Limited water resources often result in reduced crop yield and low water productivity（WP）. In northwestern China, crop production is generally dependent on precipitation. Therefore, a variety of agricultural rainwat...Limited water resources often result in reduced crop yield and low water productivity（WP）. In northwestern China, crop production is generally dependent on precipitation. Therefore, a variety of agricultural rainwater harvesting（ARH） techniques have been used for conserving soil moisture, ameliorating soil environment, increasing crop yield, and improving water use efficiency. A two-year（2013–2015） field experiment was conducted under a typical sub-humid drought-prone climate in Yangling（108°24′E, 34°20′N; 521 m a.s.l.）, Shaanxi Province, China, to explore the effects of mulching（same for summer maize and winter wheat） on soil moisture, soil temperature, crop water consumption, and crop yield with a winter wheat/summer maize rotation. Crops were planted in a ridge-furrow pattern and the treatments consisted of a transparent film mulch over the ridges（M1）, a crop straw mulch in the furrows（M2）, a transparent film mulch over the ridges and a crop straw mulch in the furrows（M3）, a black film mulch over the ridges and a crop straw mulch in the furrows（M4）, and a control with no mulch（CK）. Results showed that M4 was the best treatment for improving soil water storage and content, and decreasing crop water consumption during the summer maize and winter wheat rotation. In both maize and wheat seasons, M1 had a higher soil temperature than M2 and CK, and M3 had a higher soil temperature than M4. In the maize seasons, M4 had the highest yield, WP, and precipitation productivity（PP）, with the average values for these parameters increasing by 30.9%, 39.0%, and 31.0%, respectively, compared to those in CK. In the wheat seasons, however, M3 had the highest yield, WP, and PP, with the average values for these parameters being 23.7%, 26.7%, and 23.8% higher, respectively, than those in CK. Annual yield（maize and wheat yields combined） and WP did not differ significantly between M3 and M4. These results suggested that M3 and M4 may thus be the optimal ARH practices for the production of winter wheat and summer maize, respectively, in arid and semi-arid areas.展开更多
Organic mulch can improve the moisture,chemical composition,dust,and dust suppression of soil,and beautify the environment.In view of the rapid evaporation rate and serious loss of soil water in tropical areas,this pa...Organic mulch can improve the moisture,chemical composition,dust,and dust suppression of soil,and beautify the environment.In view of the rapid evaporation rate and serious loss of soil water in tropical areas,this paper explored the effect of organic mulch materials with different thickness on the increase of soil water retention rate and the improvement of soil water loss caused by evaporation.Rubberwood sawdust(RWS),rubberwood bark(RWB),coconut fiber(CF),and Mulch(MC)were selected as the mulching materials.Field experiment and laboratory experiment were performed,and soil-moisture content and temperature were continuously monitored.However,from the daily measurement of water content at constant conditions(29℃±0.2℃,74%±1%air RH)in the laboratory experiment,the results of variance analysis(ANOVA)showed that there was no significant difference between the soil-water content of covered samples and bare soil(P>0.05).In the field experiments,the analysis of variance indicated significant differences in the soil-moisture content owing to the effect of the covering material(P<0.01).Mulching increased the soil-moisture content with smaller fluctuations in the deep soil compared with bare soil.The most stable soil-moisture content were achieved by RWS,RWB,CF,and MC,with thicknesses of 5,3,7,and 5 cm,respectively,compared with bare soil,and the average water contents of the 0-40 cm soil layer was 0.58%,0.01%,0.82%,and 0.93%,respectively.Vertically,the intensity of the change in soil moisture decreased gradually with increasing depth,and was more stable than that of bare soil and other treatments.Among them,the difference in water content between the adjacent gradient soil layers(the soil layers are graded every 10 cm in depth)M_(3-7)(0.011±0.004)was the smallest.It can be concluded that CF mulching materials with a thickness of 7 cm would be preferable when selecting mulching materials for controlling soil moisture in tropical cities.展开更多
A field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of organic mulches and tillage practices on growth, yield of cluster bean and soil physical properties. Experiment was comprised of two factors: A (Tillage), B (Mulch...A field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of organic mulches and tillage practices on growth, yield of cluster bean and soil physical properties. Experiment was comprised of two factors: A (Tillage), B (Mulches). Factor A was assigned to main plot and consisted of two treatments (Minimum tillage and Conventional tillage). Factor B was assigned to sub plot and consisted of four treatments (no mulch, wheat straw mulch, grass clipping mulch and saw dust mulch). The mulching materials were partially incorporated in the field after germination of crop. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement having three replications. Control treatment was kept for comparison. All other agronomic practices were kept standardized and consistent for all the treatments. Data regarding growth and yield components were collected and analyzed statistically by fisher analysis of variance and treatment significance was measured by significant difference test at 5% probability level. The factors, tillage and mulches significantly affected growth, yield, yield parameters and soil physical properties. Maximum plant population (31.7 m<sup>2</sup>), plant height (159 cm), branches per plant (18.9), cluster per plant (15.88), grains per pod (7.3), 1000-grain weight (34.6 g), grain yield (1.9 t•ha<sup>-1</sup>), biological yield (9.91 t•ha<sup>-1</sup>) and harvest index (19.15) was recorded in conventional tillage comparative to minimum tillage. Mulches also affected grain yield, and maximum grain yield was recorded in wheat straw mulch (1.88 t•ha<sup>-1</sup>) followed by grass clipping mulch (1.81 t•ha<sup>-1</sup>) and saw dust mulch (1.76 t•ha<sup>-1</sup>) while minimum grain yield was recorded in control without mulch application (1.67 t•ha<sup>-1</sup>). Tillage and mulches interactively affect pH, soil organic matter contents, electrical conductivity and soil bulk density. Mulches and minimum tillage improved soil physical properties. Highest BCR was obtained from conventional tillage without mulch and lowest calculated from minimum tillage with saw dust application. The conclusion is that the mulching and conventional tillage improves cluster bean yield about 1%.展开更多
Long-term mulching has improved crop yields and farmland productivity in semiarid areas,but it has also increased greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions and depleted soil fertility.Biochar application has emerged as a promising...Long-term mulching has improved crop yields and farmland productivity in semiarid areas,but it has also increased greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions and depleted soil fertility.Biochar application has emerged as a promising solution for addressing these issues.In this study,we investigated the effects of four biochar application rates(no biochar(N)=0 t ha^(-1),low(L)=3 t ha^(-1),medium(M)=6 t ha^(-1),and high(H)=9 t ha^(-1))under film mulching and no mulching conditions over three growing seasons.We assessed the impacts on GHG emissions,soil organic carbon sequestration(SOCS),and maize yield to evaluate the productivity and sustainability of farmland ecosystems.Our results demonstrated that mulching increased maize yield(18.68-41.80%),total fixed C in straw(23.64%),grain(28.87%),and root(46.31%)biomass,and GHG emissions(CO_(2),10.78%;N_(2)O,3.41%),while reducing SOCS(6.57%)and GHG intensity(GHGI;13.61%).Under mulching,biochar application significantly increased maize yield(10.20%),total fixed C in straw(17.97%),grain(17.69%)and root(16.75%)biomass,and SOCS(4.78%).Moreover,it reduced the GHG emissions(CO_(2),3.09%;N_(2)O,6.36%)and GHGI(12.28%).These effects correlated with the biochar addition rate,with the optimal rate being 9.0 t ha^(-1).In conclusion,biochar application reduces CO_(2) and N_(2)O emissions,enhances CH_(4) absorption,and improves maize yield under film mulching.It also improves the soil carbon fixation capacity while mitigating the warming potential,making it a promising sustainable management method for mulched farmland in semiarid areas.展开更多
Agricultural practices significantly contribute to greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions,necessitating cleaner production technologies to reduce environmental pressure and achieve sustainable maize production.Plastic film mulc...Agricultural practices significantly contribute to greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions,necessitating cleaner production technologies to reduce environmental pressure and achieve sustainable maize production.Plastic film mulching is commonly used in the Loess Plateau region.Incorporating slow-release fertilizers as a replacement for urea within this practice can reduce nitrogen losses and enhance crop productivity.Combining these techniques represents a novel agricultural approach in semi-arid areas.However,the impact of this integration on soil carbon storage(SOCS),carbon footprint(CF),and economic benefits has received limited research attention.Therefore,we conducted an eight-year study(2015-2022)in the semi-arid northwestern region to quantify the effects of four treatments[urea supplied without plastic film mulching(CK-U),slow-release fertilizer supplied without plastic film mulching(CK-S),urea supplied with plastic film mulching(PM-U),and slow-release fertilizer supplied with plastic film mulching(PM-S)]on soil fertility,economic and environmental benefits.The results revealed that nitrogen fertilizer was the primary contributor to total GHG emissions(≥71.97%).Compared to other treatments,PM-S increased average grain yield by 12.01%-37.89%,water use efficiency by 9.19%-23.33%,nitrogen accumulation by 27.07%-66.19%,and net return by 6.21%-29.57%.Furthermore,PM-S decreased CF by 12.87%-44.31%and CF per net return by 14.25%-41.16%.After eight years,PM-S increased SOCS(0-40 cm)by 2.46%,while PM-U decreased it by 7.09%.These findings highlight the positive effects of PM-S on surface soil fertility,economic gains,and environmental benefits in spring maize production on the Loess Plateau,underscoring its potential for widespread adoption and application.展开更多
