IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agiwat/v210y2018icp149-157.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Cultivation techniques and nutrient management strategies to improve productivity of rain-fed maize in semi-arid regions

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Chunxia
  • Li, Yuyi
  • Li, Youjun
  • Fu, Guozhan

Abstract

A field study was conducted during 2015–16 in a semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau China to clarify the interactive effects of cultivation techniques with different N and P fertilization levels on the maize growth, yield, evapotranspiration, and water use efficiency. Two planting models were tested: conventional flat planting (M1), and ridge furrow (RF) rainfall harvesting planting model (M2); with four N:P fertilizer rates: 0:0 kg ha–1 (F0); 100:50 kg ha–1 (F1); 200:100 kg ha–1 (F2), and 300:150 kg ha–1 (F3). The RF system increased the soil water storage (SWS), where the SWS exhibited a decreasing trend as the fertilization rate increased under both cultivation models. At 120 days after planting (DAP) the mean, SWS at the depth of 0–200 cm under the M1F0, M1F3, M2F0 and M2F3 treatments was 376.5 mm, 345.7 mm, 350.6 mm and 325.4 mm. The mean WUE over 2 years increased significantly (P < 0.05) with M2F3, M2F2, M1F3, M1F2, M2F1, and M1F1 by 53%, 37.7%, 34.7%, 31.9%, 21.6%, and 19.0% compared with M1F0 and M2F0 treatments. Maize responded positively to fertilizer, and F2 was the economical fertilizer input rate, where the leaf area, dry matter accumulation and grain yield increased significantly with increasing fertilization rate up to the economically optimal rate (F2). Beyond the optimal rate, these quantities increased slightly as did the yields and economic returns. Agronomic efficiency steadily decreased with fertilization rate beyond the F1 level. The economic benefit was 54% greater under M2F2 treatment, which also obtained significantly higher grain yield, WUE and agronomic efficiency than that of M2F0 treatment. Thus, we recommend the M2F2 planting model for high productivity and efficient maize production in semi-arid regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Chunxia & Li, Yuyi & Li, Youjun & Fu, Guozhan, 2018. "Cultivation techniques and nutrient management strategies to improve productivity of rain-fed maize in semi-arid regions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 149-157.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:210:y:2018:i:c:p:149-157
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2018.08.014
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377418312150
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agwat.2018.08.014?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. Ren, Xiaolong & Jia, Zhikuan & Chen, Xiaoli, 2008. "Rainfall concentration for increasing corn production under semiarid climate," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 95(12), pages 1293-1302, December.
    2. Qin, Shuhao & Zhang, Junlian & Dai, Hailin & Wang, Di & Li, Deming, 2014. "Effect of ridge–furrow and plastic-mulching planting patterns on yield formation and water movement of potato in a semi-arid area," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 87-94.
    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. Wang, Yajun & Xie, Zhongkui & Malhi, Sukhdev S. & Vera, Cecil L. & Zhang, Yubao & Wang, Jinniu, 2009. "Effects of rainfall harvesting and mulching technologies on water use efficiency and crop yield in the semi-arid Loess Plateau, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(3), pages 374-382, March.
    5. Lenka, S. & Singh, A.K. & Lenka, N.K., 2009. "Water and nitrogen interaction on soil profile water extraction and ET in maize-wheat cropping system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(2), pages 195-207, February.
    6. Adamtey, Noah & Cofie, Olufunke & Ofosu-Budu, K.G. & Ofosu-Anim, J. & Laryea, K.B. & Forster, Dionys, 2010. "Effect of N-enriched co-compost on transpiration efficiency and water-use efficiency of maize (Zea mays L.) under controlled irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(7), pages 995-1005, July.
    7. Wu, Yang & Jia, Zhikuan & Ren, Xiaolong & Zhang, Yan & Chen, Xin & Bing, Haoyang & Zhang, Peng, 2015. "Effects of ridge and furrow rainwater harvesting system combined with irrigation on improving water use efficiency of maize (Zea mays L.) in semi-humid area of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 1-9.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Feiyan Yu & Wei Li & Xiaokai Gao & Peng Li & Yihan Fu & Jinyong Yang & Yajuan Li & Huiqing Chang & Wenli Zhou & Xugang Wang & Lianhe Zhang, 2020. "Genotype difference in the physiological characteristics of phosphorus acquisition by wheat seedlings in alkaline soils," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 66(10), pages 506-512.

