Research progress on using cellulose-degrading bacteria to improve straw returning efficiency

The development of Chinese agriculture has generated diverse and abundant straw resources. As one of the most abundant renewable biological resources, straw has a large quantity, diverse types, and a wide distribution. However, efficient utilization of straw resources has become an urgent problem, and returning straw to the field is currently an effective solution. Under natural environmental conditions, the decomposition rate of straw is very slow; however, the straw long-term accumulation may lead to a decrease in soil fertility, which can seriously affect crop yield. The use of microorganisms to treat straw is an effective method for accelerating straw decomposition. Cellulose-degrading bacteria play a critical role in this process, and their efficient degradation capabilities significantly enhance the straw return efficiency and reduce the incidence of soil-borne diseases. This study focused on the core role of cellulose-degrading bacteria and fungi in improving the efficiency of straw return to the field, outlining the main types of cellulose-degrading bacteria and fungi and exploring their key roles in different methods of straw return, particularly in the current research status and progress regarding direct return to the field and composting. Additionally, it summarized the effects of adding microbial agents during the straw return and degradation processes on soil physical and chemical properties, microbial community dynamics, and soil-borne diseases. Various bacteria and fungi can efficiently degrade cellulose. However, most studies have focused on the screening and optimization of single strains. Currently, the focus is on constructing composite microbial consortia using efficient cellulose-degrading strains, exploring cellulose degradation mechanisms to identify high-efficiency strains, and enhancing the strain degradation capacity through molecular biology techniques. These include identifying enzyme-producing genes and analyzing microbial interactions within the community to elucidate the functional patterns of cellulose-degrading bacteria within ecosystems with the aim of efficient straw decomposition and resource conversion. However, the construction of composite microbial consortia, dynamic changes in soil microbial communities, and the mechanisms of cellulose-degrading bacteria in controlling soil-borne diseases require further exploration. Future research can deeply integrate bioinformatics techniques to directionally optimize cellulose-degrading bacteria, thereby providing theoretical and technical support for advancing the effective implementation of straw return. This would offer ideas and strategies for constructing composite microbial consortia, deeply analyzing dynamic changes in soil microbial communities, and understanding the mechanisms of soil-borne disease control, ultimately enhancing the efficiency of straw return and promote the sustainable development of agriculture.