Adoption of crop residue amendments has been increasingly recommended as an effective management practice for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions while enhancing soil fertility, thereby increasing production. However, the effect biochar and straw on nitrous oxide (N2O) methane (CH4) in soils differing pH remains poorly understood. Three treatments (control (i.e., no amendment), maize straw, der...

The goal of this study was to determine the comparative properties of dry-formed medium density fiberboards (MDF) made from renewable biomass (wheat and soybean straw) and those from conventional soft wood fiber. The MDF properties evaluated were modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, internal bond strength, thickness swell, and screw holding capacity. The results show that MDF made from wh...

Background: As part of the maintenance of lakes and rivers, large quantities of aquatic biomass are produced every year. Neophytes, such as Elodea nuttallii, compete with native species and cause a disturbance to the ecosystem, which can manifest itself in the form of eutrophication. Aquatic macrophytes are not in competition with the production of food and animal feed and thus can be used in a...

This experiment studied the effect of a modest difference in diet structure value (SV) on milk conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) contents of cows fed diets supplemented with extruded linseed, in situations where the diets provided enough SV and therefore did not induce milk fat depression. Six lactating Holstein cows were used in a crossover design with two treatments ('SV 1.50' and 'SV 1.73') and...

Straw provided as a substrate allows pigs to use it as a recreational substrate, as a nutritional substrate and as a bedding material and, because of this, has been reported to improve the welfare of pigs. The aim of this study was to investigate whether different lengths of chopped straw bedding would achieve similar enhancements in pig welfare as those achieved by unchopped, full-length straw...

The thermogravimetric characteristics of wheat straw EMAL (Enzymatic Acidolysis Lignin) were analyzed. The effect of the heating rates on the thermogravimetric characteristics of wheat straw and the wheat straw influence on pyrolysis were investigated. The influence of various heating rates on wheat straw was significant, the pyrolysis rate of wheat straw EMAL increased at temperatures between ...

Mesophilic bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes varied during composting cycles with high numbers in the initial and final cycles with maximal values in compost C and D, and sharply decreased in the heating cycles. Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis were dominated at the initial composting cycle. Whereas, at maturity Bacillus subtilis was the major followed by B.badi...

Mesophilic bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes varied during composting cycles with high numbers in the initial and final cycles with maximal values in compost C and D, and sharply decreased in the heating cycles. Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis were dominated at the initial composting cycle. Whereas, at maturity Bacillus subtilis was the major followed by B.badi...

Mesophilic bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes varied during composting cycles with high numbers in the initial and final cycles with maximal values in compost C and D, and sharply decreased in the heating cycles. Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis were dominated at the initial composting cycle. Whereas, at maturity Bacillus subtilis was the major followed by B.badi...