functional material for developing cellulose films as sustainable, biodegradable packaging materials for extending the postharvest quality of fresh produce. Full article

A formal framework of bioprocesses enables accurate prediction of reaction outcomes, thereby optimizing resource allocation and reducing production costs. This study aimed to establish an approximate stoichiometric equation and determine the bioenergetics growth parameters of the pink oyster mushroom (Pleurotus djamor) using a “black box” modeling approach. A commercial strain was cultivated in polypropylene bags at 28 °C and 75% relative humidity. The harvested mushroom biomass was dried and analyzed for C, H, and N content, with O determined by difference. The resulting empirical formulas were CH_1.33O_0.36N_0.02 for the dry wheat straw substrate and CH_1.81O_0.41N_0.09 for the fungal biomass. The bioprocess exhibited a primordia initiation period of 20.5 days, a total harvest window of 50.0 days, a maximum biological efficiency of 16.77%, a model yield (Y) of 0.90%, and a productivity of 20.5 g/100 g substrate. In conclusion, this biotechnological framework provides a robust predictive tool for industrial scaling, enabling mass and energy balance optimization in real time without reliance on costly intracellular measurements. Thus, it establishes a reliable and sustainable pathway to convert low-cost agricultural residues into high-value bioproducts, supporting the goals of a circular economy. Full article

Agricultural residues represent an abundant lignocellulosic resource for the production of renewable fuels and value-added products through thermochemical conversion. In this study, the influence of bran and peat as organic and mineral-rich binder components on the pyrolysis behaviour and product distribution of biomass pellets was investigated. Wheat straw, barley straw, and oat husks were pelletized using barley bran or peat as binders and analysed by thermogravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR). The thermal degradation behaviour, product yields, evolution profiles of non-condensable gases, and composition of condensable products were evaluated during pyrolysis at 700 °C. The results indicated that pelletization modified the thermal degradation pathways and product distribution through interactions between biomass and binder components. Bran-bonded pellets promoted the formation of bio-oil and oxygen-containing condensable compounds, with bio-oil yields reaching up to 45.2%, whereas peat-bonded pellets showed increased formation of non-condensable gases and solid residue. CO₂ and CO were the dominant gaseous products, while CH₄ formation mainly occurred at elevated temperatures in the passive pyrolysis region. The results indicate that binder composition plays an important role in controlling pyrolysis pathways and product distribution, providing opportunities for the optimization of agricultural residue-based pellets for bioenergy and circular bioeconomy applications. Full article

Alkali metal immobilization mediated by kaolin during wheat straw gasification was investigated using thermodynamic equilibrium calculations. Kaolin promoted the formation of stable K- and Na-bearing aluminosilicates, including feldspar, leucite, and nepheline. The controlling mechanism shifted from mineral-phase reactions below 1100 °C to a molten slag structure at higher temperatures. Increasing kaolin addition reduced the slag structure parameter R from 0.43 to 0.09, indicating enhanced network polymerization. The calculated evolution of Al-containing network units was consistent with enhanced K⁺/Na⁺ charge compensation around tetrahedrally coordinated Al, suggesting a possible structural origin for the increased thermodynamic stability of alkali metals. Gibbs free energy calculations demonstrated the improved thermodynamic stability of K and Na in the slag phase. At a kaolin addition of 5 wt.%, the K release fraction decreased by at least 29.36 percentage points relative to wheat-straw ash even at high temperatures over 1400–1600 °C. The results clarified the thermodynamic relationships among ash composition, phase evolution, and alkali partitioning during kaolin-assisted gasification. Full article

This study presents a comparative thermochemical and combustion analysis of biomass pellets derived from softwood, hardwood, sunflower husks, wheat straw, and lavender residues. This investigation was performed using thermogravimetric analysis (TG), derivative thermogravimetric analysis (DTG), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to evaluate the thermal degradation behavior, combustion reactivity, heat-release characteristics, and ash-forming tendencies of the investigated biomass types. The results revealed substantial differences between woody biomass and agricultural residues in terms of thermal stability, thermal degradation behavior, and energy output. Softwood pellets exhibited the highest thermal reactivity, the most intense devolatilization process, and the highest heat release during combustion, indicating higher thermal reactivity and favorable fuel properties. Hardwood pellets demonstrated improved thermal stability due to increased lignin content, resulting in broader thermal decomposition regions and more gradual heat release. In contrast, sunflower husk and wheat straw pellets showed lower thermal reactivity and significantly higher residual mass, indicating elevated ash content and reduced thermal decomposition behavior. Lavender pellets exhibited intermediate thermochemical behavior associated with the presence of volatile extractives and moderate thermal stability. The integrated TG-DTG-DSC approach enabled a direct comparison of woody biomass and agricultural residues under identical experimental conditions and expanded the available thermochemical data for lavender-derived pellets. The results provide a comparative framework for assessing biomass resources intended for energy applications. Full article

