Straw: The Green Key to Resource Utilization of Livestock Manure

China is a major agricultural country, and Agricultural Waste is a by-product generated in different stages of agricultural production, mainly including crop straw, livestock and poultry manure, and waste agricultural film. China produces 865 million tons of straw and about 4 billion tons of livestock and poultry manure annually. These two sets of staggering data are like two heavy "ecological mountains" that loom large over the path of agricultural green transformation.
Current Situation and Goals
In recent years, China has been deeply implementing major actions for green agricultural development, vigorously promoting ecological circular agriculture, and solidly advancing the resource recovery and recycling of agricultural waste, achieving positive progress.
Firstly, the comprehensive utilization level of straw has been steadily improved. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in 2024, the total amount of straw nationwide was 870 million tons, with a collectable total of 730 million tons. The comprehensive utilization rate of collectable straw has stabilized at over 88%. The utilization rates of straw as fertilizer, feed, energy source, substrate, and raw material were 54.6%, 24.4%, 8.0%, 0.7%, and 0.7%, respectively. The utilization pattern of "mainly for agricultural use, with parallel development of the five transformations" has basically taken shape.
Secondly, the resource utilization of livestock and poultry manure has achieved remarkable results. The coverage of the county-wide promotion project for the resource utilization of livestock and poultry manure has been gradually expanded, effectively enhancing the treatment capacity of livestock and poultry manure in large-scale farms. Pilot projects for green planting and breeding circular agriculture have been implemented, supporting 299 counties in major livestock-raising provinces, major grain and vegetable production areas, and key ecological protection areas to carry out pilot projects for on-site digestion and nearby application of manure, promoting the on-site and nearby utilization of manure. The comprehensive utilization rate of livestock and poultry manure nationwide has reached 79.4%, achieving a substantial transformation from treatment to utilization.

In 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued the "Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Comprehensive Green Transformation of Agricultural Development to Promote Rural Ecological Revitalization", which put forward new requirements for the resource utilization of straw and livestock manure: by 2030, the level of resource utilization of waste should be significantly improved, the comprehensive utilization rate of livestock manure should reach over 85%, and the comprehensive utilization rate of straw should remain above 88%.
Key functions and value manifestation of straw in the resource-oriented transformation of livestock and poultry manure
In this transformation towards the resource utilization of agricultural waste, the combination of livestock manure and straw for fertilizer production not only addresses two major pollution issues simultaneously but also establishes a new vision of ecological and circular agriculture. (1) Regulating Moisture Content to Create the Optimal Environment for Fermentation: The ideal initial moisture content For Compost fermentation should be controlled between 50% and 60%. However, the moisture content of livestock manure generally ranges from 55% to 85%. Excessive moisture can hinder the fermentation process. Straw, with its inherent advantages of being dry and having a high water absorption rate, serves as a natural auxiliary material for regulating moisture content. Mixing straw with livestock manure can quickly neutralize excess moisture, ensuring the moisture content of the fermentation raw materials meets the required standard. A suitable moisture environment can greatly enhance microbial activity, not only speeding up the fermentation process but also making the fermentation process more thorough and stable. As a result, the organic fertilizer produced has a more balanced nutrient composition, which is more conducive to crop absorption and growth.

（2） Reducing odor emissions and improving the atmospheric environment. The unique fiber porous structure of straw is a natural "pollution purification adsorption skeleton". When mixed with livestock and poultry manure, it can efficiently adsorb harmful substances such as ammonia nitrogen and hydrogen sulfide in the manure, reduce the emission of these pollutants into the air, soil, and water, improve the environmental quality around the breeding farm from the source, and solve problems such as odor disturbance and environmental pollution. （3） Supplementing nutrition and improving quality. Straw is rich in carbohydrates such as cellulose and hemicellulose, which can provide sufficient carbon sources for fermentation microorganisms; Livestock and poultry manure is rich in nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, forming a "carbon nitrogen complementary" nutritional combination that provides comprehensive support for microbial metabolism and reproduction. This nutritional synergy not only accelerates the fermentation process, but also allows the final organic fertilizer to combine rich organic matter and diverse nutrients, meeting the needs of different growth stages of crops and helping to improve crop yield and quality. （4） Building an ecological circular agriculture model by combining straw with livestock and poultry manure to produce organic fertilizer for returning to the field is an important step in constructing an ecological circular agriculture model. In this mode, straw from crop planting and manure from livestock and poultry breeding are no longer troublesome wastes, but valuable agricultural resources. Straw is processed into feed for livestock and poultry, and livestock manure and waste are processed into organic fertilizer before being applied to farmland, providing nutrients for crop growth and forming a virtuous cycle of "planting breeding fertilizer". This ecological circular agriculture model has brought significant comprehensive benefits.
From the perspective of economic benefits, it has reduced agricultural production costs, decreased dependence on fertilizers, and created more employment opportunities and sources of economic income for the local area by developing related industries such as straw feed processing and organic fertilizer production.
In terms of environmental benefits, it effectively reduces the pollution caused by straw burning and livestock manure emissions, improves soil structure, enhances soil fertility, and promotes sustainable development of agriculture.
The promotion and application of ecological circular agriculture model has transformed agricultural production from the traditional linear model of "resources products waste" to a circular model of "resources products waste renewable resources", injecting new vitality into rural ecological revitalization and green agricultural development.
Nowadays, straw is no longer a "useless waste" in the fields, but a "golden partner" for the resource utilization of livestock and poultry manure, and a "key link" for ecological circular agriculture. Guogangtong Technology Group's aerobic membrane fermentation technology, with "intelligent regulation+nano membrane technology" as the core, has built an efficient treatment system for the collaborative resource utilization of straw and livestock manure. Using nano scale breathable composite membrane to create a closed fermentation space, it can provide rain and wind protection, separate gas-liquid, intercept more than 90% of odorous substances, and solve odor problems; Paired with an IoT monitoring system, real-time tracking of stack temperature, carbon nitrogen ratio and other data, automatic adjustment of ventilation and oxygen supply, stabilizing the stack in a high temperature zone of 55-70 ℃, with a pathogen removal rate of 99.9%, helping to achieve a closed-loop of "breeding treatment planting", reducing costs, pollution and increasing efficiency.