Effects of Biological Agents on Hydrothermal Status and Enzyme Activity During Composting of Corn Straw.

In order to solve the problems of difficult decomposition of returning corn straw and long decomposition period in Xiliaohe Plain of Inner Mongolia, the composting experiments of field straw were carried out in 2020. Four treatments were set including straw decomposition agent+straw (SRT), fresh cow dung+straw (SRN), straw decomposition agent+fresh cow dung+straw (SRW) and single straw (CK). The temperature, water content and the activities of cellulase, urease and lignin catalase in different treatments during corn straw composting were determined. The results showed that adding straw decomposition agent and fresh cow dung could improve the decomposition rate of straw and shorten the decomposition time. Compared with single straw composting, the addition of fresh cow dung and straw decomposition agent could significantly improve the temperature and water content of straw composting. Compared with CK, the cellulase activities of SRW, SRT and SRN treatments increased by 15.64%, 4.87% and 7.96%, respectively; the urease activities increased by 10.29%, 3.43% and 6.86%,respectively; and the lignin catalase activities increased by 71.43%, 48.05% and 53.25%, respectively. Therefore, the addition of straw decomposition agent and fresh cow dung could improve the hydrothermal conditions of straw composting and the activity of straw hydrolase, and accelerate the process of straw decomposition. So the coupling effect of straw decomposition agent and fresh cow dung was better, which could be applied as an efficient straw composting method in the Xiliaohe Plain of Inner Mongolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]