UTILIZATION OF CROP STRAW RESOURCES IN ANHUI PROVINCE, EASTERN CHINA

Taolin Zhang, Yiru Yang, Decheng Li, Xingxiang Wang

Abstract: Returning straw to fields is one of the most effective ways of maintaining and improving soil fertility. However, straw burning is a recurring phenomenon in China. To better understand the current situation facing the utilization of straw resources in Anhui Province, a total of 731 typical fields and farmers were surveyed on a provincial scale in 2011 along a national highway, provincial highway and county road. Moreover, a total of 344 fields and farmers were surveyed on a county scale in three typical counties, i.e., Mengcheng County, Dingyuan County and Xuanzhou District. The average rates of straw returning were generally low in Anhui Province, with 30.2% for single-middle-season rice, 16.1% for early rice, 14.3% for wheat, 2.9% for rape, 1.8% for late rice and 1.8% for maize, respectively. The average return rate of wheat in the three typical counties was 13.2%, lower than the rates of the entire province; however, the return rates of other crops in the counties were all higher than those of the entire province. However, straw burning was still prevalent. The average rates of burning wheat, rape and maize straw reached 65.5%, 75.8% and 57.3% on the provincial scale, respectively, and 86.0%, 64.0% and 51.3% in the three typical counties, respectively. Only a small fraction of straw was utilized in traditional ways, adhering to the following order: household fuel>fodder>industrial raw material. Therefore, it is crucial to strengthen policy regarding the prohibition of straw burning and to enhance straw returning and the comprehensive utilization of straw resources.

Keywords: Anhui; straw burning; straw resource utilization; straw returning; stubble

Date published: 2017-10-12