Abstract:

A case study of Jiangsu Province was conducted using questionnaires and field survey to explore status quo of the collection and utilization of rice and wheat straw of the province. Problems in collecting the straw were analyzed, taking into account meteorological data of the rice and wheat harvesting seasons in the region. Results show (1)currently the major straw utilization method is to incorporate straw directly into the field. In the two townships (A and B) investigated in the study, only 22.01% and 28.75%, separately,of the farmer households interviewed had followed the practice and both of the two townships had a considerable portion of the straw wasted or improperly disposed. In Township B over 50% of the farmer households surveyed failed to make use of any of the straw and as high as over 55% of the straw was discarded or burnt. (2) During the rice and wheat harvesting seasons, precipitation varies in the range of 7.21-87.28 mm and in every 10 days, there were1.53-5.00 rainy days. Such weather not only affectsthe timely harvesting of rice and wheat, but also seriously impedes baling, transportation, and storage of straw.(3) As the crops must be harvested in a relatively short and concentrated time period, large volumes of straw are turned out within a few days. Moreover, harvesting of the first crop often coincides with sowing of the next crop, leaving little time available for straw collection. (4) Straw collection is very low in economic benefit. A farmer can only get 60-90 RMB per day from straw collection and transportation, much lower than what they can get by working as migrant workers in city.(5) Machines designed for straw collection are rare and those now used in the operation are low in efficiency and need to be improved technically, which directly affects straw collection efficiency. The above-listed findings indicate that time shortage, negtive weather condition, low benefit and low mechanization level are the major factors affecting straw collection. To solve the problems, the following proposals are brought forth, that is, improving the economic benefit of straw collection as a driving force,accelerating development of rice and wheat sheaf-binding reaping machine,and setting up long-term operational mechanism for straw recovery, in the hope that this study may provide some useful ideas to help solve the problems.

Key words: rice and wheat straw, collection, mechanization, benefit