Editing Straw

{{Short description|Agricultural byproduct of cereal crops}}
{{Other uses}}
{{distinguish|hay|drinking straw}}
{{Refimprove|date=July 2008}}
[[File:Rice straw.jpg|thumb|Bundles of [[rice]] straw]]
[[File:pile-of-straw.jpg|thumb|Pile of stacked small rectangular straw bales sheltered under a clear [[tarpaulin]]]]
[[File:Straw lines and Combine Harvester.jpg|thumb|Straw lines and a [[Combine Harvester|combine harvester]]]]
'''Straw''' is an agricultural [[byproduct]] consisting of the dry [[wikt:stalk|stalk]]s of [[cereal]] plants after the [[grain]] and [[chaff]] have been removed. It makes up about half of the [[crop yield|yield]] by weight of cereal crops such as [[barley]], [[oat]]s, [[rice]], [[rye]] and [[wheat]]. It has a number of different uses, including [[fuel]], [[livestock bedding]] and [[fodder]], [[thatching]] and [[basket making]].

Straw is usually gathered and stored in a '''straw bale''', which is a [[wikt:bale|bale]], or bundle, of straw tightly bound with twine, wire, or string. Straw bales may be square, rectangular, star shaped or round, and can be very large, depending on the type of [[baler]] used.

== Uses==

Current and historic uses of straw include:

===Animal feed===
[[File:A traditional method of storing wheat hay in Punjab.jpg|thumb|A traditional method of storing wheat hay in Punjab.]]

Straw may be fed as part of the [[roughage]] component of the diet to cattle or horses that are on a near maintenance level of energy requirement. It has a low digestible energy and nutrient content (as opposed to [[hay]], which is much more nutritious). The heat generated when microorganisms in a herbivore's gut digest straw can be useful in maintaining body temperature in cold climates. Due to the risk of [[impaction (animals)|impaction]] and its poor nutrient profile, it should always be restricted to part of the diet.  It may be fed as it is, or chopped into short lengths, known as [[chaff]].

===Basketry===

[[Bee skep]]s and linen [[basket]]s are made from coiled and bound together continuous lengths of straw. The technique is known as lip work.

===Bedding===

Straw is commonly used as bedding for ruminants and horses. It may be used as bedding and food for small animals, but this often leads to injuries to mouth, nose and eyes as straw is quite sharp.

The straw-filled mattress, also known as a [[palliasse]], is still used by people in many parts of the world.

===Bioplastic===

Rice straw, an agricultural waste which is not usually recovered, can be turned into [[bioplastic]] with mechanical properties akin to [[polystyrene]] in its dry state.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652618322418 |title=A sustainable bioplastic obtained from rice straw |journal= Journal of Cleaner Production|date=2018-11-01 |doi=10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.07.252 |access-date=2020-09-12|last1=Bilo |first1=Fabjola |last2=Pandini |first2=Stefano |last3=Sartore |first3=Luciana |last4=Depero |first4=Laura E. |last5=Gargiulo |first5=Giovanna |last6=Bonassi |first6=Andrea |last7=Federici |first7=Stefania |last8=Bontempi |first8=Elza |volume=200 |pages=357–368 |bibcode=2018JCPro.200..357B |s2cid=140096514 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

===Chemicals===
Straw is being investigated as a source of [[fine chemical]]s including [[alkaloid]]s, [[flavonoid]]s, [[lignin]]s, [[phenols]], and [[steroid]]s.<ref name="pmid24138469">{{cite journal|vauthors=Schnitzer M, Monreal CM, Powell EE | title=Wheat straw biomass: A resource for high-value chemicals| journal=Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B| year= 2014 | volume= 49 | issue= 1 | pages= 51–67 | pmid=24138469 | doi=10.1080/03601234.2013.836924| bibcode=2014JESHB..49...51S| s2cid=43907721}}</ref>

===Construction material===
{{Main|Straw-bale construction|Alternative natural materials}}
In many parts of the world, straw is used to bind clay and [[concrete]]. A mixture of clay and straw, known as [[cob (building)|cob]], can be used as a building material.  There are many recipes for making cob.