Aiming at tight farming schedules, slow straw decomposition, and severe soil-borne disease risks in the practical maize straw returning production of China’s wheat–maize double cropping zones, this study developed a field-adapted in situ rapid high-temperature straw composting technology matched with a special composite microbial inoculant. Post-harvest summer maize straw collected from the field was crushed to 3–5 cm; the inoculant group T and water control CK were arranged with three biological replicates. Raw materials were adjusted to 65% moisture and loosely stacked into trapezoidal piles equipped with layered temperature–humidity sensors covered by plastic film for continuous monitoring. After formula and pile structure optimization, the pile temperature exceeded 50 °C within 8 h and stayed at 58–63 °C for 9 days, limiting the composting cycle to within 15 days. Cellulose and lignin degradation reached 56.25% and 50.39%, respectively; available P and K rose by 12.33% and 14.69%, free amino acids doubled; the C/N ratio dropped to 18:1 and the GI exceeded 130%. High temperature enriched functional flora of Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus niger and actinomycetes, whereas pathogenic Fusarium abundance decreased to less than 1/31 of the initial level. This technology can bring approximately 400 yuan of potential additional benefit per mu, providing an efficient and labor-saving practical candidate for straw returning in regions with a high multiple-cropping index. Full article

Antibiotic wastewater pollution is a serious environmental problem. This study prepared three types of P-doped biochar (P-CB, P-WB, and P-BB) from corn straw (CB), wheat straw (WB), and bamboo (BB) using phosphoric acid activation at 800 °C. Characterization by SEM, XRD, FTIR, and N₂ adsorption confirmed that high-temperature H₃PO₄ activation drastically reduced the specific surface area but transformed the original microporous framework into a mesopore-dominated structure (average pore diameter 12–15 nm). Adsorption experiments showed that all P-doped biochars enhanced norfloxacin (NOR) removal, with P-CB performing best: 87.14% removal within 30 min at C₀ = 50 mg·L⁻¹ and a maximum adsorption capacity of 305.5 mg·g⁻¹ at higher concentration. Kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model (R² > 0.9982), and isotherms fitted the Freundlich model (R² = 0.9764–0.9855). Thermodynamics indicated a spontaneous and exothermic process, suggesting that the macroscopic driving force is dominated by physisorption. Mechanism analysis revealed that the synergistic effect of mesopore-dominated diffusion, graphitic π-π sites (from enhanced aromatization at 800 °C), and P-anchored chemisorption overrides the loss of specific surface area, enabling rapid and high-capacity adsorption. Optimal adsorption occurred at pH 5–9, while coexisting anions had a mild inhibitory effect. These findings demonstrate that high-temperature P-doping offers a strategy to rebalance pore architecture and surface functionality rather than simply maximizing specific surface area for efficient antibiotic removal from wastewater. Full article

