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Benefits and limitations of straw mulching and incorporation on maize yield, water use efficiency, and nitrogen use efficiency

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  • Qin, Xiaoliang
  • Huang, Tiantian
  • Lu, Chen
  • Dang, Pengfei
  • Zhang, Miaomiao
  • Guan, Xiao-kang
  • Wen, Peng-fei
  • Wang, Tong-Chao
  • Chen, Yinglong
  • Siddique, Kadambot H.M.

Abstract

Straw mulching and straw incorporation are widely used for conservation tillage as the primary methods of returning straw to the field. However, few studies have investigated the effects of straw mulching and straw incorporation under various agronomic management and environmental and edaphic factors. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis incorporating 112 publications to determine whether straw incorporation and straw mulching had different effects on maize yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) under contrasting soil textures, N application rates, straw returning amounts, and annual average precipitation, temperature, and evaporation. The results showed that straw mulching and straw incorporation significantly increase maize yields, WUE, and NUE. Straw mulching yield had a significant positive correlation with WUE, while straw incorporation yield had significant positive correlations with WUE and NUE. Maize yield and WUE increased and NUE decreased with increasing nitrogen application rate. Straw incorporation increased maize yield and NUE more than straw mulching at low straw returning amounts (< 6000 kg ha−1). In arid and semi-arid areas with < 400 mm average annual precipitation and > 1200 mm evaporation, straw mulching increased maize yield, WUE, and NUE more than straw incorporation. In semi-humid areas (400–600 mm), straw incorporation increased maize yield and NUE more than straw mulching. Straw mulching is more conducive to increasing maize yield and NUE with average annual temperatures < 7 °C, while straw incorporation is more conducive to increasing maize yield, WUE, and NUE with average annual temperatures > 13 °C. Of the three soil textures, the largest weighted response ratio of straw returning on yield and NUE occurred in loam soil with straw incorporation. This study identified the benefits and limitations of straw incorporation and straw mulching on maize yield, NUE, and WUE.

Suggested Citation

  • Qin, Xiaoliang & Huang, Tiantian & Lu, Chen & Dang, Pengfei & Zhang, Miaomiao & Guan, Xiao-kang & Wen, Peng-fei & Wang, Tong-Chao & Chen, Yinglong & Siddique, Kadambot H.M., 2021. "Benefits and limitations of straw mulching and incorporation on maize yield, water use efficiency, and nitrogen use efficiency," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:256:y:2021:i:c:s0378377421004054
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2021.107128
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dong, Qin’ge & Yang, Yuchen & Yu, Kun & Feng, Hao, 2018. "Effects of straw mulching and plastic film mulching on improving soil organic carbon and nitrogen fractions, crop yield and water use efficiency in the Loess Plateau, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 201(C), pages 133-143.
    2. Li, S.X. & Wang, Z.H. & Li, S.Q. & Gao, Y.J. & Tian, X.H., 2013. "Effect of plastic sheet mulch, wheat straw mulch, and maize growth on water loss by evaporation in dryland areas of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 39-49.
    3. Li, Rong & Hou, Xianqing & Jia, Zhikuan & Han, Qingfang & Ren, Xiaolong & Yang, Baoping, 2013. "Effects on soil temperature, moisture, and maize yield of cultivation with ridge and furrow mulching in the rainfed area of the Loess Plateau, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 101-109.
    4. Gao, Haihe & Yan, Changrong & Liu, Qin & Li, Zhen & Yang, Xiao & Qi, Ruimin, 2019. "Exploring optimal soil mulching to enhance yield and water use efficiency in maize cropping in China: A meta-analysis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    5. Liu, Zhen & Ma, Feng-yun & Hu, Tong-xi & Zhao, Kai-guang & Gao, Tian-ping & Zhao, Hong-xiang & Ning, Tang-yuan, 2020. "Using stable isotopes to quantify water uptake from different soil layers and water use efficiency of wheat under long-term tillage and straw return practices," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    6. Verena Seufert & Navin Ramankutty & Jonathan A. Foley, 2012. "Comparing the yields of organic and conventional agriculture," Nature, Nature, vol. 485(7397), pages 229-232, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Pan Li & Wen Yin & Guiping Chen & Yao Guo & Zhilong Fan & Falong Hu & Fuxue Feng & Hong Fan & Wei He, 2023. "Sustainable Analysis of Maize Production under Previous Wheat Straw Returning in Arid Irrigated Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, June.
    2. Xiangxiang Wang & Zhilong Cheng & Xin Cheng & Quanjiu Wang, 2022. "Effects of Surface Mulching on the Growth and Water Consumption of Maize," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-12, November.
    3. Lv, Shenqiang & Li, Jia & Yang, Zeyu & Yang, Ting & Li, Huitong & Wang, Xiaofei & Peng, Yi & Zhou, Chunju & Wang, Linquan & Abdo, Ahmed I., 2023. "The field mulching could improve sustainability of spring maize production on the Loess Plateau," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    4. Linlin Ye & Yuanxiao Xu & Guofeng Zhu & Wenhao Zhang & Yinying Jiao, 2023. "Effects of Different Mulch Types on Farmland Soil Moisture in an Artificial Oasis Area," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-17, December.

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