Straw return increases crop production by improving soil organic carbon sequestration and soil aggregation in a long-term wheat–cotton cropping system
Straw return is a promising strategy for managing soil organic carbon (SOC) and improving yield stability. However, the optimal straw return strategy for sustainable crop production in the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cropping system remains uncertain. The objective of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Integrative Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095311923001752 |
| _version_ | 1827359087550005248 |
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| author | Changqin Yang Xiaojing Wang Jianan Li Guowei Zhang Hongmei Shu Wei Hu Huanyong Han Ruixian Liu Zichun Guo |
| author_facet | Changqin Yang Xiaojing Wang Jianan Li Guowei Zhang Hongmei Shu Wei Hu Huanyong Han Ruixian Liu Zichun Guo |
| author_sort | Changqin Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Straw return is a promising strategy for managing soil organic carbon (SOC) and improving yield stability. However, the optimal straw return strategy for sustainable crop production in the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cropping system remains uncertain. The objective of this study was to quantify the long-term (10 years) impact of carbon (C) input on SOC sequestration, soil aggregation and crop yields in a wheat–cotton cropping system in the Yangtze River Valley, China. Five treatments were arranged with a single-factor randomized design as follows: no straw return (Control), return of wheat straw only (Wt), return of cotton straw only (Ct), return of 50% wheat and 50% cotton straw (Wh-Ch) and return of 100% wheat and 100% cotton straw (Wt-Ct). In comparison to the Control, the SOC content increased by 8.4 to 20.2% under straw return. A significant linear positive correlation between SOC sequestration and C input (1.42–7.19 Mg ha−1 yr−1) (P<0.05) was detected. The percentages of aggregates of sizes >2 and 1–2 mm at the 0–20 cm soil depth were also significantly elevated under straw return, with the greatest increase of the aggregate stability in the Wt-Ct treatment (28.1%). The average wheat yields increased by 12.4–36.0% and cotton yields increased by 29.4–73.7%, and significantly linear positive correlations were also detected between C input and the yields of wheat and cotton. The average sustainable yield index (SYI) reached a maximum value of 0.69 when the C input was 7.08 Mg ha−1 yr−1, which was close to the maximum value (SYI of 0.69, C input of 7.19 Mg ha−1 yr–1) in the Wt-Ct treatment. Overall, the return of both wheat and cotton straw was the best strategy for improving SOC sequestration, soil aggregation, yields and their sustainability in the wheat–cotton rotation system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:21:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ab78c65de9934534a1ba9ac238b60c83 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2095-3119 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:21:37Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Integrative Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-ab78c65de9934534a1ba9ac238b60c832024-02-04T04:44:14ZengElsevierJournal of Integrative Agriculture2095-31192024-02-01232669679Straw return increases crop production by improving soil organic carbon sequestration and soil aggregation in a long-term wheat–cotton cropping systemChangqin Yang0Xiaojing Wang1Jianan Li2Guowei Zhang3Hongmei Shu4Wei Hu5Huanyong Han6Ruixian Liu7Zichun Guo8Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Cotton and Rapeseed, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, ChinaInstitute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Cotton and Rapeseed, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an 223003, ChinaInstitute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Cotton and Rapeseed, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, ChinaInstitute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Cotton and Rapeseed, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaCotton Research Institute, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi 832000, ChinaInstitute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Cotton and Rapeseed, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China; Correspondence Ruixian Liu, Tel: +86-25-84390366Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences/State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Nanjing 210008, China; Zichun Guo, Tel: +86-25-86881221Straw return is a promising strategy for managing soil organic carbon (SOC) and improving yield stability. However, the optimal straw return strategy for sustainable crop production in the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cropping system remains uncertain. The objective of this study was to quantify the long-term (10 years) impact of carbon (C) input on SOC sequestration, soil aggregation and crop yields in a wheat–cotton cropping system in the Yangtze River Valley, China. Five treatments were arranged with a single-factor randomized design as follows: no straw return (Control), return of wheat straw only (Wt), return of cotton straw only (Ct), return of 50% wheat and 50% cotton straw (Wh-Ch) and return of 100% wheat and 100% cotton straw (Wt-Ct). In comparison to the Control, the SOC content increased by 8.4 to 20.2% under straw return. A significant linear positive correlation between SOC sequestration and C input (1.42–7.19 Mg ha−1 yr−1) (P<0.05) was detected. The percentages of aggregates of sizes >2 and 1–2 mm at the 0–20 cm soil depth were also significantly elevated under straw return, with the greatest increase of the aggregate stability in the Wt-Ct treatment (28.1%). The average wheat yields increased by 12.4–36.0% and cotton yields increased by 29.4–73.7%, and significantly linear positive correlations were also detected between C input and the yields of wheat and cotton. The average sustainable yield index (SYI) reached a maximum value of 0.69 when the C input was 7.08 Mg ha−1 yr−1, which was close to the maximum value (SYI of 0.69, C input of 7.19 Mg ha−1 yr–1) in the Wt-Ct treatment. Overall, the return of both wheat and cotton straw was the best strategy for improving SOC sequestration, soil aggregation, yields and their sustainability in the wheat–cotton rotation system.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095311923001752straw returncrop yieldsSOCsoil aggregateswheat–cotton cropping system |
| spellingShingle | Changqin Yang Xiaojing Wang Jianan Li Guowei Zhang Hongmei Shu Wei Hu Huanyong Han Ruixian Liu Zichun Guo Straw return increases crop production by improving soil organic carbon sequestration and soil aggregation in a long-term wheat–cotton cropping system Journal of Integrative Agriculture straw return crop yields SOC soil aggregates wheat–cotton cropping system |
| title | Straw return increases crop production by improving soil organic carbon sequestration and soil aggregation in a long-term wheat–cotton cropping system |
| title_full | Straw return increases crop production by improving soil organic carbon sequestration and soil aggregation in a long-term wheat–cotton cropping system |
| title_fullStr | Straw return increases crop production by improving soil organic carbon sequestration and soil aggregation in a long-term wheat–cotton cropping system |
| title_full_unstemmed | Straw return increases crop production by improving soil organic carbon sequestration and soil aggregation in a long-term wheat–cotton cropping system |
| title_short | Straw return increases crop production by improving soil organic carbon sequestration and soil aggregation in a long-term wheat–cotton cropping system |
| title_sort | straw return increases crop production by improving soil organic carbon sequestration and soil aggregation in a long term wheat cotton cropping system |
| topic | straw return crop yields SOC soil aggregates wheat–cotton cropping system |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095311923001752 |
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