Wheatstraw
Wheat straw is the stalk left over after wheat grains are harvested. Traditionally, it has been treated as a waste. In some countries, farmers burn it, contributing to air pollution and creating a public health hazard. We reclaim this material and use it to make wheat straw products.
Wheat straw is highly abundant in the Northern Great Plains region. The yearly wheat straw production in the Northern Great Plains exceeds 220 million dry tons. Assuming that only 10% of this material is available for use as a bio-based product, that would be 22 million dry tons available annually. An average dry ton of wheat straw is equivalent to almost 3,000 pounds. An estimated 200 million pounds of wheat straw could be available and used in the Northern Great Plains region annually.
Wheat Straw is one of the major agricultural by-products that are not used as industrial raw material on a significant scale except for only a minor portion that is reserved as animal feed, household fuel, or as raw materials for the paper industry. Wheat straw is reclaimed and used to make a number of products. The possibility of using wheat straw as a potential source of cellulosic ethanol has been discussed by several researchers in recent years.
In different parts of Pakistan people have found ways to use the waste materials for their own benefit. For example, in the desert areas of Pakistan, the use of wheat straw as a construction material for building houses is very common. Furthermore, by using locally grown ingredients and traditional methods, agriculturists have been able to make bricks from wheat straw for over 50 years now. Wheat straw bricks are not only durable but also help retain moisture in the soil.
Wheat Straw Bricks have proven themselves to be a very reliable building material not only because they save the cost of importing other construction materials but also these bricks remain un-affected by salty winds and large temperature differences. Furthermore, these bricks are extremely durable and resist water well.
Wheat straw is a strong but flexible material that can be braided or woven into mats and other useful items for gardening, animal bedding, insulation, erosion control, and many other uses. Wheat straw is the stalk left over after wheat grains are harvested. Traditionally, it has been treated as a waste. In some countries, farmers burn it, contributing to air pollution and creating a public health hazard. We reclaim this material and use it to make wheat straw products.