When [[Baler|baled]], straw has moderate insulation characteristics (about R-1.5/inch according to Oak Ridge National Lab and Forest Product Lab testing).  It can be used, alone or in a post-and-beam construction, to build [[straw-bale construction|straw bale houses]]. When bales are used to [[Building construction|build]] or [[Thermal insulation|insulate]] buildings, the straw bales are commonly finished with [[earthen plaster]]. The plastered walls provide some [[thermal mass]], compressive and ductile structural strength, and acceptable fire resistance as well as thermal resistance (insulation), somewhat in excess of North American [[building code]]. Straw is an abundant agricultural waste product, and requires little energy to bale and transport for construction. For these reasons, straw bale construction is gaining popularity as part of [[passive solar]] and other [[renewable energy]] projects.<ref>[http://www.earthhealing.info/strawbale.pdf The Straw Bale House: Suitability for the Eastern U.S.]</ref>

Wheat straw can be used as a fibrous filler combined with polymers to produce [[composite lumber]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/1367/adding-value-to-wheat-straw/| title = Adding Value to Wheat Straw By Anduin Kirkbride-McElroy. Biomass Magazine, 2007}}</ref>  

[[Enviroboard]] can be made from straw.

Strawblocks are strawbales that have been recompressed to the density of woodblocks, for compact [[cargo container]] shipment, or for [[straw-bale construction]] of [[load-bearing wall]]s that support roof-loads, such as a "living" or [[green roof]]s.<ref>{{cite book | last=King | first=B. | title=The New Carbon Architecture: Building to Cool the Climate | publisher=New Society Publishers | year=2017 | isbn=978-1-77142-256-7 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ocuDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT95 | access-date=January 1, 2019 | pages=pt95-96}}</ref>

===Crafts===

[[File:Solomka.jpg|thumb|Belarusian Straw Dolls]]
[[File:Latviešu puzurs.JPG|thumb|[[Latvian people|Latvian]] traditional [[Ziemassvētki]] [[Himmeli|straw art]] [[mobile (sculpture)|mobile]] ''puzuris''<ref>{{cite news |last=Lazdiņa |first=Renāte |title = Straw mobiles - an old Latvian craft being revived |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia]] |url = https://eng.lsm.lv/article/culture/culture/straw-mobiles-an-old-latvian-craft-being-revived.a157462/ |date = December 1, 2015}}</ref>]]
Craft usages of straw include:
*[[Corn dolly|Corn dollies]]
*[[Straw marquetry]]
*[[Straw mobile]] (straw art)
*[[Straw painting]]
*[[Straw plaiting]]
*[[Scarecrows]]
*[[Neko chigura|Japanese Traditional Cat's House]]
*Japanese [[wara art]]

===Construction site sediment control===

Straw bales are sometimes used for [[sediment control]] at [[construction]] sites.<ref>{{cite web |title=Straw Bale Barrier |url=https://udfcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/SC-03-Straw-Bale-Barrier.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714215019/https://udfcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/SC-03-Straw-Bale-Barrier.pdf |archive-date=2019-07-14 |url-status=live |date=November 2010 |website=Urban Storm Drainage Criteria Manual |publisher=Urban Drainage and Flood Control District |location=Denver, CO |id=SBB-1}}</ref> However, bales are often ineffective in protecting [[water quality]] and are maintenance-intensive. For these reasons the [[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) and various state agencies recommend use of alternative sediment control practices where possible, such as [[silt fence]]s, [[fiber roll]]s and [[geotextiles]].<ref>{{cite web |title=National Menu of Stormwater Best Management Practices: Straw or Hay Bales |url=http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.cfm?action=browse&Rbutton=detail&bmp=122 |website=National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) |date=2006-06-01 |publisher=U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |location=Washington, DC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730163657/http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.cfm?action=browse&Rbutton=detail&bmp=122 |archive-date=2013-07-30}}</ref>

They can also be used as [[burned area emergency response]], as ground cover or as in-stream check dams.

