Dual-mulching under no-tillage promotes maize root growth and improves yield by optimizing soil hydrothermal conditions in semi-arid regions
In dryland agricultural ecosystems, particularly in semi-arid regions, achieving sustainable crop production is crucial. Although no-tillage and mulching are common practices for conserving water and increasing yields, the combined effects of dual-mulching (straw and plastic film) under no-tillage o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Agricultural Water Management |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377425001428 |
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| author | Jia Wang Jun Fan Huan Wang Xi Wang Yuzhu Xing Yongquan Gao Mingde Hao |
| author_facet | Jia Wang Jun Fan Huan Wang Xi Wang Yuzhu Xing Yongquan Gao Mingde Hao |
| author_sort | Jia Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In dryland agricultural ecosystems, particularly in semi-arid regions, achieving sustainable crop production is crucial. Although no-tillage and mulching are common practices for conserving water and increasing yields, the combined effects of dual-mulching (straw and plastic film) under no-tillage on soil hydrothermal properties, root growth, and yield remain unclear. Based on the long-term field experiment established in the Loess Plateau of China in 2004, this study investigated the effects of conventional tillage (CT), no-tillage (NT), no-tillage with plastic film mulching (NTP), no-tillage with straw mulching (NTS), and no-tillage with dual mulching of straw and plastic film (NTSP) on soil water, temperature, root growth, and maize yield during the 2022–2023 growing season. The results revealed that NTSP significantly increased soil temperature at the 0–15 cm depth during the VE stage, while reducing the average soil temperature at the 0–30 cm depth during the V6-R3 stage (P < 0.05). Compared to CT, NTSP significantly increased soil water content (SWC) and soil water storage (SWS) at various growth stages, thereby promoting increased root density during critical growth stages (P < 0.05). Moreover, NTSP significantly improved grain yield and its components, biomass yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and rainfall use efficiency (RUE). The grain yield of NTSP increased by 17 % and 40 % compared to NTP and NTS (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis indicated a significant negative correlation between soil temperature during the VT-R3 stage and root growth, while SWC at different stages showed a positive correlation with root growth (P < 0.05). SWS had a greater impact on yield than soil temperature, with pre-sowing SWS having the greatest effect on yield. Overall, NTSP improves soil hydrothermal conditions, boosts root growth, and increases yields. It enhances water use efficiency, supports sustainable farming in semi-arid regions, and offers a solution for soil water conservation in dryland agriculture. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d24f110b662a4306a94d920a8d3bf9d9 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1873-2283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agricultural Water Management |
| spelling | doaj-art-d24f110b662a4306a94d920a8d3bf9d92025-08-20T03:10:34ZengElsevierAgricultural Water Management1873-22832025-05-0131210942810.1016/j.agwat.2025.109428Dual-mulching under no-tillage promotes maize root growth and improves yield by optimizing soil hydrothermal conditions in semi-arid regionsJia Wang0Jun Fan1Huan Wang2Xi Wang3Yuzhu Xing4Yongquan Gao5Mingde Hao6State Key Laboratory of Soil and Water Conservation and Desertification Control, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Soil and Water Conservation and Desertification Control, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resource, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Corresponding author at: State Key Laboratory of Soil and Water Conservation and Desertification Control, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.State Key Laboratory of Soil and Water Conservation and Desertification Control, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Soil and Water Conservation and Desertification Control, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resource, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Soil and Water Conservation and Desertification Control, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Soil and Water Conservation and Desertification Control, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Soil and Water Conservation and Desertification Control, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resource, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, ChinaIn dryland agricultural ecosystems, particularly in semi-arid regions, achieving sustainable crop production is crucial. Although no-tillage and mulching are common practices for conserving water and increasing yields, the combined effects of dual-mulching (straw and plastic film) under no-tillage on soil hydrothermal properties, root growth, and yield remain unclear. Based on the long-term field experiment established in the Loess Plateau of China in 2004, this study investigated the effects of conventional tillage (CT), no-tillage (NT), no-tillage with plastic film mulching (NTP), no-tillage with straw mulching (NTS), and no-tillage with dual mulching of straw and plastic film (NTSP) on soil water, temperature, root growth, and maize yield during the 2022–2023 growing season. The results revealed that NTSP significantly increased soil temperature at the 0–15 cm depth during the VE stage, while reducing the average soil temperature at the 0–30 cm depth during the V6-R3 stage (P < 0.05). Compared to CT, NTSP significantly increased soil water content (SWC) and soil water storage (SWS) at various growth stages, thereby promoting increased root density during critical growth stages (P < 0.05). Moreover, NTSP significantly improved grain yield and its components, biomass yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and rainfall use efficiency (RUE). The grain yield of NTSP increased by 17 % and 40 % compared to NTP and NTS (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis indicated a significant negative correlation between soil temperature during the VT-R3 stage and root growth, while SWC at different stages showed a positive correlation with root growth (P < 0.05). SWS had a greater impact on yield than soil temperature, with pre-sowing SWS having the greatest effect on yield. Overall, NTSP improves soil hydrothermal conditions, boosts root growth, and increases yields. It enhances water use efficiency, supports sustainable farming in semi-arid regions, and offers a solution for soil water conservation in dryland agriculture.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377425001428Straw and plastic film dual-mulchingNo-tillageDryland farmingMaize yieldMaize rootsSoil hydrothermal conditions |
| spellingShingle | Jia Wang Jun Fan Huan Wang Xi Wang Yuzhu Xing Yongquan Gao Mingde Hao Dual-mulching under no-tillage promotes maize root growth and improves yield by optimizing soil hydrothermal conditions in semi-arid regions Agricultural Water Management Straw and plastic film dual-mulching No-tillage Dryland farming Maize yield Maize roots Soil hydrothermal conditions |
| title | Dual-mulching under no-tillage promotes maize root growth and improves yield by optimizing soil hydrothermal conditions in semi-arid regions |
| title_full | Dual-mulching under no-tillage promotes maize root growth and improves yield by optimizing soil hydrothermal conditions in semi-arid regions |
| title_fullStr | Dual-mulching under no-tillage promotes maize root growth and improves yield by optimizing soil hydrothermal conditions in semi-arid regions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dual-mulching under no-tillage promotes maize root growth and improves yield by optimizing soil hydrothermal conditions in semi-arid regions |
| title_short | Dual-mulching under no-tillage promotes maize root growth and improves yield by optimizing soil hydrothermal conditions in semi-arid regions |
| title_sort | dual mulching under no tillage promotes maize root growth and improves yield by optimizing soil hydrothermal conditions in semi arid regions |
| topic | Straw and plastic film dual-mulching No-tillage Dryland farming Maize yield Maize roots Soil hydrothermal conditions |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377425001428 |
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