IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/caa/jnlpse/v64y2018i7id96-2018-pse.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Wheat straw mulching with fertilizer nitrogen: An approach for improving soil water storage and maize crop productivity

Author

Listed:
  • Kashif AKHTAR

    (College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China
    Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan)

  • Weiyu WANG

    (College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China)

  • Ahmad KHAN

    (Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan)

  • Guangxin REN

    (College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China)

  • Muhammad Zahir AFRIDI

    (Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan)

  • Yongzhong FENG

    (College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China)

  • Gaihe YANG

    (College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China)

Abstract

Field studies using wheat straw mulching effects on soil water storage and maize development were conducted in China. The studies contained four treatments during three years (2014-2016): CK (no straw and no nitrogen); N (no straw mulching with 172 kg N/ha); HS + N (half straw mulching at the rate of 2500 kg/ha with 172 kg N/ha), and FS + N (full straw mulching at the rate of 5000 kg/ha with 172 kg N/ha). The FS + N treatment significantly increased soil water storage in a drought period during crop growth stages and promoted plant growth along with increased evapotranspiration. The FS + N treatment increased the soil water storage (26.5, 19.9 and 11.1 mm), grain yield (28.7, 6.93 and 2.4%), and water use efficiency (26.6, 6.64 and 2.40%) compared to CK, N and HS + N, respectively. In conclusion, compared to N, HS + N or FS + N increased the biomass (11 and 19%) and water use efficiency (4 and 5%), respectively, and are considered beneficial in Guanzhong, China. Mulching levels were superior to N and compensated the wheat nitrogen requirements. Thus, further studies with minimum fertilizer nitrogen for an environmentally friendly and effective approach are recommended in semiarid regions of China.