Chemical harvest aids facilitate mechanical cotton harvesting, but their potential carryover effects on succeeding wheat remain uncertain. Two independent site-year field experiments were conducted in Beijing during 2021–2022 and in Hejian, Hebei Province, during 2022–2023. Experiment 1 compared a freshwater control with preceding Xinsaili applications at 1500 and 3000 g ha⁻¹, whereas Experiment 2 evaluated five biochar treatments under preceding freshwater or Xinsaili application at 1575 g ha⁻¹. In Experiment 1, Xinsaili reduced early aboveground biomass and soil bacterial, fungal, and actinomycete abundance. At 3000 g ha⁻¹, grain number per spike and grain yield decreased by 12.2% and 24.0%, respectively, relative to the water control. In Experiment 2, Xinsaili reduced mean and maximum grain-filling rates by 3.2% and 4.3%, respectively. For the biochar main effect, maize-straw biochar at 750 and 1500 kg ha⁻¹ and rice-husk biochar at 1500 kg ha⁻¹ increased the initial grain-filling potential from 0.25 mg grain⁻¹ without biochar to 0.38–0.42 mg grain⁻¹, with high-rate maize-straw biochar producing the greatest increase. Although Xinsaili × biochar interactions were significant for both grain-filling rates, no biochar treatment significantly improved either rate under Xinsaili application. The grain-filling responses were not consistent between the two independent experiments, potentially reflecting differences in site, year, wheat cultivar, Xinsaili application rate, and experimental design. Thidiazuron and ethephon residues were not quantified in soil or plant tissues; therefore, the observed responses represent indirect field evidence and do not demonstrate either residue-mediated effects or biochar-mediated remediation. Overall, preceding Xinsaili application was associated with treatment- and site-year-dependent wheat responses, while the capacity of biochar to improve final grain yield was not confirmed. Full article

Durum wheat straw is an abundant by-product in Mediterranean cereal systems, but its low protein and high fiber content limit its use as ruminant feed. Integrating forage legumes as living mulches in durum wheat may enhance its feeding value through the addition of nutrient-rich legume biomass. A two-year field trial evaluated three forage legumes (Vicia sativa L., Trifolium michelianum Savi, Trifolium subterraneum L.) grown as living mulch with organic durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.) under two NPK fertilization rates (target 60 and 120 kg N ha⁻¹), with or without rhizobial inoculation. Chemical composition and forage quality indices were determined for sole-wheat straw (SB) and legume biomass (LB) and subsequently used to estimate the nutritional characteristics of wheat straw–legume biomass mixtures (TSB). Biomass production was significantly affected by legume species in the first growing season and by legume species and rhizobial inoculation in the second, with Vicia sativa consistently showing the best performances. Correlation analysis showed that increasing LB contribution was significantly associated with all forage quality indices of the resulting TSB. These results indicate that rhizobially inoculated forage legume living mulch may improve the potential use of wheat straw as an on-farm feed resource in Mediterranean organic farming. Full article

Organic fertilization is a key strategy for improving soil structure and fertility in China’s Vertisols, yet the trade-offs among soil quality enhancement, grain yield performance, and nutrient use efficiency under different organic amendment regimes remain insufficiently elucidated. Based on a unique 43-year field fertilization experiment, this study systematically evaluated the effects of long-term chemical fertilization (NPK) alone, low-dose (NPKLS) and high-dose straw incorporation (NPKHS), combined chemical fertilizer with cattle manure (NPKCM), and pig manure (NPKPM) fertilization on soil physical, chemical properties, crop yields and plant nutrient utilization efficiency. The results showed that NPKCM and NPKPM significantly improved soil physical properties by reducing soil bulk density, improving soil pore structure, and enhancing soil water retention capacity and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Although long-term manure application led to slight soil salt accumulation, the rate of accumulation remained substantially lower than that associated with commercial organic fertilizers and did not approach the crop salinity damage threshold, suggesting low ecological risk. Compared with NPK treatment, manure amendment effectively counteracted soil acidification induced by prolonged chemical fertilization, while also significantly increasing soil total phosphorus and available phosphorus content, and elevated the proportion of active phosphorus (PAC). The improved soil phosphorus activation capacity and comprehensive soil quality further contributed to substantial increases in wheat grain yield under NPKCM and NPKPM treatments. Despite these agronomic benefits, the additional nitrogen and phosphorus inputs from manure resulted in soil nutrient surpluses, which considerably reduced nitrogen and phosphorus partial factor productivity as well as agronomic efficiency. In contrast, straw incorporation treatments (NPKLS, NPKHS) sustained stable crop yield without notable declines in nutrient efficiency, positioning them as a greener and more sustainable approach to balancing grain production with resource use efficiency. These findings highlight the need to integrate nutrient credits from manure into fertilization program. Given the 43-year evidence, fertilization strategy should consider not only the nutrients supplied by manure but also the quantities exported through harvested products, with adjustments based on annual soil fertility analyses. Such nutrient budgeting is essential to maximize fertilizer use efficiency, prevent excessive phosphorus accumulation, and maintain balanced soil fertility over time. Full article