===Fuel source===

The use of straw as a carbon-neutral energy source is increasing rapidly, especially for [[biobutanol]]. Straw or hay briquettes are a [[biofuel]] substitute to coal.

Straw, processed first as [[briquette]]s, has been fed into a [[Anaerobic digestion|biogas plant]] in [[Aarhus University]], Denmark, in a test to see if higher [[gas]] yields could be attained.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dca.au.dk/en/current-news/news/show/artikel/vejen-fra-toert-halm-til-brugbar-energi-forkortes-markant/|title=show|last=252507@au.dk|date=2017-06-30|website=dca.au.dk|language=en|access-date=2017-07-02|archive-date=2016-04-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415174332/http://dca.au.dk/en/current-news/news/show/artikel/vejen-fra-toert-halm-til-brugbar-energi-forkortes-markant/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The use of straw in large-scale [[Energy crop|biomass power plants]] is becoming mainstream in the EU, with several facilities already online. The straw is either used directly in the form of bales, or densified into pellets which allows for the feedstock to be transported over longer distances. Finally, [[torrefaction]] of straw with pelletisation is gaining attention, because it increases the energy density of the resource, making it possible to transport it still further. This processing step also makes storage much easier, because torrefied straw pellets are hydrophobic. Torrefied straw in the form of pellets can be directly co-fired with coal or natural gas at very high rates and make use of the processing infrastructures at existing coal and gas plants. Because the torrefied straw pellets have superior structural, chemical and combustion properties to coal, they can replace all coal and turn a coal plant into an entirely biomass-fed power station. First generation pellets are limited to a [[co-firing]] rate of 15% in modern [[Integrated gasification combined cycle|IGCC]] plants.

===Gardening===

Straw bale gardening<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-30|title=Straw Bale Gardening For Beginners {{!}} A Great Alternative to Soil Gardening & 10 Vegs To Grow - Organic Gardening Geek|url=https://organicgardeningeek.com/straw-bale-gardening-for-beginners/|access-date=2021-11-07|website=organicgardeningeek.com|language=en-US}}</ref> is also popular among gardeners who do not have enough space for '''soil gardening'''. When properly conditioned, straw bales can be used as a perfect [[soil]] substitute.

===Hats===
[[File:Texas straw hat with the ornament made of a rattlesnake's skin.jpg|thumb|A straw hat]]
There are several styles of [[straw hat]]s that are made of woven straw.

Many thousands of women and children in England (primarily in the [[Luton]] district of Bedfordshire),<ref name="eb9">{{Cite EB9|wstitle=Straw Manufactures|volume=22}}</ref> and large numbers in the United States (mostly [[Massachusetts]]), were employed in [[Straw Plaiting|plaiting straw]] for making hats. By the late 19th century, vast quantities of plaits were being imported to England from Canton in China,<ref name="eb9" /> and in the United States most of the straw plait was imported.<ref name="ac">{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Straw}}</ref>

A fiber analogous to straw is obtained from the plant ''[[Carludovica palmata]]'', and is used to make [[Panama hats]].<ref name="ac" />

Traditional Japanese rain protection consisted of a straw hat and a [[mino (straw cape)|mino cape]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Henshall |first1=Kenneth |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vD76fF5hqf8C&pg=PA67 |title=A History of Japan: From Stone Age to Superpower |date=April 17, 2012 |publisher=Springer |isbn=9780230346628 |page=67 |language=en}}</ref>

===Horticulture===

Straw is used in [[cucumber]] houses and for [[mushroom]] growing.

In [[Japan]], certain trees are wrapped with straw to protect them from the effects of a hard winter as well as to use them as a trap for parasite insects. (see [[Komomaki]])

It is also used in ponds to reduce [[alga]]e by changing the nutrient ratios in the water.

