Integrated deep vertical rotary tillage and subsurface pipe drainage techniques for sustainable soil salinization management and cotton production in arid regions

Soil salinization impacts over 6 % of the world’s arable land, presenting an even greater challenge to agriculture in arid regions. This study assessed various subsurface pipe arrangements (B1: 1.0 m depth, 20 m spacing; B2: 0.8 m depth, 16 m spacing), deep vertical rotary tillage (DVRT) depths (DT4...

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Main Authors: Zhijie Li, Qiang Meng, Ling Li, Zhentao Bai, Yanjie Li, Hongguang Liu, Pengfei Li, Tangang Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Agricultural Water Management
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037837742500143X
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author Zhijie Li
Qiang Meng
Ling Li
Zhentao Bai
Yanjie Li
Hongguang Liu
Pengfei Li
Tangang Wang
author_facet Zhijie Li
Qiang Meng
Ling Li
Zhentao Bai
Yanjie Li
Hongguang Liu
Pengfei Li
Tangang Wang
author_sort Zhijie Li
collection DOAJ
description Soil salinization impacts over 6 % of the world’s arable land, presenting an even greater challenge to agriculture in arid regions. This study assessed various subsurface pipe arrangements (B1: 1.0 m depth, 20 m spacing; B2: 0.8 m depth, 16 m spacing), deep vertical rotary tillage (DVRT) depths (DT40: 40 cm, DT60: 60 cm), and conventional tillage (CT) over the period from 2021 to 2023 to evaluate their long-term effects on soil properties, drainage characteristics, and crop production. The results indicated that the combination of DVRT and SPD significantly reduced the levels of salt and ions (Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl−, and SO42−). Increasing tillage depth and reducing pipe spacing and depth significantly improved soil desalination and drainage but reduced soil water storage. Meanwhile, the total nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (TP), and potassium (TK) contents in the 0–20 cm soil layer were significantly reduced by 3–8 %, 3–6 %, and 9–19 %, respectively, compared to the CT treatment. Specifically, the DT60-B1 treatment exhibited the greatest soil desalination and drainage but also had the highest concentrations of TN, TP, and TK in the drainage. Although these changes initially caused a 5 % and 8 % decrease in average dry mass and yield, respectively, cotton’s uptake of Na+ and Cl− decreased over time, while the uptake of Ca2+, as well as the accumulation of C, N, P, and K, along with yield, gradually increased. Random forest analysis showed that soil salinity and water storage significantly impacted yield, with electrical conductivity identified as the primary limiting factor. In 2023, the DT60–B1 treatment yielded significantly more than the CT treatment, and its comprehensive evaluation index increased from 0.44 to 0.67, indicating a shift from inhibition to promotion of crop growth over time. Long-term application requires optimizing pipeline layout and farming practices to improve productivity and sustain saline soil use.
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spelling doaj-art-420916d0bd0248adb08d5d17e9b2f78b2025-08-20T03:10:34ZengElsevierAgricultural Water Management1873-22832025-05-0131210942910.1016/j.agwat.2025.109429Integrated deep vertical rotary tillage and subsurface pipe drainage techniques for sustainable soil salinization management and cotton production in arid regionsZhijie Li0Qiang Meng1Ling Li2Zhentao Bai3Yanjie Li4Hongguang Liu5Pengfei Li6Tangang Wang7College of Water Conservancy & Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China; Xinjiang Production & Construction Group Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation, Shihezi 832000, ChinaCollege of Water Conservancy & Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China; Xinjiang Production & Construction Group Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation, Shihezi 832000, ChinaCollege of Water Conservancy & Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China; Xinjiang Production & Construction Group Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation, Shihezi 832000, ChinaKey Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semiarid Areas of Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shanxi 712100, ChinaCollege of Water Conservancy & Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China; Xinjiang Production & Construction Group Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation, Shihezi 832000, ChinaCollege of Water Conservancy & Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China; Xinjiang Production & Construction Group Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation, Shihezi 832000, China; Corresponding authors at: College of Water Conservancy & Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, ChinaCollege of Water Conservancy & Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China; Xinjiang Production & Construction Group Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation, Shihezi 832000, China; Corresponding authors at: College of Water Conservancy & Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, ChinaInstitute of Agricultural Science of the Third Division of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Tumxuk 843900, China; Correspondence to: Institute of Agricultural Science of the Third Division of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Tumu Shuker 843900, ChinaSoil salinization impacts over 6 % of the world’s arable land, presenting an even greater challenge to agriculture in arid regions. This study assessed various subsurface pipe arrangements (B1: 1.0 m depth, 20 m spacing; B2: 0.8 m depth, 16 m spacing), deep vertical rotary tillage (DVRT) depths (DT40: 40 cm, DT60: 60 cm), and conventional tillage (CT) over the period from 2021 to 2023 to evaluate their long-term effects on soil properties, drainage characteristics, and crop production. The results indicated that the combination of DVRT and SPD significantly reduced the levels of salt and ions (Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl−, and SO42−). Increasing tillage depth and reducing pipe spacing and depth significantly improved soil desalination and drainage but reduced soil water storage. Meanwhile, the total nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (TP), and potassium (TK) contents in the 0–20 cm soil layer were significantly reduced by 3–8 %, 3–6 %, and 9–19 %, respectively, compared to the CT treatment. Specifically, the DT60-B1 treatment exhibited the greatest soil desalination and drainage but also had the highest concentrations of TN, TP, and TK in the drainage. Although these changes initially caused a 5 % and 8 % decrease in average dry mass and yield, respectively, cotton’s uptake of Na+ and Cl− decreased over time, while the uptake of Ca2+, as well as the accumulation of C, N, P, and K, along with yield, gradually increased. Random forest analysis showed that soil salinity and water storage significantly impacted yield, with electrical conductivity identified as the primary limiting factor. In 2023, the DT60–B1 treatment yielded significantly more than the CT treatment, and its comprehensive evaluation index increased from 0.44 to 0.67, indicating a shift from inhibition to promotion of crop growth over time. Long-term application requires optimizing pipeline layout and farming practices to improve productivity and sustain saline soil use.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037837742500143XSoil salinization improvementDeep vertical rotary tillageSubsurface pipe drainageSoil propertiesCotton yield
spellingShingle Zhijie Li
Qiang Meng
Ling Li
Zhentao Bai
Yanjie Li
Hongguang Liu
Pengfei Li
Tangang Wang
Integrated deep vertical rotary tillage and subsurface pipe drainage techniques for sustainable soil salinization management and cotton production in arid regions
Agricultural Water Management
Soil salinization improvement
Deep vertical rotary tillage
Subsurface pipe drainage
Soil properties
Cotton yield
title Integrated deep vertical rotary tillage and subsurface pipe drainage techniques for sustainable soil salinization management and cotton production in arid regions
title_full Integrated deep vertical rotary tillage and subsurface pipe drainage techniques for sustainable soil salinization management and cotton production in arid regions
title_fullStr Integrated deep vertical rotary tillage and subsurface pipe drainage techniques for sustainable soil salinization management and cotton production in arid regions
title_full_unstemmed Integrated deep vertical rotary tillage and subsurface pipe drainage techniques for sustainable soil salinization management and cotton production in arid regions
title_short Integrated deep vertical rotary tillage and subsurface pipe drainage techniques for sustainable soil salinization management and cotton production in arid regions
title_sort integrated deep vertical rotary tillage and subsurface pipe drainage techniques for sustainable soil salinization management and cotton production in arid regions
topic Soil salinization improvement
Deep vertical rotary tillage
Subsurface pipe drainage
Soil properties
Cotton yield
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037837742500143X
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