Considering the constraints due to unavailability of uniform quality chicken manure in local market, three different combinations of wheat and soyabean meal (de-oiled cake) were tested for their ability to affect yield and cost of production of Button Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus). Compost was prepared by mixing 18, 22 and 25% soyabean meal with wheat straw by short method of composting. 80% chi...

Surface modification and characterization of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles and their roles in thermal, mechanical, and accelerated aging behavior of foamed wheat straw fiber/polypropylene (PP) composites are investigated. To improve the dispersion of nanoparticles and increase the possible interactions between wheat straw fiber and the PP matrix, the surface of the TiO₂ nanoparticles wa...

The aim of this was to study the nutritive value of urea and corn grain treated wheat straw ensiled with cattle manure. The different levels of urea (0, 2 and 4%) and corn grain (2 and 4%) were used to treat wheat straw. The urea-corn grain treated wheat straw was mixed with cattle manure in the ratio of 70:30. The silages were fermented in laboratory silos for 20, 30 and 40 days. After the com...

The study was carried out to explore the effects of replacing wheat straw with fungal treated wheat straw as an ingredient of total mixed ration (TMR) on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility in Nili Ravi buffalo male calves. Fungal treated wheat straw was prepared using Arachniotus sp. Four TMRs were formulated where wheat straw was replaced with 0 (TMR1), 33 (TMR2), 67 (TMR3), and...

Slurries of rice-straw cellulose (obtained by delignification and removal of hemicelluloses from the powdered raw material) were subjected to ultrasonic waves at different intensities for various times (constant temperature). Susceptibility of the samples to cellulose-hydrolysis increased initially with pretreatment time, reaching a maximum or a constant level thereafter. Maximum glucose yi...

The efficiency of wet explosion applied as modified dilute acid pretreatment at previously identified reference conditions (150°C, 0.3% H(2)SO(4), 15 min) was investigated on lucerne, ryegrass, fescue grass, cocksfoot grass, rye fescue, forage grass, and wheat straw in order to identify their potential as feedstock for cellulosic bioethanol production. After pretreatment, cellulose recovery was...

Mulching and tillage are widely considered to be major practices for improving soil and water conservation where water is scarce. This paper studied the effects of FM (flat mulching), RFM (ridge-furrow mulching), SM (straw mulching), MTMC (mulching with two materials combined), MOM (mulching with other materials), NT (no-tillage) ST (subsoiling tillage) and RT (rotational tillage) on wheat yiel...

Soil management practices, such as tillage method or straw return, could alter soil organic carbon (C) contents. However, the effects of tillage method or straw return on soil organic C (SOC) have showed inconsistent results in different soil/climate/cropping systems. The Yangtze River Delta of China is the main production region of rice and wheat, and rice-wheat rotation is the most important ...

Current vegetable production systems use polyethylene (plastic) mulch and require multiple applications of agrochemicals. During rain events, runoff from vegetable production is enhanced because 50 to 75% of the field is covered with an impervious surface. This study was conducted to quantify off-site movement of soil and pesticides with runoff from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plots ...

Composting is a method of solid waste management to convert organic matter into agriculturally useful humus like substance to enhance nutritional and physical quality of soil. In an attempt to produce quality compost, studies were conducted for six months to investigate the physiological and biochemical changes during the composting of wheat straw. To monitor the composting process a consortium...