The soil under [[strawberry|strawberries]] is covered with straw to protect the ripe berries from dirt, and straw is also used to cover the plants during winter to prevent the cold from killing them.

Straw also makes an excellent [[mulch]].

===Music===
In areas of pastoral Europe, straw may be used to create a type of simple, reeded [[wind instrument]] known to English speakers as the [[oaten pipe]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Barrett |first1=William Alexander |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K2H0AAAAMAAJ&q=%22oaten+pipe%22+reedpipe&pg=PA325 |title=Stainer and Barrett's Dictionary of musical terms - Sir John Stainer, William Alexander Barrett - Google Books |year=1898 |accessdate=March 7, 2025}}</ref> although similar [[Musical instrument|instruments]] are known to be made in Turkey and the Middle east, and north Africa.

===Packaging===

Straw is resistant to being crushed and therefore makes a good [[packing material]]. A company in France makes a straw mat sealed in thin plastic sheets.

Straw envelopes for wine bottles have become rarer, but are still to be found at some wine merchants.

Wheat straw is also used in compostable [[food packaging]] such as compostable plates. Packaging made from wheat straw can be certified compostable and will biodegrade in a commercial composting environment.<ref name="VBC">Viv Biz Club: [http://vivbizclub.com/products/biodegradable-food-packaging/compostable-plates/ Compostable Plates] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731150916/http://vivbizclub.com/products/biodegradable-food-packaging/compostable-plates/ |date=2010-07-31 }}</ref>

===Paper===

Straw can be pulped to make [[paper]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QbH9AQAAQBAJ&q=Straw+can+be+pulped+to+make+paper&pg=PA176|title=Tomorrow's World: Britain's Share in a Sustainable Future|last1=McLaren|first1=Duncan|last2=Bullock|first2=Simon|last3=Yousuf|first3=Nusrat|date=2013-11-05|publisher=[[Routledge]]|isbn=9781134044825|language=en}}</ref>

===Rope===

Rope made from straw was used by thatchers, in the packaging industry and even in iron foundries.

[[Saekki]] is a traditional Korean rope made of woven straw.

===Shoes===

The Chinese wore [[cailu]] or [[caixie]], shoes and sandals made of straw, well into modernity.

Koreans wear [[jipsin]], sandals made of straw.

Several types of traditional Japanese shoes, such as [[waraji]] and [[zōri]], are made of straw.

In some parts of Germany like [[Black Forest]] and [[Hunsrück]] people wear straw shoes at home or at carnival.

===Targets===

Heavy-gauge straw rope is coiled and sewn tightly together to make [[archery]] targets. This is no longer done entirely by hand, but is partially mechanised. Sometimes a paper or plastic target is set up in front of straw bales, which serve to support the target and provide a safe backdrop.

===Thatching===

[[Thatching]] uses straw, [[Reed (plant)|reed]] or similar materials to make a waterproof, lightweight roof with good insulation properties. Straw for this purpose (often [[wheat]] straw) is grown specially and harvested using a [[reaper-binder]].

== Health and safety ==
Dried straw presents a fire hazard that can ignite easily if exposed to sparks or an open flame. It can also trigger [[allergic rhinitis]] in people who are hypersensitive to airborne allergens such as straw dust.

==See also==
{{portal|Agriculture and Agronomy}}
* [[Corn stover]] (corn straw)
* [[Crop residue]]
* [[Drinking straw]]
* [[Hay]]
* [[Straw (colour)]]
* [[Sheaf (agriculture)]], a bundle of straw
* [[Stook]], a stack of straw
* [[Straw dog]]
* [[Wood wool]]
* [[Yule Goat]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commonscatinline}}
*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Straw and Straw Manufactures |short=x}}

{{Bioenergy}}
{{Barley}}
{{Wheat}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Biodegradable materials]]
[[Category:Biomass]]
[[Category:Packaging materials]]
[[Category:Building insulation materials]]
[[Category:Soil erosion]]
[[Category:Natural materials]]
[[Category:By-products]]