Optimal Straw Return Rate to Ensure Synergistic Improvement of Maize Productivity and Soil Nutrients: A Case Study in Semiarid Region
Zhang W. He J. Zhang M. Nugmanov A. Liu E. Ren X. Jia Z. Siddique K.H.M. Wang Y. Zhang P.
2025John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Land Degradation and Development
2025
While long-term film mulching has consistently increased crop yields, it has also contributed to land degradation, prompting adjustments in straw returning rates. However, the responses of soil organic carbon (SOC) and structure to optimal straw returning rates are in need of a deeper understanding. Here, we examined the effects of soil structure, SOC dynamics, and maize productivity under long-term film mulching with varying straw return rates (0, 6000, 12,000, and 18,000 kg ha−1) in semi-arid farmland. The SOC and particulate organic carbon (POC) content both reduced after long-term film mulching. The varying changes of soil aggregation processes caused by different straw returning rates, which in turn affect the distribution of soil aggregates, particularly the proportion of > 0.25 mm aggregates. The effects of different straw return rates on crop yield were mainly driven by changes in organic carbon pools (microbial biomass and dissolved organic carbon), resulting from nutrient inputs that stimulated microbial growth. Higher straw return rates have promoted the stratification of SOC and modified the proportional distribution of organic carbon fractions. These changes have directly and indirectly increased maize yield by 21% and economic benefits by 15%. Based on the total application of straw in dryland farming systems, increasing the straw application rate to 18,000 kg ha−1 resulted in a synergistic improvement in SOC content, soil structure and economic benefits.
economic benefit , film mulching , maize yield , soil organic carbon , straw returning
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Crop Research Institute, NingXia Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Yinchuan, China
College of Agronomy, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance and High–Efficiency Production, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, Yangling, China
Key Laboratory of Crop Physi–Ecology and Tillage Science in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shaanxi, Yangling, China
Akhmet Baitursynuly Kostanay Regional University, Kostanay, Kazakhstan
Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
The UWA Institute of Agricultre, The University of Westem Australia, Perth, Australia
Crop Research Institute
College of Agronomy
Key Laboratory of Crop Physi–Ecology and Tillage Science in Northwestern Loess Plateau
Akhmet Baitursynuly Kostanay Regional University
Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture
The UWA Institute of Agricultre
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