Effect of mulching and organic manure on maize yield, water, and nitrogen use efficiency in the Loess Plateau of China

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12, P. e18644 - e18644

Published: Dec. 3, 2024

Current agricultural practices prioritize intensive food production, often at the expense of environmental sustainability. This approach results in greenhouse gas emissions and groundwater pollution due to over-fertilization. In contrast, organic agriculture promotes a more efficient use non-renewable energy, improves soil quality, reduces ecological damage. However, effects mulching manure on maize yield, water efficiency (WUE), nitrogen (NUE) China’s Loess Plateau have not been sufficiently researched. 2017 2018, an experiment utilizing randomized complete block design with two factors (two levels × three application rates) was conducted. The content upper layer found be 12.6% 19.4% higher than that subsoil layer. Across all depths years, nitrate-N mulched treatments 10% 31.8% greater non-mulched varying rates. Additionally, resulted increase grain yield 9.4% 8.9% 2018 compared treatments. A significant interaction observed between rate concerning WUE, alongside negative correlation WUE NUE. These findings suggest 270 kg N ha −1 sheep conjunction is highly recommended practice for Plateau, thereby supporting sustainable strategies.

Language: Английский

Plastic film mulching with nitrogen application activates rhizosphere microbial nitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction in the Loess Plateau

Soil and Tillage Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 248, P. 106423 - 106423

Published: Dec. 25, 2024

Language: Английский

Mulching Practice Regulates the Soil Hydrothermal Regime to Improve Crop Productivity in the Rainfed Agroecosystem of the Loess Plateau in China

Agriculture, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1), P. 76 - 76

Published: Dec. 31, 2024

Mulching practices have demonstrated the potential to increase crop yields and resource utilization efficiency. However, response of different crops with various growth stages mulching remains unclear, particularly in rainfed agroecosystem. Therefore, a two-year field experiment (2013–2015) (wheat, maize, potato) was conducted evaluate effects three treatments: straw strip (SM), plastic film (PM), conventional planting without as control (CK), on soil moisture temperature, evapotranspiration (ET), water use efficiency (WUE), yield economic benefits Loess Plateau. The results indicated that both significantly increased content (SM: 4.3% PM: 3.6%) compared CK. temperature varied between practices, PM by 4.9% CK, while SM decreased it 6.3%. improved hydrothermal conditions, characterized favorable temperatures higher status would lead daily rate (5.3–49.8%), well greater dry matter accumulation (4.7–36.7%). Furthermore, practice (SM PM) has significant influence its components crops, WUE. mean grain was, respectively, 11.4% 27.1% for winter wheat, 1.8% 24.3% spring 23.0% 13.9% potato, respectively. Compared yielded net benefit WUE wheat presented best potato. In conclusion, comprehensive analysis yield, benefits, suggests potato is more sustainable environmentally friendly practice, recommended farming systems Plateau areas similar climatic conditions.

Language: Английский