    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. Ali, Shahzad & Jan, Amanullah & Zhang, Peng & Khan, Muhammad Numan & Cai, Tei & Wei, Ting & Ren, Xiaolong & Jia, Qianmin & Han, Qingfang & Jia, Zhikuan, 2016. "Effects of ridge-covering mulches on soil water storage and maize production under simulated rainfall in semiarid regions of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 1-11.
    2. Ali, Shahzad & Ma, Xiangcheng & Jia, Qianmin & Ahmad, Irshad & Ahmad, Shakeel & Sha, Zhang & Yun, Bai & Muhammad, Adil & Ren, Xiaolong & shah, Shahen & Akbar, Habib & Cai, Tie & Zhang, Jiahua & Jia, Z, 2019. "Supplemental irrigation strategy for improving grain filling, economic return, and production in winter wheat under the ridge and furrow rainwater harvesting system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    3. Ali, Shahzad & Jan, Amanullah & Manzoor, & Sohail, Amir & Khan, Ahmad & Khan, Muhammad Ijaz & Inamullah, & Zhang, Jiahua & Daur, Ihsanullah, 2018. "Soil amendments strategies to improve water-use efficiency and productivity of maize under different irrigation conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 88-95.
    4. Lian, Yanhao & Ali, Shahzad & Zhang, Xudong & Wang, Tianlu & Liu, Qi & Jia, Qianmin & Jia, Zhikuan & Han, Qingfang, 2016. "Nutrient and tillage strategies to increase grain yield and water use efficiency in semi-arid areas," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 137-147.
    5. Jia, Qianmin & Xu, Ranran & Chang, Shenghua & Zhang, Cheng & Liu, Yongjie & Shi, Wei & Peng, Zechen & Hou, Fujiang, 2020. "Planting practices with nutrient strategies to improves productivity of rain-fed corn and resource use efficiency in semi-arid regions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    6. Jia, Qianmin & Sun, Lefeng & Ali, Shahzad & Zhang, Yan & Liu, Donghua & Kamran, Muhammad & Zhang, Peng & Jia, Zhikuan & Ren, Xiaolong, 2018. "Effect of planting density and pattern on maize yield and rainwater use efficiency in the Loess Plateau in China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 19-32.
    7. Ali, Shahzad & Xu, Yueyue & Jia, Qianmin & Ahmad, Irshad & Ma, Xiangcheng & Yan, Zhang & Cai, Tie & Ren, Xiaolong & Zhang, Peng & Jia, Zhikuan, 2018. "Interactive effects of planting models with limited irrigation on soil water, temperature, respiration and winter wheat production under simulated rainfall conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 198-211.
    8. Dong, Baodi & Liu, Mengyu & Jiang, Jingwei & Shi, Changhai & Wang, Xiaoming & Qiao, Yunzhou & Liu, Yueyan & Zhao, Zhihai & li, Dongxiao & Si, Fuyan, 2014. "Growth, grain yield, and water use efficiency of rain-fed spring hybrid millet (Setaria italica) in plastic-mulched and unmulched fields," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 93-101.
    9. Zhang, Yan & Ma, Qian & Liu, Donghua & Sun, Lefeng & Ren, Xiaolong & Ali, Shahzad & Zhang, Peng & Jia, Zhikuan, 2018. "Effects of different fertilizer strategies on soil water utilization and maize yield in the ridge and furrow rainfall harvesting system in semiarid regions of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 414-421.
    10. Jia, Qianmin & Sun, Lefeng & Mou, Hongyan & Ali, Shahzad & Liu, Donghua & Zhang, Yan & Zhang, Peng & Ren, Xiaolong & Jia, Zhikuan, 2018. "Effects of planting patterns and sowing densities on grain-filling, radiation use efficiency and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) in semi-arid regions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 201(C), pages 287-298.
    11. Ali, Shahzad & Xu, Yueyue & Ahmad, Irshad & Jia, Qianmin & Fangyuan, Huang & Daur, Ihsanullah & Wei, Ting & Cai, Tie & Ren, Xiaolong & Zhang, Peng & Jia, Zhikuan, 2018. "The ridge furrow cropping technique indirectly improves seed filling endogenous hormonal changes and winter wheat production under simulated rainfall conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 138-148.
    12. 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.
    13. Munyasya, Alex Ndolo & Koskei, Kiprotich & Zhou, Rui & Liu, Shu-Tong & Indoshi, Sylvia Ngaira & Wang, Wei & Zhang, Xu-Cheng & Cheruiyot, Wesly Kiprotich & Mburu, David Mwehia & Nyende, Aggrey Bernard , 2022. "Integrated on-site & off-site rainwater-harvesting system boosts rainfed maize production for better adaptation to climate change," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    14. Meng, Xiangping & Lian, Yanhao & Liu, Qi & Zhang, Peng & Jia, Zhikuan & Han, Qingfang, 2020. "Optimizing the planting density under the ridge and furrow rainwater harvesting system to improve crop water productivity for foxtail millet in semiarid areas," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).
    15. 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.
    16. He, Gang & Wang, Zhaohui & Li, Fucui & Dai, Jian & Li, Qiang & Xue, Cheng & Cao, Hanbing & Wang, Sen & Malhi, Sukhdev S., 2016. "Soil water storage and winter wheat productivity affected by soil surface management and precipitation in dryland of the Loess Plateau, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 1-9.
    17. Liang, Jiaping & Shi, Wenjuan & He, Zijian & Pang, Linna & Zhang, Yanchao, 2019. "Effects of poly-γ-glutamic acid on water use efficiency, cotton yield, and fiber quality in the sandy soil of southern Xinjiang, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 48-59.
    18. 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).
    19. 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).
    20. 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.

    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:eee:agiwat:v:210:y:2018:i:c:p:149-157. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agwat .

    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.