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Effects of optimized subsoiling tillage on field water conservation and summer maize (Zea mays L.) yield in the North China Plain

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  • Yin, Baozhong
  • Hu, Zhaohui
  • Wang, Yandong
  • Zhao, Jin
  • Pan, Zhihua
  • Zhen, Wenchao

Abstract

Farmland water management includes improving soil properties, optimizing root distribution, promoting rainfall and irrigation infiltration, reducing soil water evaporation, increasing water storage, and utilizing precipitation and irrigation efficiently through appropriate tillage methods. These factors are important for summer maize planting systems in areas of extreme water deficiency and hot rainy seasons, such as the North China Plain (NCP). A four-season field experiment was conducted on summer maize to compare the influences and mechanisms of two tillage methods (no-tillage (NT) and subsoiling tillage (ST)) on the water conservation and yield. The ST treatment promoted irrigation and rainfall infiltration, and the water storage capacity in the 2 m soil layer increased by 18.3 mm in the ST treatment over the entire growth period compared to the NT treatment. The field evapotranspiration (ET) and soil evaporation (E) intensities of the ST treatment were 5.6% and 11.5% lower than those of the NT treatment, respectively. Compared to the NT treatment, the ST treatment increased the root width in the 20–40 cm soil layer by 17.8% (on average) and the proportion of root activity by 36.7%. The root dry matter accumulation ratio, root active absorption area, and diameters of the vascular bundle and xylem vessels increased significantly. The average yield of summer maize under the ST treatment was 11.2% higher than that of the NT treatment over the four study years. The water use efficiency was also 16.5% higher in the ST treatment. These results demonstrate that the ST treatment of summer maize improved the infiltration of precipitation and irrigation into the soil, reduced the E, promoted root growth, and increased the maize kernel weight, thereby collectively achieving improved water use efficiency and summer maize yields.

Suggested Citation

  • Yin, Baozhong & Hu, Zhaohui & Wang, Yandong & Zhao, Jin & Pan, Zhihua & Zhen, Wenchao, 2021. "Effects of optimized subsoiling tillage on field water conservation and summer maize (Zea mays L.) yield in the North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:247:y:2021:i:c:s0378377420322769
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106732
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kuang, Naikun & Tan, Dechong & Li, Haojie & Gou, Qishu & Li, Quanqi & Han, Huifang, 2020. "Effects of subsoiling before winter wheat on water consumption characteristics and yield of summer maize on the North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    2. Bossio, Deborah & Geheb, Kim & Critchley, William, 2010. "Managing water by managing land: Addressing land degradation to improve water productivity and rural livelihoods," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(4), pages 536-542, April.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Jiao, Fengli & Hong, Shengzhe & Cui, Jichao & Zhang, Qingfen & Li, Ming & Shi, Ruilin & Han, Huifang & Li, Quanqi, 2022. "Subsoiling combined with irrigation improves carbon emission and crop water productivity of winter wheat in North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    3. Tibor Zsigmond & Péter Braun & János Mészáros & István Waltner & Ágota Horel, 2022. "Investigating Plant Response to Soil Characteristics and Slope Positions in a Small Catchment," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-18, May.
    4. Fake Shan & Dongfang Li & Jianxi Zhu & Shuo Kang & Jun Wang, 2022. "Effects of Vertical Smashing Rotary Tillage on Root Growth Characteristics and Yield of Broccoli," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-13, June.
    5. Haoze Zhang & Mingliang Gao & Fuying Liu & Huabin Yuan & Zhendong Liu & Mingming Zhang & Quanqi Li & Rui Zong, . "Characteristic of soil moisture utilisation with different water-sensitive cultivars of summer maize in the North China Plain," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 0.

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