Rice straw,which is produced after the harvest of rice,is a major agricultural waste in the world.Rice straw has a high carbon/nitrogen ratio and is more resistant to microbial degradation than other straws because it...Rice straw,which is produced after the harvest of rice,is a major agricultural waste in the world.Rice straw has a high carbon/nitrogen ratio and is more resistant to microbial degradation than other straws because its main constituents are cellulose and hemicelluloses encrusted by lignin.When rice straw is burned,hazardous substances such as carbon dioxide,methane,carbon monoxide,and nitrogen monoxide are released into the air as smoke(less than 10μm-sized particles).The rise in the burning of rice straw has contributed to too many accidents and health issues in the general population residing in Haryana,Punjab,and Uttar Pradesh of India.These states are being urged by the National Green Tribunal to generate money instead of burning rice straw.Even though these lignocellulosic materials might be beneficial,not much has been carried out with them.This overview covers the properties of rice straw and husks,the numerous procedures used to create valuable products,and various applications that may be made for them.These include energy sources,environmental adsorbents,building supplies,and specialist commodities.展开更多
Ridge-furrow film mulching has been widely used as a water-saving and yield-increasing planting pattern in arid and semiarid regions.Planting density is also a vitally important factor influencing crop yield,and the o...Ridge-furrow film mulching has been widely used as a water-saving and yield-increasing planting pattern in arid and semiarid regions.Planting density is also a vitally important factor influencing crop yield,and the optimal planting density will vary in different environments(such as ridge-furrow film mulching).How the combination of film mulching and planting density will affect the growth,physiology,yield,and water and radiation use efficiencies of winter oilseed rape is not clear yet.Therefore,a three-year field experiment was conducted from 2017 to 2020 to explore the responses of leaf chlorophyll(Chl)content,net photosynthetic rate(P_(n)),leaf area index(LAI),aboveground dry matter(ADM),root growth and distribution,yield,evapotranspiration(ET),water use efficiency(WUE),and radiation use efficiency(RUE)of winter oilseed rape to different film mulching patterns(F,ridge-furrow planting with plastic film mulching over the ridges;N,flat planting without mulching)and planting densities(LD,100,000 plants ha^(-1);MD,150,000 plants ha^(-1);HD,200,000 plants ha^(-1)).The results showed that the F treatments led to significantly greater leaf Chl contents,P_(n),LAI,and ADM,and a stronger root system than treatments without film mulching throughout the whole winter rapeseed growing seasons.Winter oilseed rape in the MD treatments had better physiological(leaf Chl contents and P_(n))and growth(LAI,ADM,taproot,and lateral root)conditions than in LD and HD at the late growth period after stem-elongation.Grain yield in FMD was the greatest,and it was significantly greater by 34.8-46.0%,6.7-9.6%,87.8-108.3%,38.7-50.3%,and 50.2-61.8%compared to those of FLD,FHD,NLD,NMD,and NHD,respectively.Furthermore,the ET in FMD was equivalent to FLD and FHD,but was markedly lower by 12.2-18.4%,14.5-20.3%,and 14.6-20.4%than in NLD,NMD,and NHD.Finally,the WUE and RUE in FMD were significantly improved by 88.5-94.0%and 29.0-41.8%compared to NHD(the local conventional planting pattern and planting density for winter rapeseed).In summary,FMD is a favorable cultivation management strategy to save water,increase yield and improve resource utilization efficiencies in winter oilseed rape in Northwest China.展开更多
Mulching is known as one of the fastest strategies to control wind erosion and sand dunes movement.We hypothesized that mixed micro silica with clay,gypsum and clay-gypsum as mulches will increase shear strength,thres...Mulching is known as one of the fastest strategies to control wind erosion and sand dunes movement.We hypothesized that mixed micro silica with clay,gypsum and clay-gypsum as mulches will increase shear strength,threshold friction velocity and decrease soil losses of drifting sands.For this purpose,mixture of micro silica rates (0,1,5,10,15 and 20%) with clay,gypsum,and clay-gypsum applied on sand surfaces.After 60 days of mulching,shear strength,the threshold friction velocity and soil losses at a wind speed of 15 m/S at the height of 20 cm for 20 rain.The results of this research revealed that the addition of 10% of micro silica in combination with clay and clay-gypsum increased the shear strength up to 10.6 and 37.5% and the threshold friction velocity up to 45.2 and 48.5%,respectively and decreased soil losses up to 100% in comparison with the samples without micro silica.Adding micro silica to gypsum had no considerable effect on shear strength,threshold friction velocity and soil losses.It was concluded that no pozzolanic reaction occurred between micro silica and gypsum and it was found that improvement in mechanical property and erodibility of clay-gypsum mulch was probably due to the pozzolanic reaction between micro silica and clay.Application of 10% of micro silica in combination with clay or clay-gypsum is therefore recommended as suitable mulch.展开更多
Plastic film mulching has been widely used to increase maize yield in the semiarid area of China.However, whether long-term plastic film mulching is conducive to agricultural sustainability in this region remains cont...Plastic film mulching has been widely used to increase maize yield in the semiarid area of China.However, whether long-term plastic film mulching is conducive to agricultural sustainability in this region remains controversial.A field experiment was initiated in 2013 with five different film mulching methods:(i) control method, flat planting without mulching (CK),(ii) flat planting with half film mulching (P),(iii) film mulching on ridges and planting in narrow furrows(S),(iv) full film mulching on double ridges (D), and (v) film mulching on ridges and planting in wide furrows (R).The effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) content, storage, and fractions, and on the carbon management index (CMI)were evaluated after nine consecutive years of plastic film mulching.The results showed that long-term plastic film mulching generally maintained the initial SOC level.Compared with no mulching, plastic film mulching increased the average crop yield, biomass yield, and root biomass by 48.38, 35.06, and 37.32%, respectively, which led to the improvement of SOC sequestration.Specifically, plastic film mulching significantly improved CMI, and increased the SOC content by 13.59%, SOC storage by 7.47%and easily oxidizable organic carbon (EOC) by 13.78%on average,but it reduced the other labile fractions.SOC sequestration and CMI were improved by refining the plastic film mulching methods.The S treatment had the best effect among the four mulching methods, so it can be used as a reasonable film mulching method for sustainable agricultural development in the semiarid area.展开更多
Amplifying drought stress and high precipitation variability impair dryland wheat production.These problems can potentially be minimized by using plastic mulch(PM)or straw mulch(SM).Therefore,wheat grain yield,soil wa...Amplifying drought stress and high precipitation variability impair dryland wheat production.These problems can potentially be minimized by using plastic mulch(PM)or straw mulch(SM).Therefore,wheat grain yield,soil water storage,soil temperature and water-use productivity of PM and SM treatments were compared with no mulch(CK)treatment on dryland wheat over a period of eight seasons.Compared to the CK treatment,PM and SM treatments on average significantly increased grain yield by 12.6 and 10.5%,respectively.Compared to the CK treatment,SM treatment significantly decreased soil daily temperature by 0.57,0.60 and 0.48℃ for the whole seasons,growing periods and summer fallow periods,respectively.In contrast,compared to the CK treatment,PM treatment increased soil daily temperature by 0.44,0.51 and 0.27℃ for the whole seasons,growing periods and summer fallow periods,respectively.Lower soil temperature under SM allowed greater soil water storage than under PM.Soil water storage pre-seeding was 17%greater under the SM than under the PM treatment.Soil water storage post-harvest was similar for the PM and SM treatments,but evapotranspiration was 4.5%higher in the SM than in the PM treatment.Consequently,water-use productivity was 6.6%greater under PM than under the SM treatment.Therefore,PM treatment increased dryland wheat yield and water-use productivity,while straw mulch increased soil water storage.展开更多
Water is the key factor limiting dryland wheat grain yield.Mulching affects crop yield and yield components by affecting soil moisture.Further research is needed to determine the relationships between yield components...Water is the key factor limiting dryland wheat grain yield.Mulching affects crop yield and yield components by affecting soil moisture.Further research is needed to determine the relationships between yield components and soil moisture with yield,and to identify the most important factor affecting grain yield under various mulching measures.A long-term 9-yearifeld experiment in the Loess Plateau of Northwest China was carried out with three treatments:no mulch (CK),plastic mulch (M_(P)) and straw mulch (M_(S)).Yield factors and soil moisture were measured,and the relationships between them were explored by correlation analysis,structural equation modeling and significance analysis.The results showed that compared with CK,the average grain yields of M_(P) and M_(S) increased by 13.0and 10.6%,respectively.The average annual grain yield of the M_(P) treatment was 134 kg ha^(–1) higher than the M_(S) treatment.There were no significant differences in yield components among the three treatments (P<0.05).Soil water storage of the M_(S) treatment was greater than the M_(P) treatment,although the differences were not statistically signifiant.Soil water storage during the summer fallow period (SWSSF) and soil water storage before sowing (SWSS) of M_(S) were significantly higher than in CK,which increased by 38.5 and 13.6%,respectively.The relationship between M_(P) and CK was not statistically significant for SWSSF,but the SWSS in M_(P) was significantly higher than in CK.In terms of soil water storage after harvest (SWSH) and water consumption in the growth period(ET),there were no signi?cant differences among the three treatments.Based on the three analysis methods,we found that spike number and ET were positively correlated with grain yield.However,the relative importance of spike number to yield was the greatest in the M_(P )and M_(S) treatments,while that of ET was the greatest in CK.Suifcient SWSSF could indirectly increase spike number and ET in the three treatments.Based on these results,mulch can improve yield and soil water storage.The most important factor affecting the grain yield of dryland wheat was spike number under mulching,and ET with CK.These findings may help us to understand the main factors influencing dryland wheat grain yield under mulching conditions compared to CK.展开更多
