Plastic Film Mulching Regulates Soil Respiration and Temperature Sensitivity in Maize Farming Across Diverse Hydrothermal Conditions

Jianjun Yang, Rui Wang, Xiaopeng Shi, Yufei Li, Rafi Ullah and Feng Zhang ()
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Jianjun Yang: Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Exploitation and Application of Gansu Province, Institute of Biology, Gansu Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Rui Wang: CNG Wind Energy Co., Ltd., Beijing 100071, China
Xiaopeng Shi: Dingxi Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Dingxi 743000, China
Yufei Li: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro–Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Rafi Ullah: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro–Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Feng Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro–Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-16

Abstract: Soil respiration (Rt), consisting of heterotrophic (Rh) and autotrophic respiration (Ra), plays a vital role in terrestrial carbon cycling and is sensitive to soil temperature and moisture. In dryland agriculture, plastic film mulching (PM) is widely used to regulate soil hydrothermal conditions, but its effects on Rt components and their temperature sensitivity (Q 10 ) across regions remain unclear. A two-year field study was conducted at two rain-fed maize sites: Anding (warmer, semi-arid) and Yuzhong (colder, drier). PM significantly increased Rt, Rh, and Ra, especially Ra, due to enhanced root biomass and improved microclimate. Yield increased by 33.6–165%. Peak respiration occurred earlier in Anding, aligned with maize growth and soil temperature. PM reduced Q 10 of Rt and Ra in Anding, but only Ra in Yuzhong. Rh Q 10 remained stable, indicating microbial respiration was less sensitive to temperature changes. Structural equation modeling revealed that Rt and Ra were mainly driven by soil temperature and root biomass, while Rh was more influenced by microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Despite increased CO 2 emissions, PM improved carbon emission efficiency (CEE), particularly in Yuzhong (+67%). The application of PM is recommended to enhance yield while optimizing carbon efficiency in dryland farming systems.

Keywords: dryland agriculture; soil respiration; different hydrothermal conditions; temperature sensitivity; carbon emission efficiency (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: 2025
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