Legume rotation with optimal nitrogen management enhances subsequent winter wheat productivity and soil ecosystem multifunctionality: a case study in semi-humid regions
Cui N. Qi T. Chen Z. Wang J. Ma J. Liu E. Meruyert M. Jia Z. Siddique K.H.M. Zhang P.
November 2025Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Plant and Soil
2025#516Issue 1195 - 215 pp.
Background and aims: Legume rotation and optimized nitrogen application are established strategies for sustainable crop production and soil quality improvement. This study aims to clarify the effects of soybean stubble combined with nitrogen reduction on winter wheat growth, nitrogen uptake, soil ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF), and soil-crop interactions. Methods: In three different preceding crop systems (Fallow-F, Soybean-B, and Maize-M), three nitrogen levels (N0: 0, N1: 125, N2:225 kg N/ha) were applied during the wheat season to investigate the effects on wheat root growth, aboveground biomass accumulation, nitrogen absorption, yield, and soil EMF. Results: Compared with F and M stubbles, B significantly promoted the growth of wheat, increasing nitrogen uptake by 27.48% and 33.35%, and yield by 19.10% and 20.03%, respectively. Across different stubble treatments, the root index, aboveground biomass, and nitrogen accumulation of wheat increased with nitrogen application. B stubble also significantly improved annual economic benefits and EMF, particularly at the N1 level (BN1), showing average increases of 70.87% and 4.17 times over other treatments. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between root and aboveground wheat growth, with soil parameters positively correlating with both belowground and aboveground growth, as well as nitrogen accumulation and yield. Notably, soil enzyme activity and total nitrogen content were more strongly related to variations in wheat growth indicators. Conclusion: The best combined performance of the BN1 treatment in terms of crop growth, economic efficiency and ecosystem provides theoretical support for the incorporation of legumes into cropping systems to reduce chemical nitrogen fertilizer application and improve soil ecosystem multifunctionality.
Ecosystem multifunctionality , Legume stubble , Nitrogen uptake and utilization , Optimal nitrogen , Root system
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College of Agronomy/State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Northwest A & F University, Shaanxi, Yangling, 712100, China
Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology, Ecology and Tillage Science in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shaanxi, Yangling, 712100, China
Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
Akhmet Baitursynuly Kostanay Regional University, Kostanay, 110000, Kazakhstan
The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, 6001, WA, Australia
College of Agronomy/State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production
Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology
Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture
Akhmet Baitursynuly Kostanay Regional University
The UWA Institute of Agriculture
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