Environmental services
The use of straw for numerous agricultural and non-agricultural activities of straw makes it one of the foremost and most ancient multi-purposes agricultural by-product. Vast quantities of biomass and energy are recycled through the use of straw for feed, fuel and fertilizer.
Environmental and health issues with straw treatments
Health hazards
Chemical treatments of straws may have deleterious impacts on health and the environment. Alkali treatments may be potentially dangerous for operators as they may cause eye and skin burns when not properly used (Ramalho-Ribeiro, 1994).
Water contamination
When straws are treated with urea, the necessary high moisture content of the final product (more than 30%) requires the addition of large amounts of water at the beginning of the process. Because NH3 is hygroscopic and remains in water, and because straw does not retain high levels of water, urea treatment can result in NH3 leaching from the bottom of the silo (Ramalho-Ribeiro, 1994).