Accelerating flax straw decomposition by harnessing natural soil microbes

亚麻秸秆残留仍然是亚麻农面临的一个主要问题。由于亚麻秸秆分解缓慢，留在田间的亚麻秸秆会干扰随后几年的播种。这项研究的首要目标是开发一种可以喷洒在亚麻作物上的微生物生物制剂，以加速秸秆残渣在田间的完全分解。本研究旨在利用土壤诱饵的方法捕捉秸秆分解早期和后期的细菌和真菌定殖者。然后，我们将使用基于DNA的群落分析来表征和识别分解早期和后期的微生物群落，并确定可以在生物配方中利用的微生物之间的潜在协同效应。最后，我们将使用生物反应器来评估单个和组合细菌和真菌分离株提高分解速度的能力。田间分解将以生物可利用的形式返回养分，从而减少土壤补充化肥的需要，从而有助于长期的土壤健康。我们的战略还将减少当前亚麻秸秆处理技术造成的经济和环境负担，并有助于加拿大亚麻农业的长期可持续性。

Flax straw residue remains a major issue for flax farmers. Because of its slow decomposition, flax straw left in the field interferes with seeding in subsequent years. The overarching goal of this research is to develop a microbial bioformulation that can be sprayed over flax crops to accelerate complete decomposition of straw debris in the field. This research aims to use a soil baiting method to capture bacterial and fungal colonizers at early and late stages of straw decomposition. We will then characterize and identify microbial communities during early and late stage decomposition using DNA-based community profiling, and determine potential synergies between microbes that can be harnessed in a bioformulation. Lastly, we will use bioreactors to evaluate the ability of individual and combinations of bacterial and fungal isolates to increase decomposition rates. In-field decomposition will contribute to long term soil health by returning nutrients in a bioavailable form, thereby reducing the need for soil supplementation with fertilizers. Our strategy will also decrease the economic and environmental burden imposed by current flax straw disposal techniques, and contribute to long-term sustainability of flax farming in Canada.