• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.217-231
• /
• 2018

Clayey soils with swelling and shrinkage characteristics have been major causes for many problems in roads, buildings and other civil engineering infrastructure in various areas of Pakistan, particularly where there are several patches of such soils on either side of Indus River. As the consistency characteristics are directly related with the variation of moisture content; therefore, this study was explicitly focused to investigate the effect of lime and wheat straw on the consistency characteristics of clayey soils with relatively high swelling and shrinkage characteristics. The consistency test results indicate that by the increase in lime content there is a decrease in the plasticity index of soil; for instance, 10% lime content resulted to 59% decrease in the plasticity index value. On the other hand; the addition of wheat straw resulted in a significant increase in the plasticity index; for instance, 10% wheat straw content resulted to a 120% increase in the plasticity index. This study has further shown that the shrinkage and swelling of clayey soils which resulting to several problems in the civil engineering infrastructures may adequately be managed through mixing an appropriate amount of lime and wheat straw as soil stabilizing agent for both immediate and long-term effects.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.51-54
• /
• 1992

Silages were prepared with different ratios of oat and wheat straw 100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80, and 0:100 with or without urea supplementation and were ensiled for 60 days in air tight polyethylene bags and kept at room temperature. Results showed that dry matter loss was maximum in 100% oat silage and it decreased as the ratio of wheat straw increased. There was a significant difference in crude protein value of the silages prepared by different ratios of oat and wheat straw. Addition of urea significantly increased the crude protein and decreased the crude fibre value. Silage made with urea supplementation were well fermented as indicated by higher value of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and lower value of residual carbohydrates. Maximum VFA concentrations were observed in 60:40 oat-wheat straw silages. The value of enzyme soluble organic matter (ESOM) was high in all the urea supplemented silages as compared to without urea and maximum value was found in 60:40 oat-wheat straw combination.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.15 no.11
• /
• pp.1573-1578
• /
• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of diets that contained different levels of fungal treated wheat straw on the intake, digestibility and performance of lactating cows. Eight primiparous Holstein cows, in late lactation ranging from $170{\pm}10$ days in milk and yielding $14.3{\pm}1.3$ kg/d of fat corrected milk (FCM) were allocated into four diets with 0, 10, 20 and 30% fungal (Pleurotus ostreatus coded P-41) treated wheat straw in a $4{\times}4$ Latin Square experiment. The daily intake of DM, OM, DOM, CP and TDN were not affected by substitution of alfalfa hay with fungal treated wheat straw. Inclusion of the treated straw at different levels in the diet did not affect the digestibility of nutrients, except for the ADF that was significantly (p<0.05) reduced in the diet contained 30% treated straw. The types of the diet did not significantly affect daily milk and FCM production. The milk composition including fat, protein, lactose, solid non-fat (SNF) and total solid (TS) were not statistically (p>0.05) different among the diets. All cows gained weight, but the inclusion of treated straw to the diet significantly (p<0.05) increased the body weight gain and the highest amount was obtained in the diet containing 20% treated. Inclusion of fungal treated wheat straw up to 30% of the diet of lactating cows supplemented with a protein source such as cottonseed meal had not affected the nutrients intake and lactation performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.12
• /
• pp.1681-1688
• /
• 2004

Soaked and pasteurised wheat straw was inoculated with five species of Pleurotus fungi (coded P-21, P-30, P-41, P-60 and P-90), packed in polyethylene bags and incubated in a fermentation chamber for 21 days. The chemical composition, in vitro digestibility and in sacco degradability of the treated and untreated straw were estimated using a complete randomised design consisting of six treatments and four replicates. In a feeding trial, in vivo digestibility and voluntary intake were determined in bulls, using a $3{\times}3$change over design. Dietary treatments were: 1) untreated wheat straw (UWS) as control; 2) fungal treated (P-41) wheat straw before mushroom formation (FTWS); 3) spent wheat straw (SPWS) after mushrooms were harvested. Apart from P-90, fungal treatment significantly (p<0.05) increased the crude protein (CP) and reduced the cell wall components of the straw. The in vitro dry mater and organic mater digestibility significantly (p<0.05) increased in the treated straw particularly with the treatments of P-41 and P-60. The in situ degradability and in vivo digestibility of DM and OM were significantly (p<0.05) increased in treated straws with the highest values observed for treatment P-41. The intake of DM, OM and digestible organic mater (DOM) were significantly (p<0.05) increased in cows fed FTWS.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.15 no.11
• /
• pp.1591-1598
• /
• 2002