In order to further improve the utility of unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)remote-sensing for quickly and accurately monitoring the growth of winter wheat under film mulching, this study examined the treatments of ridge m...In order to further improve the utility of unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)remote-sensing for quickly and accurately monitoring the growth of winter wheat under film mulching, this study examined the treatments of ridge mulching,ridge–furrow full mulching, and flat cropping full mulching in winter wheat.Based on the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (FCE) method, four agronomic parameters (leaf area index, above-ground biomass, plant height, and leaf chlorophyll content) were used to calculate the comprehensive growth evaluation index (CGEI) of the winter wheat, and 14 visible and near-infrared spectral indices were calculated using spectral purification technology to process the remote-sensing image data of winter wheat obtained by multispectral UAV.Four machine learning algorithms, partial least squares, support vector machines, random forests, and artificial neural network networks(ANN), were used to build the winter wheat growth monitoring model under film mulching, and accuracy evaluation and mapping of the spatial and temporal distribution of winter wheat growth status were carried out.The results showed that the CGEI of winter wheat under film mulching constructed using the FCE method could objectively and comprehensively evaluate the crop growth status.The accuracy of remote-sensing inversion of the CGEI based on the ANN model was higher than for the individual agronomic parameters, with a coefficient of determination of 0.75,a root mean square error of 8.40, and a mean absolute value error of 6.53.Spectral purification could eliminate the interference of background effects caused by mulching and soil, effectively improving the accuracy of the remotesensing inversion of winter wheat under film mulching, with the best inversion effect achieved on the ridge–furrow full mulching area after spectral purification.The results of this study provide a theoretical reference for the use of UAV remote-sensing to monitor the growth status of winter wheat with film mulching.展开更多
Soil pedestals have long been used as qualitative indicators of soil splash erosion.In rangelands,plant-capped pedestals,generally grass tussocks,have also been used to quantitatively estimate soil loss since the firs...Soil pedestals have long been used as qualitative indicators of soil splash erosion.In rangelands,plant-capped pedestals,generally grass tussocks,have also been used to quantitatively estimate soil loss since the first half of the twentieth century.In agricultural lands,forests,and bad-lands,stone-capped pedestals have been used as qualitative and semi-quantitative indicators of active,'extreme'erosion.Little work has been reported on using capstone pedestal data for quantifying soil loss.We postulate that three distinct capstone pedestal types may be present in any given location and that a detailed analysis of a pedestal height histogram may be used to recognize their populations.This analysis can subsequently inform if soil loss can be reliably estimated and if so,which of the existing methods using pedestal height data will provide more accurate results.The three proposed capstone pedestal types are:(1)neo-pedestals formed underneath surface stones exposed by(partial)removal of the soil surface cover;(2)endo-pedestals formed underneath stones that were buried in the soil but have been exposed by erosion;and(3)phoenix-pedestals formed underneath stones from collapsed pedestals.In the pedestal height histogram of any given location,a skew to smaller heights may indicate the existence of endo-and/or phoenix-pedestals,which may be revealed as a bi-(or tri)modal distribution when using a smaller bin size.This concept was applied to a case study where soil loss had been monitored for control plots and mulched plots during a 5-year period following wildfire in a eucalypt plantation.We measured pedestal heights and used methods to quantitatively assess soil loss from soil pedestal data in the available literature.Soil pedestal data at the end of the 5-year period under or overestimated soil loss in the control treatment,with results ranging from 60 to 115%of measured soil loss,depending on the method.It is postulated that phoenix-and endo-pedestals may be a driving factor behind the observed discrepancies.We discuss how future research may provide more insight into dominant processes,and how frequency distributions may be used to select the best methods for estimating soil loss from pedestals.展开更多
Biodegradable plastic film mulch (PFM) is considered an alternative to non-biodegradable PFM to mitigate the negative impacts of residual film.However,the agronomic performance of biodegradable PFM in comparison to no...Biodegradable plastic film mulch (PFM) is considered an alternative to non-biodegradable PFM to mitigate the negative impacts of residual film.However,the agronomic performance of biodegradable PFM in comparison to non-biodegradable PFM still needs to be tested.In this study,we evaluated the effects of biodegradable and non-biodegradable PFM on soil physicochemical properties,microbial community,and enzyme activities,as well as maize growth performance.Biodegradable and non-biodegradable PFM both increased soil temperature,water content,N content,and microbial biomass and maize yield by up to 30%,but decreased soil enzyme activities as compared to no mulching (control,CK).Most soil physicochemical properties,microbial community,and enzyme activities were similar under non-biodegradable and biodegradable PFM at the early stages of maize growth.However,at the late stages,soil temperature,water content,mineral N,NO_(3)^(-)-N,ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) activity,and total phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) decreased under biodegradable PFM owing to film fragmentation.White PFM increased soil temperature,water content,and total PLFAs at the early stages of maize growth but decreased soil mineral N and total PLFAs at the late stages,as compared to black PFM.As soil temperature and N availability were the major factors affecting soil microbial community,microbial activity decreased after the fragmentation of biodegradable PFM,owing to the decreased soil temperature,water content,and mineral N.Notably,biodegradable PFM could decrease NO_(3)^(-)-N accumulation in topsoil by decreasing N transformation due to the lower microbial and N-related enzyme (e.g.,AMO) activities,compared with non-biodegradable PFM,which may avoid negative environmental impacts,such as NO_(3)^(-)-N leaching or gas emission after harvest.Maize yield,height,aboveground biomass,and N uptake under biodegradable PFM were similar to those under non-biodegradable PFM during maize growth,implying that biodegradable PFM has no negative impact on crop growth and yield.In general,biodegradable PFM was equivalent to non-biodegradable PFM in terms of maize yield increase and N uptake,but was environmentally friendly.Therefore,biodegradable PFM can be used as an alternative to non-biodegradable PFM in semi-arid areas for sustainable agricultural practices.展开更多
Film-stalk spaced dual mulching is a new type of cultivation measure that is increasingly highlighted in semi-arid areas in China.Despite its potential,there is limited understanding of how different mulching material...Film-stalk spaced dual mulching is a new type of cultivation measure that is increasingly highlighted in semi-arid areas in China.Despite its potential,there is limited understanding of how different mulching materials affect both soil quality and crop yield in these areas.To address this gap,we conducted a two-year(2020-2021)field experiment in central China to explore the yield-enhancing mechanisms and assess the impact of various mulching materials on soil and corn yield.The experiment comprised six treatments,i.e.,plastic film-whole stalk spaced mulching in fall(PSF),plastic film-whole stalk spaced mulching in spring(PSS),black and silver plastic film-whole stalk spaced mulching in spring(BPSS),biodegradable film-whole stalk spaced mulching in spring(BSS),liquid film-whole stalk spaced mulching in spring(LSS),and non-mulching cultivation(CK).Results revealed that BPSS demonstrated the most significant yield increase,surpassing CK by a notable 10.0%and other mulching treatments by 2.4%-5.9%.The efficacy of BPSS lied in its provision of favorable hydrothermal conditions for corn cultivation,particularly during hot season.Its cooling effect facilitated the establishment of optimal temperature conditions relative to transparent mulching,leading to higher root growth indices(e.g.,length and surface area),as well as higher leaf photosynthetic rate and dry matter accumulation per plant.Additionally,BPSS maintained higher average soil moisture content within 0-100 cm depth compared with biodegradable mulching and liquid mulching.As a result,BPSS increased activities of urease,catalase,and alkaline phosphatase,as well as the diversity and abundance of soil bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere zone of corn,facilitating nutrient accessibility by the plant.These findings suggest that selecting appropriate mulching materials is crucial for optimizing corn production in drought-prone areas,highlighting the potential of BPSS cultivation.展开更多