Suggested Citation

  • Kashif AKHTAR & Weiyu WANG & Ahmad KHAN & Guangxin REN & Muhammad Zahir AFRIDI & Yongzhong FENG & Gaihe YANG, 2018. "Wheat straw mulching with fertilizer nitrogen: An approach for improving soil water storage and maize crop productivity," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 64(7), pages 330-337.
    • Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:64:y:2018:i:7:id:96-2018-pse
    DOI: 10.17221/96/2018-PSE
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/96/2018-PSE.html
    Download Restriction: free of charge
    File URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/96/2018-PSE.pdf
    Download Restriction: free of charge
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.17221/96/2018-PSE?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. Bu, Ling-duo & Liu, Jian-liang & Zhu, Lin & Luo, Sha-sha & Chen, Xin-ping & Li, Shi-qing & Lee Hill, Robert & Zhao, Ying, 2013. "The effects of mulching on maize growth, yield and water use in a semi-arid region," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 71-78.
    3. Deng, Xi-Ping & Shan, Lun & Zhang, Heping & Turner, Neil C., 2006. "Improving agricultural water use efficiency in arid and semiarid areas of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 80(1-3), pages 23-40, February.
    4. Liu, Yi & Li, Shiqing & Chen, Fang & Yang, Shenjiao & Chen, Xinping, 2010. "Soil water dynamics and water use efficiency in spring maize (Zea mays L.) fields subjected to different water management practices on the Loess Plateau, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(5), pages 769-775, May.
    5. Tavakkoli, Ali Reza & Oweis, Theib Y., 2004. "The role of supplemental irrigation and nitrogen in producing bread wheat in the highlands of Iran," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 65(3), pages 225-236, March.
    6. Li, Xiao-Yan & Gong, Jia-Dong & Gao, Qian-Zhao & Li, Feng-Rui, 2001. "Incorporation of ridge and furrow method of rainfall harvesting with mulching for crop production under semiarid conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 50(3), pages 173-183, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Duan, Chenxiao & Chen, Guangjie & Hu, Yajin & Wu, Shufang & Feng, Hao & Dong, Qin’ge, 2021. "Alternating wide ridges and narrow furrows with film mulching improves soil hydrothermal conditions and maize water use efficiency in dry sub-humid regions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    2. He, Zhihao & Gong, Kaiyuan & Zhang, Zhiliang & Dong, Wenbiao & Feng, Hao & Yu, Qiang & He, Jianqiang, 2022. "What is the past, present, and future of scientific research on the Yellow River Basin? —A bibliometric analysis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    3. Hu, Yajin & Ma, Penghui & Duan, Chenxiao & Wu, Shufang & Feng, Hao & Zou, Yufeng, 2020. "Black plastic film combined with straw mulching delays senescence and increases summer maize yield in northwest China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    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. Ding, Dianyuan & Zhao, Ying & Feng, Hao & Hill, Robert Lee & Chu, Xiaosheng & Zhang, Tibin & He, Jianqiang, 2018. "Soil water utilization with plastic mulching for a winter wheat-summer maize rotation system on the Loess Plateau of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 201(C), pages 246-257.
    6. Li, Yue & Chen, Hao & Feng, Hao & Dong, Qin’ge & Wu, Wenjie & Zou, Yufeng & Chau, Henry Wai & Siddique, Kadambot H.M., 2020. "Influence of straw incorporation on soil water utilization and summer maize productivity: A five-year field study on the Loess Plateau of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    7. 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.
    8. Hu, Yajin & Ma, Penghui & Zhang, Binbin & Hill, Robert L. & Wu, Shufang & Dong, Qin’ge & Chen, Guangjie, 2019. "Exploring optimal soil mulching for the wheat-maize cropping system in sub-humid drought-prone regions in China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 59-71.
    9. Zhao, Ying & Zhai, Xiafei & Wang, Zhaohui & Li, Huijie & Jiang, Rui & Lee Hill, Robert & Si, Bing & Hao, Feng, 2018. "Simulation of soil water and heat flow in ridge cultivation with plastic film mulching system on the Chinese Loess Plateau," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 99-112.
    10. Gu, Xiaobo & Cai, Huanjie & Fang, Heng & Chen, Pengpeng & Li, Yupeng & Li, Yuannong, 2021. "Soil hydro-thermal characteristics, maize yield and water use efficiency as affected by different biodegradable film mulching patterns in a rain-fed semi-arid area of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    11. Thidar, Myint & Gong, Daozhi & Mei, Xurong & Gao, Lili & Li, Haoru & Hao, Weiping & Gu, Fengxue, 2020. "Mulching improved soil water, root distribution and yield of maize in the Loess Plateau of Northwest China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    12. Zhang, Runze & Lei, Tong & Wang, Yunfeng & Xu, Jiaxing & Zhang, Panxin & Han, Yan & Hu, Changlu & Yang, Xueyun & Sadras, Victor & Zhang, Shulan, 2022. "Responses of yield and water use efficiency to the interaction between water supply and plastic film mulch in winter wheat-summer fallow system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    13. Chen, Zhijun & Sun, Shijun & Zhu, Zhenchuang & Jiang, Hao & Zhang, Xudong, 2019. "Assessing the effects of plant density and plastic film mulch on maize evaporation and transpiration using dual crop coefficient approach," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    14. Zhang, Xudong & Li, Zhimin & Siddique, Kadambot H.M. & Shayakhmetova, Altyn & Jia, Zhikuan & Han, Qingfang, 2020. "Increasing maize production and preventing water deficits in semi-arid areas: A study matching fertilization with regional precipitation under mulch planting," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    15. Li, Yue & Chen, Ji & Feng, Hao & Dong, Qin’ge & Siddique, Kadambot H.M., 2021. "Responses of canopy characteristics and water use efficiency to ammoniated straw incorporation for summer maize (Zea mays L.) in the Loess Plateau, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    16. Yang, Jian & Mao, Xiaomin & Wang, Kai & Yang, Weicai, 2018. "The coupled impact of plastic film mulching and deficit irrigation on soil water/heat transfer and water use efficiency of spring wheat in Northwest China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 201(C), pages 232-245.
    17. Abdul Ghaffar Khan & Muhammad Imran & Anwar-ul-Hassan Khan & Ali Fares & Jiří Šimůnek & Tanveer Ul-Haq & Abdulaziz Abdullah Alsahli & Mohammed Nasser Alyemeni & Shafaqat Ali, 2021. "Performance of Spring and Summer-Sown Maize under Different Irrigation Strategies in Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-13, March.
    18. Duan, Chenxiao & Chen, Jifei & Li, Jiabei & Su, Shunshun & Lei, Qi & Feng, Hao & Wu, Shufang & Zhang, Tibin & Siddique, Kadambot H.M. & Zou, Yufeng, 2022. "Biomaterial amendments combined with ridge–furrow mulching improve soil hydrothermal characteristics and wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) growth in the Qaidam Basin of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    19. T. Cai & C. Zhang & Y. Huang & H. Huang & B. Yang & Z. Zhao & J. Zhang & Z. Jia, 2015. "Effects of different straw mulch modes on soil water storage and water use efficiency of spring maize (Zea mays L.) in the Loess Plateau of China," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 61(6), pages 253-259.
    20. Zheng, Jing & Fan, Junliang & Zhou, Minghua & Zhang, Fucang & Liao, Zhenqi & Lai, Zhenlin & Yan, Shicheng & Guo, Jinjin & Li, Zhijun & Xiang, Youzhen, 2022. "Ridge-furrow plastic film mulching enhances grain yield and yield stability of rainfed maize by improving resources capture and use efficiency in a semi-humid drought-prone region," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:64:y:2018:i:7:id:96-2018-pse. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Ivo Andrle (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.cazv.cz/en/home/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.