Ridge-furrow film mulching combined with biochar addition enhances maize productivity and reduces nitrogen loss, but increases soil moisture consumption in semi-arid areas
Li Z. Ren L. Pan H. Ji Y. Zhang N. Meruyert M. Assiyae A. Zhang W. Liu E. Siddique K.H.M. Ding R. Jia Z. Wang Y. Liu Z. Zhang P.
September 2025Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Plant and Soil
2025#514Issue 1185 - 203 pp.
Aims: Ridge-furrow film mulching (RFFM) and biochar addition are both effective soil management practices for improving crop yields in dry farming regions. However, they may have different impacts on soil moisture status and nitrogen budget. Methods: A two-years experiment was conducted on soil water and nitrogen status, maize productivity, and nitrogen utilization through four treatments: FN, flat planting without biochar; FB, flat planting with 9.0 t ha−1 biochar; RN, RFFM without biochar; RB, RFFM with 9.0 t ha−1 biochar. Results: In the 0–60 cm soil layer, RFFM reduced soil nitrogen storage and increased soil water storage (SWS), while biochar addition was the opposite. A significant interaction was observed between the two measures regarding the reduction of SWS in deep soil (60–200 cm), with the RB significantly increasing the soil desiccation index during the filling stage. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the decrease of SWS in deep soil did not adversely affect crop production, instead, it significantly increased maize productivity and utilization efficiency, while reducing nitrogen loss (P < 0.05). Among them, the RB with the lowest SWS in the deep layer demonstrated the best overall performance, which increased maize yield by 27.2% and nitrogen use efficiency by 21.0%, and reduced NH3 cmissions by 20.6% and mineral nitrogen residue by 46.9%. Conclusions: RB is an effective field management strategy to promote soil nitrogen retention and improve nitrogen utilization of maize. However, it is important to remain vigilant about the potential impacts of decreased soil water on future agricultural productivity under this practice.
Biochar addition , Maize productivity , Ridge-furrow film mulching , Soil water status , Water and nitrogen utilization
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College of Agronomy, Statekey Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Productior, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
Key Laboratory of Crop Physio-Ecology and Tillage Science in the Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
Akhmet Baitursynuly Kostanay Regional University, Kostanay, 110000, Kazakhstan
Crop Research Institute, Ningxia Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Yinchuan, 7501055, China
Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
The UWA Institute of Agriculture, the University of Western Australia, Perth, WA6001, Australia
School of Geography, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjingaq, Jiangsu, 210023, China
College of Agronomy
Key Laboratory of Crop Physio-Ecology and Tillage Science in the Northwestern Loess Plateau
Akhmet Baitursynuly Kostanay Regional University
Crop Research Institute
Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture
The UWA Institute of Agriculture
School of Geography
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