Strategy for matching fertilizer application with soil water before sowing can stabilize maize productivity under rainwater harvesting and mulching planting in dry areas: A six-year field experiment
The application of rainwater harvesting and mulching planting (RHMP) methods has effectively improved the productivity in dryland farming. However, different RHMP methods lead to differences in soil water availability, which must be matched with appropriate amounts of fertilizer to obtain further im...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Agricultural Water Management |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377423003177 |
| _version_ | 1797746018589081600 |
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| author | Donghua Liu Zujiao Shi Qian Ma Yan Zhang Tie Cai Peng Zhang Zhikuan Jia |
| author_facet | Donghua Liu Zujiao Shi Qian Ma Yan Zhang Tie Cai Peng Zhang Zhikuan Jia |
| author_sort | Donghua Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The application of rainwater harvesting and mulching planting (RHMP) methods has effectively improved the productivity in dryland farming. However, different RHMP methods lead to differences in soil water availability, which must be matched with appropriate amounts of fertilizer to obtain further improvements in farmland productivity. In this study, we conducted a long-term (2014–2019) in situ experiment by using a split-plot design with four planting methods (control treatment, NN, no film mulching and no ridge; RHMP, HS, half-film mulching and single ridge; HN, half-film mulching and no ridge; FD, full-film mulching and double ridge) as main treatments and four fertilizer application levels (N, no fertilizer; L, low fertilizer; M, medium fertilizer; and H, high fertilizer, with N:P2O5 rates of 0:0, 150:75, 300:150, and 450:225 kg ha–1, respectively) as sub-treatments. We studied the long-term soil water dynamics, crop growth responses, and economic benefits under the interactive effects of RHMP and fertilization. The results showed that RHMP changed the pattern of soil water consumption and recovery, thereby making it more compatible with the water demand of spring maize, and improving the water availability. Compared with NN, HS, HN, and FD increased the evapotranspiration by 8.7, 12.5, and 20.7 mm, respectively, the yield by 19.8%, 21.1%, and 69.4%, and the water use efficiency by 17.5%, 17.8%, and 61.8%. Under the same RHMP method, fertilization increased the consumption of soil water by crops but improved the water use efficiency. Compared with N, L, M, and H increased the evapotranspiration by 13.1 mm, 14.1 mm, and 15.4 mm, respectively, the yield by 198.7%, 228.5%, and 243.7%, and the water use efficiency increased significantly by 190.0%, 218.2%, and 231.9%. Due to the high variability of inter-annual rainfall (differences up to 419.1 mm during 2014–2019), the soil water availability varied significantly in different years, thereby affecting the yield and economic benefits. We also analyzed the responses in terms of the grain yield and net income to fertilizer application, as well as the soil water storage in the 0–200 cm soil layer before sowing under different RHMP methods. The amount of fertilizer that obtains the best yield and maximum economic benefit in the current year can be evaluated according to the soil water conditions before sowing in order to maximize the production of spring maize in the current season. The results obtained in this study provide a simple method for determining the amount of fertilizer based on water availability to improve and stabilize the crop production efficiency in arid regions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:31:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0c3189532da84f41b75c0f5c4a899fd0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1873-2283 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:31:08Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Agricultural Water Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-0c3189532da84f41b75c0f5c4a899fd02023-08-10T04:33:41ZengElsevierAgricultural Water Management1873-22832023-09-01287108452Strategy for matching fertilizer application with soil water before sowing can stabilize maize productivity under rainwater harvesting and mulching planting in dry areas: A six-year field experimentDonghua Liu0Zujiao Shi1Qian Ma2Yan Zhang3Tie Cai4Peng Zhang5Zhikuan Jia6College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Areas of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in North-western Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Areas of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in North-western Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Areas of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in North-western Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, ChinaInstitute of Jiangxi Oil-tea Camellia, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang 332005, Jiangxi, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Areas of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in North-western Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Areas