The effect of different dietary structural carbohydrate (SC) to nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) ratios on fiber degradation, digestion, flow, apparent digestibility and rumen fluid characteristics was studied with a design using 18 wethers fitted with permanent rumen and duodenum cannulae. All sheep were divided into six groups randomly, receiving six diets with varying SC to NSC ratios. All diets contained the same proportion of wheat straw and concentrate. The dietary SC to NSC ratios were adjusted by adding cornstarch to the concentrate supplements. The duodenal and fecal flows of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose (HC) and cellulose (CEL) were estimated using chromium-mordanted wheat straw as a flow marker. The degradation parameters of wheat straw DM, NDF, ADF, HC and CEL were determined by incubating the ground wheat straw in nylon bags in the rumen for different periods of time. There was no effect (p>0.05) of the different dietary SC to NSC ratios on rumen pH or $NH_3$-N, but acetate, propionate and butyrate concentrations were significantly affected (p<0.05 or p<0.01) by dietary SC to NSC ratios in the rumen fluid. When the dietary SC to NSC ratio was 2.86, the highest rumen degradability of wheat straw DM, NDF, ADF and CEL was found, but the highest apparent rumen digestibilities of DM, NDF, ADF, HC and CEL occurred at a 2.64 SC to NSC ratio. However, because of compensatory digestion in the hindgut, the apparent digestibilities of DM, NDF, ADF, HC and CEL were highest when the dietary SC to NSC ratio was 2.40. In conclusion, there is a optimal range of dietary SC to NSC ratios (between 2.86 and 2.40) that is beneficial to maximize wheat straw fiber degradation and apparent digestibility.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.269-274
• /
• 2014

Series of field experiments were conducted to evaluate the long term effect of gypsum and crop residue on crop yield and soil health in rice-wheat crop rotation system in salt affected soil. A saline-sodic field having $EC_e$ (electrical conductivity of the saturation extract) 4.77 ($dSm^{-1}$); pH ($H_2O$) 8.96; SAR 43.78 ($mmol\;L^{-1}$) and gypsum requirement (G.R.) 2.86 (Mg $acre^{-1}$) was selected on Soil Salinity Research Institute Farm. Five treatments consisting of ($T_1$) control, ($T_2$) gypsum at 100% G.R., ($T_3$) gypsum at 25% G.R. + wheat straw at $3Mg\;ha^{-1}$, ($T_4$) gypsum at 25% G.R. + rice straw at $3Mg\;ha^{-1}$, ($T_5$) gypsum at 25% G.R.+ rice and wheat straw at $3Mg\;ha^{-1}$ were replicated four times under completely randomized block design. The data indicated that grain and straw yield of rice and wheat was significantly (P<0.05) increased by all the amendments used either single or in combination. $T_2$ (gypsum at 100% G.R.) significantly (P<0.05) increased grain and straw yield of rice and wheat crops followed by $T_3$ (gypsum at 25% G.R. + wheat straw at $3Mg\;ha^{-1}$) when compared with control. Soil properties were also improved by used amendments, pronounced decreased in $EC_e$, $pH_s$ and SAR were recorded in $T_2$ followed by $T_3$. The efficiency of the treatments could be arranged in following order gypsum at 100% G.R.> gypsum at 25% G.R. + wheat straw at $3Mg\;ha^{-1}$ > gypsum at 25% G.R. + rice and wheat straw at $3Mg\;ha^{-1}$ > gypsum at 25% G.R. + rice straw at $3Mg\;ha^{-1}$ > control.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.8 no.6
• /
• pp.563-566
• /
• 1995

