The Efficacy of a Compost Accelerator in Straw Composting and Subsequent Agricultural Effects

Abstract

A comprehensive, system-level evaluation was carried out for a liquid microbial compost accelerator—inoculated with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Bacillus subtilis—on straw composting and subsequent rice production. Composting experiments demonstrated that the accelerator significantly enhanced the process by achieving a peak temperature of 63 °C and sustaining a thermophilic phase (>55 °C), which accelerated straw decomposition, as evidenced by a rapid color transition to dark black within 30 days, a reduction in shear force to 35.6% of the initial value, and an increase in the weight loss rate to 13.6% at 60 days. Field trials confirmed the agricultural benefits: the accelerator safely promoted straw degradation in situ, with extents reaching up to 61.5%, and significantly increased rice yield by up to 4.4% in a dose-dependent manner. These findings distinguish themselves by establishing a complete causal pathway from microbial inoculation through efficient composting to tangible field outcomes, thereby offering a validated technological solution for enhancing straw resource utilization and promoting sustainable agricultural productivity.