33
© The Author(s) 2020
M. Gummert et al. (eds.), Sustainable Rice Straw Management,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32373-8_3
Chapter 3
Rice Straw-Based Composting
Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Ryan R. Romasanta, Nguyen Van Hieu,
Le Quang Vinh, Nguyen Xuan Du, Nguyen Vo Chau Ngan,
Pauline Chivenge, and Nguyen Van Hung
Abstract Current practices in rice production leave a huge amount of wet straw on
the field, which cannot be used as feed or for food production. Compost production
is one way of effectively utilizing rice straw. Spent rice straw from mushroom production is also used as compost but this has low nutrient value and is poorly decomposed when using it as a soil improver. This wet, low-quality straw, as well as
byproducts from mushroom and cattle feed production, could be used to produce
better-quality compost to return nutrients back to the field. Mechanization in mixing
the materials, i.e., a compost turner, is necessary to have good aeration, increase the
decomposition process, and reduce labor cost. This chapter provides an overview of
composting technology and current practices of rice-straw composting. Updated
information on this topic, resulting under the current BMZ-funded IRRI rice-straw
management project (2016–2019), which has been implemented in Vietnam and the
Philippines, is also included here, particularly in the sections on vermin-composting
and mechanized composting.
Keywords Rice straw · Compost turner · Organic fertilizer
N. T. Nghi (*) · L. Q. Vinh
Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
R. R. Romasanta · P. Chivenge · N. V. Hung
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
e-mail: r.romasanta@irri.org; p.chivenge@irri.org; hung.nguyen@irri.org
N. Van Hieu
Tien Giang University, Tien Giang, Vietnam
N. X. Du
Sai Gon University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
N. V. C. Ngan
Can Tho University, Can Tho, Vietnam
e-mail: nvcngan@ctu.edu.vn
© The Author(s) 2020
M. Gummert et al. (eds.), Sustainable Rice Straw Management,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32373-8_3
Chapter 3
Rice Straw-Based Composting
Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Ryan R. Romasanta, Nguyen Van Hieu,
Le Quang Vinh, Nguyen Xuan Du, Nguyen Vo Chau Ngan,
Pauline Chivenge, and Nguyen Van Hung
Abstract Current practices in rice production leave a huge amount of wet straw on
the field, which cannot be used as feed or for food production. Compost production
is one way of effectively utilizing rice straw. Spent rice straw from mushroom production is also used as compost but this has low nutrient value and is poorly decomposed when using it as a soil improver. This wet, low-quality straw, as well as
byproducts from mushroom and cattle feed production, could be used to produce
better-quality compost to return nutrients back to the field. Mechanization in mixing
the materials, i.e., a compost turner, is necessary to have good aeration, increase the
decomposition process, and reduce labor cost. This chapter provides an overview of
composting technology and current practices of rice-straw composting. Updated
information on this topic, resulting under the current BMZ-funded IRRI rice-straw
management project (2016–2019), which has been implemented in Vietnam and the
Philippines, is also included here, particularly in the sections on vermin-composting
and mechanized composting.
Keywords Rice straw · Compost turner · Organic fertilizer
N. T. Nghi (*) · L. Q. Vinh
Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
R. R. Romasanta · P. Chivenge · N. V. Hung
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
e-mail: r.romasanta@irri.org; p.chivenge@irri.org; hung.nguyen@irri.org
N. Van Hieu
Tien Giang University, Tien Giang, Vietnam
N. X. Du
Sai Gon University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
N. V. C. Ngan
Can Tho University, Can Tho, Vietnam
e-mail: nvcngan@ctu.edu.vn