To improve the nutritive value of wheat straw it as treated with 0, 3, 4 and 5 percent levels of urea, 0 and 4 percent level of alkali at 40, 50 and 60 percent moisture levels and stored at room temperature. Total nitrogen contents of the straw increased significantly, from 0.77 percent with no urea treatment to 0.87, 1.16 and 1.19 percent with 3, 4 and 5 percent urea levels, respectively. Percent retention of nitrogen was 63.73 percent. Alkali treatment at 4 percent level, lowered significantly the crude fibre contents of the straw from 41.86 percent in control to 40.21 percent in the treated straw. Moisture level of 40 percent significantly lowered (p < 0.05) the crude fibre contents. Total ash content of straw increased significantly by urea and alkali treatment. Alkali treatment improved significantly the sodium contents also. The results of the study indicated that most beneficial results were obtained with 4 percent urea, 4 percent alkali at 50 percent moisture level.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.12 no.7
• /
• pp.1063-1069
• /
• 1999

Wheat straw samples (3-4 cm) were sprayed with solutions of urea (U) alone or with a dry addition of garden soil (GS), midden soil (MS), soya bean meal (SM) or jack bean meal (JM) as crude urease sources and with a pure urease (UR) enzyme. Each of the urease sources was included at two levels: 30 and 60 g/kg except pure urease, which was added at a level of 2.5 & 5.0 g/kg treated straw dry matter. Untreated straw without urease source was used as a control. After treatment, samples were sealed in polythene bags and stored for 2, 7, 14, 21 and 35 days at $19{^{\circ}C}$. The urease sources, their levels and treatment time produced significant effects on ammonia production (p<0.01). The addition of urease offered more flexibility in hydrolyzing urea in the shortest possible time. Incorporation of soya bean and jack bean meal was effective in reducing the modified acid detergent fiber (MADF) content of straw and the same time increasing organic matter (OM) digestibility. Overall effect, addition of soya bean to urea at a ratio of 1:1 appeared to be the most satisfactory urease source for the treatment of urea and wheat straw.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.314-319
• /
• 2015

Purpose: The ratio of straw to grain mass as a function of cutting height affects combine efficiency and power consumption and is an important input parameter to combine simulation models. An equation was developed to predict straw to grain ratios for wheat as a function of cutting height. Methods: Two mass functions, one for straw and one for grain, were developed using regression techniques and measured data collected in west Texas during the summer, and used to predict the straw to grain ratio. Results: Three equations were developed to facilitate the simulation of a combine during wheat harvest. Two mass functions, one for straw and one for grain, were also developed; a quadratic equation describes the straw mass with an $R^2$ of 0.992. An S-shaped curve describes the mass function for grain with an $R^2$ of 0.957. An equation for straw to grain ratio of wheat was developed as a function of cutting height. The straw to grain ratio has an $R^2$ value of 0.947. Conclusions: In all cases, the equations had $R^2$ values above 0.94 and were significant at the 99.9 percent probability level (alpha = 0.001). Although all three equations are useful, the grain mass and straw to grain ratio equations will have direct application in combine simulation models.

• Proceedings of the Korea Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry Conference
• /
• 1999.04b
• /
• pp.232-238
• /
• 1999

The reinforcement of wheat straw pulp sheets with softwood kraft was studied, with special emphasis on the impact of softwood kraft beating and the proportion softwood kraft in straw pulp. the reinforcement was evaluated by measuring the tensile stiffness sand in-plane fracture behavior of samples. the results were compared with a mechanical pulp (TMP) and with a hardwood birch kraft, both reinforced with the same softwood kraft. Wheat straw pulp forms strong interfiber bonds. Therefore, its tensile stiffness and tensile strength are larger than TMP used. In-plane tear tests showed that a pure wheat straw pulp sheet has low fracture energy and correspondingly a narrow fracture process zone. The fracture energy of the reinforced straw sheets was found to increase linearly with the proportion of both unbeaten and beaten softwood pulps.