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Wheat Straw: A pragmatic overview

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Current Research Journal of Biological Sciences 4(6): 673-675, 2012
ISSN: 2041-0778
© Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2012
Submitted: July 05, 2012 Accepted: August 08, 2012 Published: November 20, 2012

Wheat Straw: A Pragmatic Overview

Tehmina Saleem Khan and Umarah Mubeen

Department of Biological Sciences, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University),
Ferozpur Road, Lahore 54600, Pakistan

Abstract: Wheat Straw (WS) is the agricultural by-product obtained from different parts of wheat plant like stem,
leaves etc. The aim of the study is to highlight the important aspects and features of nutritional value of wheat straw
and to summarize the economical and commercial values of this treasure produced abundantly in Pakistan. WS is
rich in cellulosic fibers, hemicelluloses, proteins, lignin and ash. All these elements together make WS as most
important and balanced substrate for microbial cultures for its diverse applications in fermentation, food, feed,
medicine industries and in fields to increase soil fertility. In fermentation industry, WS can be used as a substrate for
the production of vast range of hydrolytic enzymes, medicines, biofuel and other metabolites. It is the cheapest or
low cost source of natural substrate.

Keywords: Agricultural by-products, biochar, bioremediation, chemical composition, fermentation, soil fertility

INTRODUCTION

Grasses, trimmings of lawns, other agriculture

wastes, industrial, domestic, food and urban solid
wastes are produced at a rate of 43 million tons/year.
Utilization by recycling of these wastes would not only
aid in pollution abatement but can also serve as a vital
source of energy and food for the future (Rajoka, 2005).
These waste products containing lignocelluloses’
biomass are the most abundant organic raw material
and are being used widely in fermentation industry as a
microbial substrate for the production of many value
added products including hydrolytic enzymes (Reith
et al., 2002; Singh et al., 2006).
Pakistan is an agricultural country and wheat is one
of the most important crops. It has been estimated that
worldwide consumption of wheat has been found to be
652.18 million ton for year 2010 (WASDE, 2010).
Wheat straw is a by-product, the dry stalk of wheat
(Fig. 1) after the grain and chaff have been removed Fig. 1: Morphology of wheat plant showing spike (head)
(Gubitz et al., 1998; Bajpai, 1999; Singh et al., 2009). It
is usually gathered and stored in a straw bale and has CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF
many uses. The better utilization of WS will not only WHEAT STRAW
support the medicine, cosmetics, soil fertility, bio
charcoal, fuel, livestock bedding and fodder, basket- Wheat straw is primarily composed of cellulose,
making and fermentation industry. It can also be a hemicellulose and lignin. The main fractions of WS are
source of an additional income for the farmers. This can (Fig. 1); nodes, internodes and leaves (McKean and
be an important motivational factor in promoting an Jacobs, 1997). Chemical analysis of WS shows that it is
efficient harvesting, collection and management of WS rich in carbohyderates (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin),
(Yasin et al., 2010). This study reviews various proteins, minerals (calcium and phosphorous), silica,
applications of wheat straw in the fields of acid detergent fibres and ash (Table 1). Along with
fermentation, study and pulp industry, medicine, these components, WS is also rich in bioactive
bioremediation and soil fertility etc. compounds and vitamins (Slavin, 2003). However the

Corresponding Author: Tehmina Saleem Khan, Department of Biological Sciences, Forman Christian College (A Chartered
University), Ferozpur Road, Lahore 54600, Pakistan
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 Curr. Res. J. Biol. Sci., 4(6): 673-675, 2012

