Abstract: With the rapid development of agricultural intensification in China, the annual production of crop straw has increased continuously. Composting has become a major pathway for straw utilization due to its capacity to convert lignocellulosic residues into humified organic matter. However, its practical application is often constrained by slow degradation rates and suboptimal compost quality. The application of straw-decomposing inoculants (SDIs) has been proposed as an effective approach to accelerate straw transformation and improve compost maturity, yet their actual performance under different composting conditions remains insufficiently clarified. To systematically quantify the effects of SDIs on straw degradation and compost maturation and to elucidate their responses to different process measures, this study conducted a meta-analysis based on 647 composting experiments across China. The overall effects of SDIs on straw decomposition efficiency and compost maturity were evaluated, and the influences of composting site, environmental conditions, and management practices were further examined. The results showed that SDIs application significantly enhanced straw degradation rate and compost maturity, with increases ranging from 36.57% to 53.13% and from 5.32% to 22.56%, respectively (P<0.05). Notably, efficient straw decomposition and high-quality compost maturation followed distinct regulatory pathways. At the decomposition level, SDIs markedly accelerated straw breakdown, with their effectiveness jointly influenced by inoculant type, straw species, and composting volume. Fungal inoculants exhibited the strongest promoting effect due to their superior lignocellulose-degrading capacity, particularly for rice straw. Moreover, composting volume exceeding 500 L significantly enhance decomposition efficiency (P<0.05). At the maturation level, initial composting temperature emerged as a key driving factor, with an optimal range of (30～40℃) facilitating compost maturity. Co-composting with manure played a pivotal role in steering the maturation process, primarily by optimizing the initial Carbon-to-Nitrogen (C/N) ratio and metabolic pathways. However, when the composting cycles exceeded 45 days, the effectiveness of SDIs in enhancing maturity during the thermophilic phase was significantly diminished (P<0.05), showing a decreasing trend with prolonged composting time. Based on these insights, tailored optimization strategies are proposed. For rice and maize straw, fungal-based SDIs are recommended, combined with manure at a mass ratio greater than 5:4, an initial C/N ratio below 30, an initial composting temperature of 30～40℃, and a composting volume exceeding 500 L. For wheat straw, composite inoculants are more suitable, also with a manure-to-straw ratios above 5:4, while initial temperature and composting volume should be adjusted according to specific conditions.