Rice cultivation under film mulching is an integrated management technology that can conserve water, increase soil temperature, improve yield, and enhance water and nitrogen use efficiencies. Despite these advantages,...Rice cultivation under film mulching is an integrated management technology that can conserve water, increase soil temperature, improve yield, and enhance water and nitrogen use efficiencies. Despite these advantages, the system does have its drawbacks, such as soil organic matter reduction and microplastic pollution, which impede the widespread adoption of film mulching cultivation in China. Nonetheless, the advent of degradable film, controlled-release fertilizer, organic fertilizer, and film mulching machinery is promoting the development of rice film mulching cultivation. This review outlines the impact of rice cultivation under film mulching on soil moisture, soil temperature, soil fertility, greenhouse gas emissions, weed control, and disease and pest management. It also elucidates the mechanism of changes in rice growth, yield and quality, water use efficiency, and nitrogen use efficiency. This paper incorporates a review of published research articles and discusses some uncertainties and shortcomings associated with rice cultivation under film mulching. Consequently, prospective research directions for the technology of rice film mulching cultivation are outlined, and recommendations for future research into rice cultivation under film mulching are proposed.展开更多
Background Weed infestation in cotton has been reported to offer severe competition and cause yield reduction to a large extent.Weeding via cultural practices is time consuming,tedious,and expensive due to long durati...Background Weed infestation in cotton has been reported to offer severe competition and cause yield reduction to a large extent.Weeding via cultural practices is time consuming,tedious,and expensive due to long duration of cotton crop and regular monsoon rains during cotton production in India.Chemical weed control has been successfully utilized in cotton in the recent past.However,continuous use of similar herbicides leads to resistance in weeds against herbicides.And when sprayed to the field,herbicides not only suppress weeds but leave undesirable residues in the soil that are hazardous to the environment.Therefore,a study was performed at cotton research area at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University,Hisar,Haryana during two consecutive kharif seasons(2020 and 2021)to determine the most suitable and sustainable weed management strategy through the integration of chemical and cultural methods.Results Mulching with rice straw of 7.5 t ha^(-1)resulted in significantly higher cotton seed yield(3189 and 3084 kg ha^(-1))and better weed control in comparison to no mulch treatments(2990 and 2904 kg ha^(-1))in 2020 and 2021,respectively.Among various weed management levels,the significantly lowest cotton seed yield was recorded in untreated control(1841 and 1757 kg·ha^(-1)during 2020 and 2021,respectively)in comparison to other treatments while all other treatments were statistically at par with each other during both years of crop experimentation.Conclusion Mulching with rice straw of 7.5 t·ha^(-1)along with a pre-emergence application of pendimethalin(active ingredient)at 1.5 kg·ha^(-1)fb(followed by)one hoeings at 45 days after sowing(DAS)and fb glyphosate 2 kg·ha^(-1)(Shielded spray)at 90 DAS is a viable option for effective control of grassy and broadleaved weeds in Bt cotton in north-west India.展开更多
Capsicum is a nutritious vegetable and its cultivation in farms is getting popular in Bangladesh. Although many efforts have lain to explore better yielding and nutritionally rich cultivars with suitable modern cultiv...Capsicum is a nutritious vegetable and its cultivation in farms is getting popular in Bangladesh. Although many efforts have lain to explore better yielding and nutritionally rich cultivars with suitable modern cultivation techniques but still have to find the desired outcome. Thus, it’s necessary to conduct further research to identify the high-yielding and nutritious capsicum cultivars in Bangladesh. An experiment was conducted from July 2021 to June 2022 at the Bangladesh Institute of Research and Training on Applied Nutrition (BIRTAN) research field with three cultivars of capsicum: B<sub>0</sub> = California Wonder, B<sub>1</sub> = BARI Misti Morich-1 and B<sub>2</sub> = BARI Misti Morich-2 and three mulching: T<sub>0</sub> = No mulching, T<sub>1</sub> = Water hyacinth, T<sub>2</sub> = Poly Mulching in randomized complete block design with three replications to identify better quality capsicum cultivar and suitable mulching material. Among cultivars the BARI Misti Morich-2 (B<sub>2</sub>) showed increased agronomic parameters like number of branches and effective branches per plant, leaves length and width, consequently yield and yield contributing traits were also enhanced like fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit diameter and yield per plant (25.97%, 4.54%, 3.64% and 21.43%, respectively). Poly Mulching (T<sub>2</sub>) increased agronomic traits, yield traits and yield (0.61 kg) than BARI Misti Morich-1 (T<sub>1</sub>). The combined effect of B<sub>2</sub>T<sub>2</sub> increased the number of branches per plant, effective branches per plant, leaves length and breadth by 40%, 90%, 15.57% and 26.22%, respectively, hence resulting in an increased yield of 20%. BARI Misti Morich-2 cultivar showed an increase in Fe, Zn and Vitamin-C content of 26.24% and 23.10%, 8.82% and 5.14%, and 6.03% and 5.74% than B0 and B1 cultivars, respectively. Therefore, BARI Misti Morich-2 exhibited the improved agronomic, yield and nutritional traits of capsicum under poly mulching among other cultivars in Bangladesh.展开更多
During the 2022 growing season (August to November) at the Federal University of Technology, Minna School farm, Niger State, an experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of mulching on Okras growth, yield,...During the 2022 growing season (August to November) at the Federal University of Technology, Minna School farm, Niger State, an experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of mulching on Okras growth, yield, and moisture content was examined across four distinct growth stages (initial, development, mid, and late) and at varying soil depths (0 - 30 cm and 30 - 60 cm). The study employed a randomised complete block design with four replications, encompassing control (T0), groundnut shells mulch (T1), black polythene mulch (T2), and white polythene mulch (T3) as treatments. The highest average Okra fresh pod yield, amounting to 23.4 t/ha, was achieved by implementing white plastic mulch, contrasting with the control treatment, which yielded the lowest at 22 t/ha. Notably, the control plots exhibited yield reductions of up to 32% compared to the plots employing white plastic mulching. The utilisation of mulch had a notable impact on the overall crop yield, with the superior quality evident in the treatment employing white plastic mulch (26 t/ha). The control treatment exhibited the lowest quality at 24.3 t/ha. Groundnut shell mulch influenced moisture conservation, but no significant variance was observed compared to the control plots. Therefore, the study suggests that polythene mulch may be the most suitable type to enhance the quality of okra production by conserving soil moisture. Among the biodegradable and non-biodegradable mulches used in this study, white polythene mulch was the most effective.展开更多
[Objective] The aim was to provide scientific reference for the production of silage maize in correlated regions of Tibet.[Method] Effects of film mulching on the growth period,growth traits and yield of silage maize ...[Objective] The aim was to provide scientific reference for the production of silage maize in correlated regions of Tibet.[Method] Effects of film mulching on the growth period,growth traits and yield of silage maize and weed were analyzed.[Result] Under the treatment of film mulching,the growth period of silage maize could be advanced for 7-16 d; the plant length,stem diameter and leaf area were increased; and the grain output was increased by 75.9%.According to the market price of silage maize in 2008,22 500 Yuan/hm^2 was increased.There were 13 kinds of weeds in silage maize field,which belonged to 13 genera,8 families.Among them,6 kinds of weeds belonged to Gramineae,among which Echinochloa crusgalli and Setaria viridis were dominated in the weed communities.Plantago depressa,Eragrostis pilosa and Malva verticillata var.chinensis could be totally controlled by the film mulching; meanwhile the others could be also controlled in a certain degree except Echinochloa crusgalli.[Conclusion] The plastic mulching planting is worth popularizing for the developing of animal husbandry and the incoming of the local farmers in Tibet.展开更多
基金supported by the Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest (201503125, 201503105)the Chinese National High Technology Research and Development Program (2011AA100504)
文摘Limited water resources often result in reduced crop yield and low water productivity（WP）. In northwestern China, crop production is generally dependent on precipitation. Therefore, a variety of agricultural rainwater harvesting（ARH） techniques have been used for conserving soil moisture, ameliorating soil environment, increasing crop yield, and improving water use efficiency. A two-year（2013–2015） field experiment was conducted under a typical sub-humid drought-prone climate in Yangling（108°24′E, 34°20′N; 521 m a.s.l.）, Shaanxi Province, China, to explore the effects of mulching（same for summer maize and winter wheat） on soil moisture, soil temperature, crop water consumption, and crop yield with a winter wheat/summer maize rotation. Crops were planted in a ridge-furrow pattern and the treatments consisted of a transparent film mulch over the ridges（M1）, a crop straw mulch in the furrows（M2）, a transparent film mulch over the ridges and a crop straw mulch in the furrows（M3）, a black film mulch over the ridges and a crop straw mulch in the furrows（M4）, and a control with no mulch（CK）. Results showed that M4 was the best treatment for improving soil water storage and content, and decreasing crop water consumption during the summer maize and winter wheat rotation. In both maize and wheat seasons, M1 had a higher soil temperature than M2 and CK, and M3 had a higher soil temperature than M4. In the maize seasons, M4 had the highest yield, WP, and precipitation productivity（PP）, with the average values for these parameters increasing by 30.9%, 39.0%, and 31.0%, respectively, compared to those in CK. In the wheat seasons, however, M3 had the highest yield, WP, and PP, with the average values for these parameters being 23.7%, 26.7%, and 23.8% higher, respectively, than those in CK. Annual yield（maize and wheat yields combined） and WP did not differ significantly between M3 and M4. These results suggested that M3 and M4 may thus be the optimal ARH practices for the production of winter wheat and summer maize, respectively, in arid and semi-arid areas.
