Exploring a Sustainable Cropping System in the North China Plain Using a Modelling Approach

Huanyuan Wang, Baoguo Li, Liang Jin and Kelin Hu
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Huanyuan Wang: College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Baoguo Li: College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Liang Jin: Soil Fertilizer and Environment Resources Institute, Heilongjiang Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Harbin 150086, China
Kelin Hu: College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: The North China Plain (NCP) is one of the most important grain production regions in China. However, it currently experiences water shortage, severe nonpoint source pollution, and low water and N use efficiencies (WUE and NUE). To explore sustainable agricultural development in this region, a field experiment with different cropping systems was conducted in suburban Beijing. These cropping systems included a winter wheat and summer maize rotation system for one year (WM), three harvests (winter wheat-summer maize-spring maize) in two years (HT), and continuous spring maize monoculture (CS). Novel ways were explored to improve WUE and NUE and to reduce N loss via the alternative cropping system based on the simulation results of a soil-crop system model. Results showed that the annual average yields were ranked as follows: WM > HT > CS. The N leaching of WM was much larger than that of HT and CS. WUE and NUE were ranked as follows: WM < HT < CS. Comprehensive evaluation indices based on agronomic and environmental effects indicated that CS or HT have significant potential for approaches characterized by water-saving, fertilizer-saving, high-WUE, and high-NUE properties. Once spring maize yield reached an ideal level HT and CS became a high-yield, water-saving, and fertilizer-saving cropping systems. Therefore, this method would be beneficial to sustainable agricultural development in the NCP.

Keywords: water use efficiency; N use efficiency; different cropping systems; WNMM model; North China Plain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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