of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in North-western Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Corresponding authors at: College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Areas of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in North-western Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Corresponding authors at: College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.The application of rainwater harvesting and mulching planting (RHMP) methods has effectively improved the productivity in dryland farming. However, different RHMP methods lead to differences in soil water availability, which must be matched with appropriate amounts of fertilizer to obtain further improvements in farmland productivity. In this study, we conducted a long-term (2014–2019) in situ experiment by using a split-plot design with four planting methods (control treatment, NN, no film mulching and no ridge; RHMP, HS, half-film mulching and single ridge; HN, half-film mulching and no ridge; FD, full-film mulching and double ridge) as main treatments and four fertilizer application levels (N, no fertilizer; L, low fertilizer; M, medium fertilizer; and H, high fertilizer, with N:P2O5 rates of 0:0, 150:75, 300:150, and 450:225 kg ha–1, respectively) as sub-treatments. We studied the long-term soil water dynamics, crop growth responses, and economic benefits under the interactive effects of RHMP and fertilization. The results showed that RHMP changed the pattern of soil water consumption and recovery, thereby making it more compatible with the water demand of spring maize, and improving the water availability. Compared with NN, HS, HN, and FD increased the evapotranspiration by 8.7, 12.5, and 20.7 mm, respectively, the yield by 19.8%, 21.1%, and 69.4%, and the water use efficiency by 17.5%, 17.8%, and 61.8%. Under the same RHMP method, fertilization increased the consumption of soil water by crops but improved the water use efficiency. Compared with N, L, M, and H increased the evapotranspiration by 13.1 mm, 14.1 mm, and 15.4 mm, respectively, the yield by 198.7%, 228.5%, and 243.7%, and the water use efficiency increased significantly by 190.0%, 218.2%, and 231.9%. Due to the high variability of inter-annual rainfall (differences up to 419.1 mm during 2014–2019), the soil water availability varied significantly in different years, thereby affecting the yield and economic benefits. We also analyzed the responses in terms of the grain yield and net income to fertilizer application, as well as the soil water storage in the 0–200 cm soil layer before sowing under different RHMP methods. The amount of fertilizer that obtains the best yield and maximum economic benefit in the current year can be evaluated according to the soil water conditions before sowing in order to maximize the production of spring maize in the current season. The results obtained in this study provide a simple method for determining the amount of fertilizer based on water availability to improve and stabilize the crop production efficiency in arid regions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377423003177Dryland farmingEconomic benefitsFertilization strategiesMaize growth parametersMaize yield |
| spellingShingle | Donghua Liu Zujiao Shi Qian Ma Yan Zhang Tie Cai Peng Zhang Zhikuan Jia Strategy for matching fertilizer application with soil water before sowing can stabilize maize productivity under rainwater harvesting and mulching planting in dry areas: A six-year field experiment Agricultural Water Management Dryland farming Economic benefits Fertilization strategies Maize growth parameters Maize yield |
| title | Strategy for matching fertilizer application with soil water before sowing can stabilize maize productivity under rainwater harvesting and mulching planting in dry areas: A six-year field experiment |
| title_full | Strategy for matching fertilizer application with soil water before sowing can stabilize maize productivity under rainwater harvesting and mulching planting in dry areas: A six-year field experiment |
| title_fullStr | Strategy for matching fertilizer application with soil water before sowing can stabilize maize productivity under rainwater harvesting and mulching planting in dry areas: A six-year field experiment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Strategy for matching fertilizer application with soil water before sowing can stabilize maize productivity under rainwater harvesting and mulching planting in dry areas: A six-year field experiment |
| title_short | Strategy for matching fertilizer application with soil water before sowing can stabilize maize productivity under rainwater harvesting and mulching planting in dry areas: A six-year field experiment |
| title_sort | strategy for matching fertilizer application with soil water before sowing can stabilize maize productivity under rainwater harvesting and mulching planting in dry areas a six year field experiment |
| topic | Dryland farming Economic benefits Fertilization strategies Maize growth parameters Maize yield |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377423003177 |
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