基金This work was supported by the Scientific Research Start-up Fund Project of Hainan University(KYQD(ZR)1986)the Natural Science Foundation of Hainan Province(319QN168).
文摘Organic mulch can improve the moisture,chemical composition,dust,and dust suppression of soil,and beautify the environment.In view of the rapid evaporation rate and serious loss of soil water in tropical areas,this paper explored the effect of organic mulch materials with different thickness on the increase of soil water retention rate and the improvement of soil water loss caused by evaporation.Rubberwood sawdust(RWS),rubberwood bark(RWB),coconut fiber(CF),and Mulch(MC)were selected as the mulching materials.Field experiment and laboratory experiment were performed,and soil-moisture content and temperature were continuously monitored.However,from the daily measurement of water content at constant conditions(29℃±0.2℃,74%±1%air RH)in the laboratory experiment,the results of variance analysis(ANOVA)showed that there was no significant difference between the soil-water content of covered samples and bare soil(P>0.05).In the field experiments,the analysis of variance indicated significant differences in the soil-moisture content owing to the effect of the covering material(P<0.01).Mulching increased the soil-moisture content with smaller fluctuations in the deep soil compared with bare soil.The most stable soil-moisture content were achieved by RWS,RWB,CF,and MC,with thicknesses of 5,3,7,and 5 cm,respectively,compared with bare soil,and the average water contents of the 0-40 cm soil layer was 0.58%,0.01%,0.82%,and 0.93%,respectively.Vertically,the intensity of the change in soil moisture decreased gradually with increasing depth,and was more stable than that of bare soil and other treatments.Among them,the difference in water content between the adjacent gradient soil layers(the soil layers are graded every 10 cm in depth)M_(3-7)(0.011±0.004)was the smallest.It can be concluded that CF mulching materials with a thickness of 7 cm would be preferable when selecting mulching materials for controlling soil moisture in tropical cities.
文摘A field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of organic mulches and tillage practices on growth, yield of cluster bean and soil physical properties. Experiment was comprised of two factors: A (Tillage), B (Mulches). Factor A was assigned to main plot and consisted of two treatments (Minimum tillage and Conventional tillage). Factor B was assigned to sub plot and consisted of four treatments (no mulch, wheat straw mulch, grass clipping mulch and saw dust mulch). The mulching materials were partially incorporated in the field after germination of crop. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement having three replications. Control treatment was kept for comparison. All other agronomic practices were kept standardized and consistent for all the treatments. Data regarding growth and yield components were collected and analyzed statistically by fisher analysis of variance and treatment significance was measured by significant difference test at 5% probability level. The factors, tillage and mulches significantly affected growth, yield, yield parameters and soil physical properties. Maximum plant population (31.7 m<sup>2</sup>), plant height (159 cm), branches per plant (18.9), cluster per plant (15.88), grains per pod (7.3), 1000-grain weight (34.6 g), grain yield (1.9 t•ha<sup>-1</sup>), biological yield (9.91 t•ha<sup>-1</sup>) and harvest index (19.15) was recorded in conventional tillage comparative to minimum tillage. Mulches also affected grain yield, and maximum grain yield was recorded in wheat straw mulch (1.88 t•ha<sup>-1</sup>) followed by grass clipping mulch (1.81 t•ha<sup>-1</sup>) and saw dust mulch (1.76 t•ha<sup>-1</sup>) while minimum grain yield was recorded in control without mulch application (1.67 t•ha<sup>-1</sup>). Tillage and mulches interactively affect pH, soil organic matter contents, electrical conductivity and soil bulk density. Mulches and minimum tillage improved soil physical properties. Highest BCR was obtained from conventional tillage without mulch and lowest calculated from minimum tillage with saw dust application. The conclusion is that the mulching and conventional tillage improves cluster bean yield about 1%.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFE0101300 and 2021YFD1901102)the project supported by the Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province,China(2023-JC-YB-185)the Ningxia Key Research and Development Program,China(2023BCF01018)。
文摘Long-term mulching has improved crop yields and farmland productivity in semiarid areas,but it has also increased greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions and depleted soil fertility.Biochar application has emerged as a promising solution for addressing these issues.In this study,we investigated the effects of four biochar application rates(no biochar(N)=0 t ha^(-1),low(L)=3 t ha^(-1),medium(M)=6 t ha^(-1),and high(H)=9 t ha^(-1))under film mulching and no mulching conditions over three growing seasons.We assessed the impacts on GHG emissions,soil organic carbon sequestration(SOCS),and maize yield to evaluate the productivity and sustainability of farmland ecosystems.Our results demonstrated that mulching increased maize yield(18.68-41.80%),total fixed C in straw(23.64%),grain(28.87%),and root(46.31%)biomass,and GHG emissions(CO_(2),10.78%;N_(2)O,3.41%),while reducing SOCS(6.57%)and GHG intensity(GHGI;13.61%).Under mulching,biochar application significantly increased maize yield(10.20%),total fixed C in straw(17.97%),grain(17.69%)and root(16.75%)biomass,and SOCS(4.78%).Moreover,it reduced the GHG emissions(CO_(2),3.09%;N_(2)O,6.36%)and GHGI(12.28%).These effects correlated with the biochar addition rate,with the optimal rate being 9.0 t ha^(-1).In conclusion,biochar application reduces CO_(2) and N_(2)O emissions,enhances CH_(4) absorption,and improves maize yield under film mulching.It also improves the soil carbon fixation capacity while mitigating the warming potential,making it a promising sustainable management method for mulched farmland in semiarid areas.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32071980)the Key Projects of Shaanxi Agricultural Collaborative Innovation and Extension Alliance(No.LMZD202201)+1 种基金the Key R&D Project in Shaanxi Province(No.2021LLRH-07)Shaanxi Natural Scientific Basic Research Program project(No.2022JQ-157).
