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Can ridge-furrow with film and straw mulching improve wheat-maize system productivity and maintain soil fertility on the Loess Plateau of China?

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  • Fang, Heng
  • Li, Yuannong
  • Gu, Xiaobo
  • Li, Yupeng
  • Chen, Pengpeng

Abstract

Ridge-furrow mulching patterns are beneficial to improve crop yields and rainwater use efficiency, but it is not clear whether they can improve productivity and simultaneously maintain soil fertility on the Loess Plateau of China. A three-year (2013–2016) field trial was conducted during the rotation of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) – maize (Zea mays L.) to investigate the effects of ridge-furrow mulching patterns on soil moisture, soil fertility, grain yield, and water use efficiency (WUE). Four ridge-furrow planting patterns included: (1) white plastic film mulch over the ridge (RW), (2) straw mulch over the furrow (RS), (3) white plastic film mulch over the ridge and straw mulch over the furrow (RWS), and (4) black plastic film mulch over the ridge and straw mulch over the furrow (RBS). Flat planting without mulch was CK. The results showed that RW, RS, RWS, and RBS significantly improved soil water storage and aboveground biomass throughout each winter wheat and summer maize growing season compared with CK. Finally, winter wheat grain yield and WUE in the four mulching treatments markedly increased by 13.0–32.9% and 22.5–41.5% in a wet and cool season, 15.5–35.2% and 19.3–41.9% in a season with normal rainfall and temperatures, and 27.2–58.9% and 15.3–33.4% in a dry and warm season, respectively. Maize grain yield and WUE increased by 12.8–35.0% and 19.5–46.2% in a season with normal rainfall and temperature, 15.0–38.5% and 18.0–39.9% in a dry and cool season, and 17.4–50.5% and 13.0–42.5% in a dry and warm season, respectively. Among the four mulching treatments, RWS and RBS significantly improved the yield and WUE of wheat and maize relative to RW and RS over the three years. After three years, soil total nitrogen content in RWS and RBS was significantly greater than in RS. Besides, soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, and soil dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen contents in RWS and RBS were all markedly higher than in RW and RS. Our results indicated that RWS and RBS were a promising agricultural practice that improved crop production and simultaneously maintained soil fertility in a rain-fed semi-arid region of China.

Suggested Citation

  • Fang, Heng & Li, Yuannong & Gu, Xiaobo & Li, Yupeng & Chen, Pengpeng, 2021. "Can ridge-furrow with film and straw mulching improve wheat-maize system productivity and maintain soil fertility on the Loess Plateau of China?," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:246:y:2021:i:c:s0378377420322307
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106686
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    7. Gu, Xiao-Bo & Li, Yuan-Nong & Du, Ya-Dan, 2018. "Effects of ridge-furrow film mulching and nitrogen fertilization on growth, seed yield and water productivity of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) in Northwestern China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 60-70.
    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.
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    6. Liao, Zhenqi & Zhang, Chen & Yu, Shuolei & Lai, Zhenlin & Wang, Haidong & Zhang, Fucang & Li, Zhijun & Wu, Peng & Fan, Junliang, 2023. "Ridge-furrow planting with black film mulching increases rainfed summer maize production by improving resources utilization on the Loess Plateau of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    7. Fang, Heng & Li, Yuannong & Gu, Xiaobo & Chen, Pengpeng & Li, Yupeng, 2022. "Root characteristics, utilization of water and nitrogen, and yield of maize under biodegradable film mulching and nitrogen application," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
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    11. Zhao, Xiao & Gu, Xiaobo & Yang, Zhichao & Li, Yuannong & Zhang, Li & Zhou, Jiaming, 2022. "Effects of soil preparation and mulching practices together with different urea applications on the water and nitrogen use of winter wheat in semi-humid and drought-prone areas," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    12. Zhang, Binbin & Su, Shunshun & Duan, Chenxiao & Feng, Hao & Chau, Henry Wai & He, Jianqiang & Li, Yi & Hill, Robert Lee & Wu, Shufang & Zou, Yufeng, 2022. "Effects of partial organic fertilizer replacement combined with rainwater collection system on soil water, nitrate-nitrogen and apple yield of rainfed apple orchard in the Loess Plateau of China: A 3-," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    13. Fang, Heng & Liu, Fulai & Gu, Xiaobo & Chen, Pengpeng & Li, Yupeng & Li, Yuannong, 2022. "The effect of source–sink on yield and water use of winter wheat under ridge-furrow with film mulching and nitrogen fertilization," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).

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