Urea/sodium hydroxide pretreatments enhance decomposition of maize straw in soils and sorption of straw residues toward herbicides.

Because of the rigid crystalline structure and recalcitrant components, maize straw returned is slowly decomposed in soils. Straw residues are substantially accumulated in soils and pose detrimental impacts to crop plantation. Here we report the pretreatments of urea and NaOH (USH) to enhance maize straw decomposition in the field.