Table 1: Chemical composition of wheat straw (Ali et al., 1991; Bioremediation: Bioremediation has the potential to
Patterson, 1995; Yasin et al., 2010)
restore contaminated environments at no expense.
Components Percentage (%)
Dry matter 89 to 94 Treatment of wastewater through safer methods has
Metabolizable energy mcal/lb 0.67 always been the focus of environmentalists using
Crude protein 3.6 various microbial and plant species (Javed et al., 2012).
Acid detergent fibre 54 However, degradation of heavy metals has been a
Cellulose 33.7 to 40
Hemicellulose 21 to 26 question mark for human being. Wheat straw, an
Lignin 11 to 22.9 abundantly available source is reported for sorption of
Ash 7 to 9.9 heavy metals i.e., chromium. It is a very cheap and
Silica and silicates 4.5 to 5.5 flexible substrate for metal ions. Functional groups like
Calcium 0.18
Phosphorus 0.05 hydrolytic, carboxylic and phenolic groups in the
Relative feed value 60 lignin, cellulose and fatty acid units are ideal for ion
fixation (Dupont et al., 2003).
accurate composition of macro and micronutrients can
vary from cultivar to cultivar (Safdar et al., 2009), Soil fertility and organic content: Crops grow by
stages of plant growth, the nature of soil and fertilizer utilizing the minerals from soil. When crops are
to be used and climatic conditions (Yasin et al., 2010). harvested the minreal contents of the soil are also lost
The physical content revealed that parts of wheat plant and thus the supplementation of synthetic fertilizers is
like internodes (68.5%), leaf-sheath (20.3%), leaf-blade required. To provide a substitute for that organic wastes
(5.5%), nodes and fines (4.2%) and grains and debris or agricultural wastes can be added to soil to fulfill the
(1.5%) shows varied mass percentage of WS fractions demand of crops. Wheat straw a major staple crop is
(Mckean and Jacobs, 1997). harvested on a massive scale every year and the
residues are helpful in maintaining the soil fertility if
APPLICATIONS AND ROLE OF added as such or by mixing with the urea to balance the
WHEAT STRAW nitrogen content in the field (Murray and Bruehl, 1983).

Fermentation industry: Synthetis and expensive Medicinal value: Wheat straw has been reported to
substrates are being replaced by agro-industrial by- relief from condition of biliousness (Drankham et al.,
products for the production of a wide range of value 2003). It has been suggested that tooth disorders i.e.,
added biotechnological products (Pandey, 1992; Pyorrhea can be prevented and cured using wheat
Raimbault, 1998; Mojsov, 2010). Filamentous fungi straw. Chewing of wheat grass not only benefits by
can efficiently use these by-products (Pandey et al., exercising of teeth and gums but also assists in
1999; Singh et al., 2009; Mojsov, 2010). WS is an digestion. It acts as brilliant mouth wash especially for
efficient substrate due to its better air circulation, loose sore throat and pyorrhea as well as it keeps tooth from
study binding ability and efficient penetration by fungal decay and tooth aches. Moreover, it extracts out toxins
mycelium. It is the cheaper substrate so it is a cost from the gums and hence controls bacterial growth
effective substrate in fermentation industry. (Kumar et al., 2011). With dermatological context the
Extracellular hydrolytic enzymes are being produced ash of wheat straw has been reported to remove skin
using WS under Sub-merged Fermentation (SF) as well blemishes (Drankham et al., 2003).
as Solid-State Fermentation (SSF) systems. A large
number of secondary metabolites can also be obtained Making biochar: Charcoal produced by pyrolysis of
by fermentation of WS (Yasin et al., 2010). wood, straw, waste, etc. for capturing and storage of
carbon is known as biochar. Growing concern about
Study and pulp industry: Nonwood fibers containing green house gas emissions make it crucial to find ways
cellulose and hemicellulose have a long history as a raw of finding carbon sinks along with the control over its
material in study and pulp industry (Singh et al., 2009). discharge. Biochar is technically considered as most
Straw and grasses are thus being utilized in larger feasible way of creating carbon sink as well as for
amounts in this industry. Wheat straw can be easily improving soil structure to enhance the productivity of
pulped and bleached with about 40% yield and soils about 2-3 times. The peculiar structure of biochar
producing fine textured study (CWC and Domtar Inc., offers large surface area which is important in
1997). Cellulases and hemicelluloses’ enzymes have improving the soil texture, arability, retention of
central application for bio bleaching and production of nutrients and provides surface for growth of beneficial
dissolving pulp. The biosynthesis of these enzymes microorganisms. Moreover the water holding capacity
takes place using different cellulosic substrates of soils is also increased by adding biochar to them,
including wheat bran, wheat straw etc., Gubitz et al. thus helps prevent leaching of valuable nutrients into
(1998), Bajpai (1999) and Singh et al. (2009). streams and rivers (Goodall, 2010).
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 Curr. Res. J. Biol. Sci., 4(6): 673-675, 2012

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