文摘Agricultural practices significantly contribute to greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions,necessitating cleaner production technologies to reduce environmental pressure and achieve sustainable maize production.Plastic film mulching is commonly used in the Loess Plateau region.Incorporating slow-release fertilizers as a replacement for urea within this practice can reduce nitrogen losses and enhance crop productivity.Combining these techniques represents a novel agricultural approach in semi-arid areas.However,the impact of this integration on soil carbon storage(SOCS),carbon footprint(CF),and economic benefits has received limited research attention.Therefore,we conducted an eight-year study(2015-2022)in the semi-arid northwestern region to quantify the effects of four treatments[urea supplied without plastic film mulching(CK-U),slow-release fertilizer supplied without plastic film mulching(CK-S),urea supplied with plastic film mulching(PM-U),and slow-release fertilizer supplied with plastic film mulching(PM-S)]on soil fertility,economic and environmental benefits.The results revealed that nitrogen fertilizer was the primary contributor to total GHG emissions(≥71.97%).Compared to other treatments,PM-S increased average grain yield by 12.01%-37.89%,water use efficiency by 9.19%-23.33%,nitrogen accumulation by 27.07%-66.19%,and net return by 6.21%-29.57%.Furthermore,PM-S decreased CF by 12.87%-44.31%and CF per net return by 14.25%-41.16%.After eight years,PM-S increased SOCS(0-40 cm)by 2.46%,while PM-U decreased it by 7.09%.These findings highlight the positive effects of PM-S on surface soil fertility,economic gains,and environmental benefits in spring maize production on the Loess Plateau,underscoring its potential for widespread adoption and application.
文摘Rice straw,which is produced after the harvest of rice,is a major agricultural waste in the world.Rice straw has a high carbon/nitrogen ratio and is more resistant to microbial degradation than other straws because its main constituents are cellulose and hemicelluloses encrusted by lignin.When rice straw is burned,hazardous substances such as carbon dioxide,methane,carbon monoxide,and nitrogen monoxide are released into the air as smoke(less than 10μm-sized particles).The rise in the burning of rice straw has contributed to too many accidents and health issues in the general population residing in Haryana,Punjab,and Uttar Pradesh of India.These states are being urged by the National Green Tribunal to generate money instead of burning rice straw.Even though these lignocellulosic materials might be beneficial,not much has been carried out with them.This overview covers the properties of rice straw and husks,the numerous procedures used to create valuable products,and various applications that may be made for them.These include energy sources,environmental adsorbents,building supplies,and specialist commodities.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52479049 and 51909221)the National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFD1900700)+1 种基金the Key R&D Program of Shaanxi Province,China(2024NC-ZDCYL-02-08)the Key Laboratory of Crop Water Use and Regulation,Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,China(IFI-CWUR202402).
文摘Ridge-furrow film mulching has been widely used as a water-saving and yield-increasing planting pattern in arid and semiarid regions.Planting density is also a vitally important factor influencing crop yield,and the optimal planting density will vary in different environments(such as ridge-furrow film mulching).How the combination of film mulching and planting density will affect the growth,physiology,yield,and water and radiation use efficiencies of winter oilseed rape is not clear yet.Therefore,a three-year field experiment was conducted from 2017 to 2020 to explore the responses of leaf chlorophyll(Chl)content,net photosynthetic rate(P_(n)),leaf area index(LAI),aboveground dry matter(ADM),root growth and distribution,yield,evapotranspiration(ET),water use efficiency(WUE),and radiation use efficiency(RUE)of winter oilseed rape to different film mulching patterns(F,ridge-furrow planting with plastic film mulching over the ridges;N,flat planting without mulching)and planting densities(LD,100,000 plants ha^(-1);MD,150,000 plants ha^(-1);HD,200,000 plants ha^(-1)).The results showed that the F treatments led to significantly greater leaf Chl contents,P_(n),LAI,and ADM,and a stronger root system than treatments without film mulching throughout the whole winter rapeseed growing seasons.Winter oilseed rape in the MD treatments had better physiological(leaf Chl contents and P_(n))and growth(LAI,ADM,taproot,and lateral root)conditions than in LD and HD at the late growth period after stem-elongation.Grain yield in FMD was the greatest,and it was significantly greater by 34.8-46.0%,6.7-9.6%,87.8-108.3%,38.7-50.3%,and 50.2-61.8%compared to those of FLD,FHD,NLD,NMD,and NHD,respectively.Furthermore,the ET in FMD was equivalent to FLD and FHD,but was markedly lower by 12.2-18.4%,14.5-20.3%,and 14.6-20.4%than in NLD,NMD,and NHD.Finally,the WUE and RUE in FMD were significantly improved by 88.5-94.0%and 29.0-41.8%compared to NHD(the local conventional planting pattern and planting density for winter rapeseed).In summary,FMD is a favorable cultivation management strategy to save water,increase yield and improve resource utilization efficiencies in winter oilseed rape in Northwest China.
基金Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources for financial support of this research.
文摘Mulching is known as one of the fastest strategies to control wind erosion and sand dunes movement.We hypothesized that mixed micro silica with clay,gypsum and clay-gypsum as mulches will increase shear strength,threshold friction velocity and decrease soil losses of drifting sands.For this purpose,mixture of micro silica rates (0,1,5,10,15 and 20%) with clay,gypsum,and clay-gypsum applied on sand surfaces.After 60 days of mulching,shear strength,the threshold friction velocity and soil losses at a wind speed of 15 m/S at the height of 20 cm for 20 rain.The results of this research revealed that the addition of 10% of micro silica in combination with clay and clay-gypsum increased the shear strength up to 10.6 and 37.5% and the threshold friction velocity up to 45.2 and 48.5%,respectively and decreased soil losses up to 100% in comparison with the samples without micro silica.Adding micro silica to gypsum had no considerable effect on shear strength,threshold friction velocity and soil losses.It was concluded that no pozzolanic reaction occurred between micro silica and gypsum and it was found that improvement in mechanical property and erodibility of clay-gypsum mulch was probably due to the pozzolanic reaction between micro silica and clay.Application of 10% of micro silica in combination with clay or clay-gypsum is therefore recommended as suitable mulch.
基金This research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFE0101302and2021YFD1901102)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31801314 and 31901475)。
文摘Plastic film mulching has been widely used to increase maize yield in the semiarid area of China.However, whether long-term plastic film mulching is conducive to agricultural sustainability in this region remains controversial.A field experiment was initiated in 2013 with five different film mulching methods:(i) control method, flat planting without mulching (CK),(ii) flat planting with half film mulching (P),(iii) film mulching on ridges and planting in narrow furrows(S),(iv) full film mulching on double ridges (D), and (v) film mulching on ridges and planting in wide furrows (R).The effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) content, storage, and fractions, and on the carbon management index (CMI)were evaluated after nine consecutive years of plastic film mulching.The results showed that long-term plastic film mulching generally maintained the initial SOC level.Compared with no mulching, plastic film mulching increased the average crop yield, biomass yield, and root biomass by 48.38, 35.06, and 37.32%, respectively, which led to the improvement of SOC sequestration.Specifically, plastic film mulching significantly improved CMI, and increased the SOC content by 13.59%, SOC storage by 7.47%and easily oxidizable organic carbon (EOC) by 13.78%on average,but it reduced the other labile fractions.SOC sequestration and CMI were improved by refining the plastic film mulching methods.The S treatment had the best effect among the four mulching methods, so it can be used as a reasonable film mulching method for sustainable agricultural development in the semiarid area.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFD1900703)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31272250).
文摘Amplifying drought stress and high precipitation variability impair dryland wheat production.These problems can potentially be minimized by using plastic mulch(PM)or straw mulch(SM).Therefore,wheat grain yield,soil water storage,soil temperature and water-use productivity of PM and SM treatments were compared with no mulch(CK)treatment on dryland wheat over a period of eight seasons.Compared to the CK treatment,PM and SM treatments on average significantly increased grain yield by 12.6 and 10.5%,respectively.Compared to the CK treatment,SM treatment significantly decreased soil daily temperature by 0.57,0.60 and 0.48℃ for the whole seasons,growing periods and summer fallow periods,respectively.In contrast,compared to the CK treatment,PM treatment increased soil daily temperature by 0.44,0.51 and 0.27℃ for the whole seasons,growing periods and summer fallow periods,respectively.Lower soil temperature under SM allowed greater soil water storage than under PM.Soil water storage pre-seeding was 17%greater under the SM than under the PM treatment.Soil water storage post-harvest was similar for the PM and SM treatments,but evapotranspiration was 4.5%higher in the SM than in the PM treatment.Consequently,water-use productivity was 6.6%greater under PM than under the SM treatment.Therefore,PM treatment increased dryland wheat yield and water-use productivity,while straw mulch increased soil water storage.
