Compost straw quality

摘要

Is it possible that many mushroom growers and scientists have tended to regard straw -- a most important compost raw material -- as just, well, straw? Wheat straw is generally accepted as the best, but other kinds of straw can be used. Of course, all concerned agree that straw, wheat or other, is a variable material. Often though, this variability tends to be accepted as a fact of life and where possible, adjustments to the pre-wetting procedure and subsequent composting processes are made as judged appropriate. The extent to which composting is affected by straw variability can be reduced by judicious selection of the straw supply, buying large quantities from the same source and careful storage, but on what basis does one make the initial selection? I expect a practiced eye and considerable experience play a great part. That too little attention has been paid to straw quality was an issue raised by Prof. H.S. Sharma from Northern Ireland at a Workshop on Phase I composting Technology held in The Netherlands earlier this year. The Workshop set up to integrate practical and technological experience in composting and to identify topics for future research and development. It was attended by over 90 people from 20 countries. A report of this Workshop is to be found in Mushrooms International No. 90 (October 2002). During the session devoted to straw quality it was queried whether lignin, cellulose and hemicelluloses are the key constituents of straw. The quantification of more practical quality parameters, such as, colour and straw length was called for, as was, some measure of how straw deteriorates during storage.