Straw Return Decomposition Characteristics and Effects on Soil Nutrients and Maize Yield

Yun Yang, Yun Long (), Shiwei Li and Xiaohong Liu
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Yun Yang: College of Life Science, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
Yun Long: College of Life Science, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
Shiwei Li: Nanchong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchong 637000, China
Xiaohong Liu: College of Life Science, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 8, 1-12

Abstract: Straw return benefits soil nutrient circulation and avoids the environmental pollution caused by incineration. The straw return effect is determined by many factors, such as the returning mode and tillage method. To find the most suitable straw return mode in the hilly areas of south China, we conducted experiments with preceding maize straw in Nanchong (Sichuan Province, China) for three years. Five treatments were tested: (A) rotary tillage without straw return (RT), (B) crushed straw return with rotary tillage (CRT), (C) crushed straw return without rotary tillage (CSR), (D) whole straw return with rotary tillage (WRT), and (E) whole straw return without rotary tillage (WSR). The results indicated that CRT had the fastest decomposition rate, followed by CSR. Moreover, CRT had the fastest nutrient release rates for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, as well as the highest maize yield (6.62% higher than RT). CRT increased the content of organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total potassium in the soil, as well as improved the soil pH. Furthermore, the numbers of bacteria, Actinomycetes, and fungi in the soil under CRT, CSR, and WSR treatments were higher than those under the other two treatments. This study has important reference value for exploring the most favourable straw return method for improving farmland fertility.

Keywords: maize; straw return; decomposition rate; nutrient release; soil fertility; crop yield (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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