基金supported financially by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFD1900703)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31272250)。
文摘Water is the key factor limiting dryland wheat grain yield.Mulching affects crop yield and yield components by affecting soil moisture.Further research is needed to determine the relationships between yield components and soil moisture with yield,and to identify the most important factor affecting grain yield under various mulching measures.A long-term 9-yearifeld experiment in the Loess Plateau of Northwest China was carried out with three treatments:no mulch (CK),plastic mulch (M_(P)) and straw mulch (M_(S)).Yield factors and soil moisture were measured,and the relationships between them were explored by correlation analysis,structural equation modeling and significance analysis.The results showed that compared with CK,the average grain yields of M_(P) and M_(S) increased by 13.0and 10.6%,respectively.The average annual grain yield of the M_(P) treatment was 134 kg ha^(–1) higher than the M_(S) treatment.There were no significant differences in yield components among the three treatments (P<0.05).Soil water storage of the M_(S) treatment was greater than the M_(P) treatment,although the differences were not statistically signifiant.Soil water storage during the summer fallow period (SWSSF) and soil water storage before sowing (SWSS) of M_(S) were significantly higher than in CK,which increased by 38.5 and 13.6%,respectively.The relationship between M_(P) and CK was not statistically significant for SWSSF,but the SWSS in M_(P) was significantly higher than in CK.In terms of soil water storage after harvest (SWSH) and water consumption in the growth period(ET),there were no signi?cant differences among the three treatments.Based on the three analysis methods,we found that spike number and ET were positively correlated with grain yield.However,the relative importance of spike number to yield was the greatest in the M_(P )and M_(S) treatments,while that of ET was the greatest in CK.Suifcient SWSSF could indirectly increase spike number and ET in the three treatments.Based on these results,mulch can improve yield and soil water storage.The most important factor affecting the grain yield of dryland wheat was spike number under mulching,and ET with CK.These findings may help us to understand the main factors influencing dryland wheat grain yield under mulching conditions compared to CK.
基金This study was funded by the National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFD1900700)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51909221)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2020T130541 and 2019M650277).
文摘In order to further improve the utility of unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)remote-sensing for quickly and accurately monitoring the growth of winter wheat under film mulching, this study examined the treatments of ridge mulching,ridge–furrow full mulching, and flat cropping full mulching in winter wheat.Based on the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (FCE) method, four agronomic parameters (leaf area index, above-ground biomass, plant height, and leaf chlorophyll content) were used to calculate the comprehensive growth evaluation index (CGEI) of the winter wheat, and 14 visible and near-infrared spectral indices were calculated using spectral purification technology to process the remote-sensing image data of winter wheat obtained by multispectral UAV.Four machine learning algorithms, partial least squares, support vector machines, random forests, and artificial neural network networks(ANN), were used to build the winter wheat growth monitoring model under film mulching, and accuracy evaluation and mapping of the spatial and temporal distribution of winter wheat growth status were carried out.The results showed that the CGEI of winter wheat under film mulching constructed using the FCE method could objectively and comprehensively evaluate the crop growth status.The accuracy of remote-sensing inversion of the CGEI based on the ANN model was higher than for the individual agronomic parameters, with a coefficient of determination of 0.75,a root mean square error of 8.40, and a mean absolute value error of 6.53.Spectral purification could eliminate the interference of background effects caused by mulching and soil, effectively improving the accuracy of the remotesensing inversion of winter wheat under film mulching, with the best inversion effect achieved on the ridge–furrow full mulching area after spectral purification.The results of this study provide a theoretical reference for the use of UAV remote-sensing to monitor the growth status of winter wheat with film mulching.
基金supported by CESAM by FCT/MCTES (UIDP/50017/2020+UIDB/50017/2020+LA/P/0094/2020)and MED (UIDB/05183/2020)to FCT/MEC through national fundsthe co-funding by the FEDER,within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement and Compete 2020,and projects FIRECNUTS (PTDC/AGRCFL/104559/2008)+2 种基金CASCADE (ENV.2011.2.1.4-2/283068),which is funded by the European Unionthe FCT CEEC funding of Frank G.A.Verheijen (CEECIND/02509/2018),Sergio A.Prats (CEECIND/01473/2020),funded by national funds (OE)the SOILCOMBAT project (PTDC/EAM-AMB/0474/2020)through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT/MCTES).
文摘Soil pedestals have long been used as qualitative indicators of soil splash erosion.In rangelands,plant-capped pedestals,generally grass tussocks,have also been used to quantitatively estimate soil loss since the first half of the twentieth century.In agricultural lands,forests,and bad-lands,stone-capped pedestals have been used as qualitative and semi-quantitative indicators of active,'extreme'erosion.Little work has been reported on using capstone pedestal data for quantifying soil loss.We postulate that three distinct capstone pedestal types may be present in any given location and that a detailed analysis of a pedestal height histogram may be used to recognize their populations.This analysis can subsequently inform if soil loss can be reliably estimated and if so,which of the existing methods using pedestal height data will provide more accurate results.The three proposed capstone pedestal types are:(1)neo-pedestals formed underneath surface stones exposed by(partial)removal of the soil surface cover;(2)endo-pedestals formed underneath stones that were buried in the soil but have been exposed by erosion;and(3)phoenix-pedestals formed underneath stones from collapsed pedestals.In the pedestal height histogram of any given location,a skew to smaller heights may indicate the existence of endo-and/or phoenix-pedestals,which may be revealed as a bi-(or tri)modal distribution when using a smaller bin size.This concept was applied to a case study where soil loss had been monitored for control plots and mulched plots during a 5-year period following wildfire in a eucalypt plantation.We measured pedestal heights and used methods to quantitatively assess soil loss from soil pedestal data in the available literature.Soil pedestal data at the end of the 5-year period under or overestimated soil loss in the control treatment,with results ranging from 60 to 115%of measured soil loss,depending on the method.It is postulated that phoenix-and endo-pedestals may be a driving factor behind the observed discrepancies.We discuss how future research may provide more insight into dominant processes,and how frequency distributions may be used to select the best methods for estimating soil loss from pedestals.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41877086)the Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province of China(No.2020JZ-16)+1 种基金the UK Global Research Challenges Fundthe UK Natural Environment Research Council Project(No.NE/V005871/1)。
文摘Biodegradable plastic film mulch (PFM) is considered an alternative to non-biodegradable PFM to mitigate the negative impacts of residual film.However,the agronomic performance of biodegradable PFM in comparison to non-biodegradable PFM still needs to be tested.In this study,we evaluated the effects of biodegradable and non-biodegradable PFM on soil physicochemical properties,microbial community,and enzyme activities,as well as maize growth performance.Biodegradable and non-biodegradable PFM both increased soil temperature,water content,N content,and microbial biomass and maize yield by up to 30%,but decreased soil enzyme activities as compared to no mulching (control,CK).Most soil physicochemical properties,microbial community,and enzyme activities were similar under non-biodegradable and biodegradable PFM at the early stages of maize growth.However,at the late stages,soil temperature,water content,mineral N,NO_(3)^(-)-N,ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) activity,and total phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) decreased under biodegradable PFM owing to film fragmentation.White PFM increased soil temperature,water content,and total PLFAs at the early stages of maize growth but decreased soil mineral N and total PLFAs at the late stages,as compared to black PFM.As soil temperature and N availability were the major factors affecting soil microbial community,microbial activity decreased after the fragmentation of biodegradable PFM,owing to the decreased soil temperature,water content,and mineral N.Notably,biodegradable PFM could decrease NO_(3)^(-)-N accumulation in topsoil by decreasing N transformation due to the lower microbial and N-related enzyme (e.g.,AMO) activities,compared with non-biodegradable PFM,which may avoid negative environmental impacts,such as NO_(3)^(-)-N leaching or gas emission after harvest.Maize yield,height,aboveground biomass,and N uptake under biodegradable PFM were similar to those under non-biodegradable PFM during maize growth,implying that biodegradable PFM has no negative impact on crop growth and yield.In general,biodegradable PFM was equivalent to non-biodegradable PFM in terms of maize yield increase and N uptake,but was environmentally friendly.Therefore,biodegradable PFM can be used as an alternative to non-biodegradable PFM in semi-arid areas for sustainable agricultural practices.
基金financially supported by the Projects of National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFD1901101-5)the Special Major Research and Development Project of Shanxi Province(202101140601026-5)the Earmarked Fund for Modern Agro-industry Technology Research System(2023CYJSTX01-11).
