Accelerating flax straw decomposition by harnessing natural soil microbes

亚麻秸秆残留仍然是亚麻农民的主要问题。由于亚麻秸秆分解缓慢，留在田里的亚麻秸秆会影响随后几年的播种。这项研究的首要目标是开发一种微生物生物制剂，可以喷洒在亚麻作物上，以加速秸秆碎片在田间的完全分解。本研究旨在利用土壤诱饵法在秸秆分解的早期和后期捕获细菌和真菌定殖。 然后，我们将使用基于DNA的社区分析来表征和识别早期和晚期分解阶段的微生物群落，并确定可以在生物制剂中利用的微生物之间的潜在协同作用。最后，我们将使用生物反应器来评估细菌和真菌分离物的单独和组合增加分解速率的能力。 田间分解将通过以生物可利用的形式返回养分，从而减少对土壤补充肥料的需求，从而有助于长期土壤健康。我们的战略还将减少目前亚麻秸秆处理技术带来的经济和环境负担，并有助于加拿大亚麻种植的长期可持续性。

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.