文摘Film-stalk spaced dual mulching is a new type of cultivation measure that is increasingly highlighted in semi-arid areas in China.Despite its potential,there is limited understanding of how different mulching materials affect both soil quality and crop yield in these areas.To address this gap,we conducted a two-year(2020-2021)field experiment in central China to explore the yield-enhancing mechanisms and assess the impact of various mulching materials on soil and corn yield.The experiment comprised six treatments,i.e.,plastic film-whole stalk spaced mulching in fall(PSF),plastic film-whole stalk spaced mulching in spring(PSS),black and silver plastic film-whole stalk spaced mulching in spring(BPSS),biodegradable film-whole stalk spaced mulching in spring(BSS),liquid film-whole stalk spaced mulching in spring(LSS),and non-mulching cultivation(CK).Results revealed that BPSS demonstrated the most significant yield increase,surpassing CK by a notable 10.0%and other mulching treatments by 2.4%-5.9%.The efficacy of BPSS lied in its provision of favorable hydrothermal conditions for corn cultivation,particularly during hot season.Its cooling effect facilitated the establishment of optimal temperature conditions relative to transparent mulching,leading to higher root growth indices(e.g.,length and surface area),as well as higher leaf photosynthetic rate and dry matter accumulation per plant.Additionally,BPSS maintained higher average soil moisture content within 0-100 cm depth compared with biodegradable mulching and liquid mulching.As a result,BPSS increased activities of urease,catalase,and alkaline phosphatase,as well as the diversity and abundance of soil bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere zone of corn,facilitating nutrient accessibility by the plant.These findings suggest that selecting appropriate mulching materials is crucial for optimizing corn production in drought-prone areas,highlighting the potential of BPSS cultivation.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research & Development Program of China (Grant No.2022YFD1500402)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.51809225)+1 种基金the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant Nos.2020T130559 and 2019M651977)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China (Grant No.BK20180929)。
文摘Rice cultivation under film mulching is an integrated management technology that can conserve water, increase soil temperature, improve yield, and enhance water and nitrogen use efficiencies. Despite these advantages, the system does have its drawbacks, such as soil organic matter reduction and microplastic pollution, which impede the widespread adoption of film mulching cultivation in China. Nonetheless, the advent of degradable film, controlled-release fertilizer, organic fertilizer, and film mulching machinery is promoting the development of rice film mulching cultivation. This review outlines the impact of rice cultivation under film mulching on soil moisture, soil temperature, soil fertility, greenhouse gas emissions, weed control, and disease and pest management. It also elucidates the mechanism of changes in rice growth, yield and quality, water use efficiency, and nitrogen use efficiency. This paper incorporates a review of published research articles and discusses some uncertainties and shortcomings associated with rice cultivation under film mulching. Consequently, prospective research directions for the technology of rice film mulching cultivation are outlined, and recommendations for future research into rice cultivation under film mulching are proposed.
文摘Background Weed infestation in cotton has been reported to offer severe competition and cause yield reduction to a large extent.Weeding via cultural practices is time consuming,tedious,and expensive due to long duration of cotton crop and regular monsoon rains during cotton production in India.Chemical weed control has been successfully utilized in cotton in the recent past.However,continuous use of similar herbicides leads to resistance in weeds against herbicides.And when sprayed to the field,herbicides not only suppress weeds but leave undesirable residues in the soil that are hazardous to the environment.Therefore,a study was performed at cotton research area at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University,Hisar,Haryana during two consecutive kharif seasons(2020 and 2021)to determine the most suitable and sustainable weed management strategy through the integration of chemical and cultural methods.Results Mulching with rice straw of 7.5 t ha^(-1)resulted in significantly higher cotton seed yield(3189 and 3084 kg ha^(-1))and better weed control in comparison to no mulch treatments(2990 and 2904 kg ha^(-1))in 2020 and 2021,respectively.Among various weed management levels,the significantly lowest cotton seed yield was recorded in untreated control(1841 and 1757 kg·ha^(-1)during 2020 and 2021,respectively)in comparison to other treatments while all other treatments were statistically at par with each other during both years of crop experimentation.Conclusion Mulching with rice straw of 7.5 t·ha^(-1)along with a pre-emergence application of pendimethalin(active ingredient)at 1.5 kg·ha^(-1)fb(followed by)one hoeings at 45 days after sowing(DAS)and fb glyphosate 2 kg·ha^(-1)(Shielded spray)at 90 DAS is a viable option for effective control of grassy and broadleaved weeds in Bt cotton in north-west India.
文摘Capsicum is a nutritious vegetable and its cultivation in farms is getting popular in Bangladesh. Although many efforts have lain to explore better yielding and nutritionally rich cultivars with suitable modern cultivation techniques but still have to find the desired outcome. Thus, it’s necessary to conduct further research to identify the high-yielding and nutritious capsicum cultivars in Bangladesh. An experiment was conducted from July 2021 to June 2022 at the Bangladesh Institute of Research and Training on Applied Nutrition (BIRTAN) research field with three cultivars of capsicum: B<sub>0</sub> = California Wonder, B<sub>1</sub> = BARI Misti Morich-1 and B<sub>2</sub> = BARI Misti Morich-2 and three mulching: T<sub>0</sub> = No mulching, T<sub>1</sub> = Water hyacinth, T<sub>2</sub> = Poly Mulching in randomized complete block design with three replications to identify better quality capsicum cultivar and suitable mulching material. Among cultivars the BARI Misti Morich-2 (B<sub>2</sub>) showed increased agronomic parameters like number of branches and effective branches per plant, leaves length and width, consequently yield and yield contributing traits were also enhanced like fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit diameter and yield per plant (25.97%, 4.54%, 3.64% and 21.43%, respectively). Poly Mulching (T<sub>2</sub>) increased agronomic traits, yield traits and yield (0.61 kg) than BARI Misti Morich-1 (T<sub>1</sub>). The combined effect of B<sub>2</sub>T<sub>2</sub> increased the number of branches per plant, effective branches per plant, leaves length and breadth by 40%, 90%, 15.57% and 26.22%, respectively, hence resulting in an increased yield of 20%. BARI Misti Morich-2 cultivar showed an increase in Fe, Zn and Vitamin-C content of 26.24% and 23.10%, 8.82% and 5.14%, and 6.03% and 5.74% than B0 and B1 cultivars, respectively. Therefore, BARI Misti Morich-2 exhibited the improved agronomic, yield and nutritional traits of capsicum under poly mulching among other cultivars in Bangladesh.
文摘During the 2022 growing season (August to November) at the Federal University of Technology, Minna School farm, Niger State, an experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of mulching on Okras growth, yield, and moisture content was examined across four distinct growth stages (initial, development, mid, and late) and at varying soil depths (0 - 30 cm and 30 - 60 cm). The study employed a randomised complete block design with four replications, encompassing control (T0), groundnut shells mulch (T1), black polythene mulch (T2), and white polythene mulch (T3) as treatments. The highest average Okra fresh pod yield, amounting to 23.4 t/ha, was achieved by implementing white plastic mulch, contrasting with the control treatment, which yielded the lowest at 22 t/ha. Notably, the control plots exhibited yield reductions of up to 32% compared to the plots employing white plastic mulching. The utilisation of mulch had a notable impact on the overall crop yield, with the superior quality evident in the treatment employing white plastic mulch (26 t/ha). The control treatment exhibited the lowest quality at 24.3 t/ha. Groundnut shell mulch influenced moisture conservation, but no significant variance was observed compared to the control plots. Therefore, the study suggests that polythene mulch may be the most suitable type to enhance the quality of okra production by conserving soil moisture. Among the biodegradable and non-biodegradable mulches used in this study, white polythene mulch was the most effective.
基金Supported by "Technological Demonstration of Large-scale Planting of Fine Quality Forage Grass and Crops" Sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology (2007BAD80B03)"Forage Production System Research" Sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology (2007BAD63B04)~~
文摘[Objective] The aim was to provide scientific reference for the production of silage maize in correlated regions of Tibet.[Method] Effects of film mulching on the growth period,growth traits and yield of silage maize and weed were analyzed.[Result] Under the treatment of film mulching,the growth period of silage maize could be advanced for 7-16 d; the plant length,stem diameter and leaf area were increased; and the grain output was increased by 75.9%.According to the market price of silage maize in 2008,22 500 Yuan/hm^2 was increased.There were 13 kinds of weeds in silage maize field,which belonged to 13 genera,8 families.Among them,6 kinds of weeds belonged to Gramineae,among which Echinochloa crusgalli and Setaria viridis were dominated in the weed communities.Plantago depressa,Eragrostis pilosa and Malva verticillata var.chinensis could be totally controlled by the film mulching; meanwhile the others could be also controlled in a certain degree except Echinochloa crusgalli.[Conclusion] The plastic mulching planting is worth popularizing for the developing of animal husbandry and the incoming of the local farmers in Tibet.
