Effects of Straw Input on the Yield and Water-Use Efficiency of Spring Maize in Film-Mulched Farmland

Yisheng Lou, Xu Zhang, Shiyu Zhang, Na Li, Yidong Zhao, Wei Bai, Zhanxiang Sun and Zhe Zhang ()
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Yisheng Lou: Institute of Crop Cultivation and Farming System, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, China
Xu Zhang: Fuxin Meteorological Bureau, Fuxin 123000, China
Shiyu Zhang: Institute of Crop Cultivation and Farming System, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, China
Na Li: Institute of Crop Cultivation and Farming System, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, China
Yidong Zhao: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing 100081, China
Wei Bai: Institute of Crop Cultivation and Farming System, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, China
Zhanxiang Sun: Institute of Crop Cultivation and Farming System, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, China
Zhe Zhang: Institute of Crop Cultivation and Farming System, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-18

Abstract: To provide a theoretical basis for the sustainable application of autumn mulching technology, we examined the effects of straw input on spring maize yield and water-use efficiency in film-mulched farmland. Based on the positioning tests of different mulching methods conducted in 2013, non-mulching (NM), spring mulching (SM), autumn mulching (AM), and autumn mulching combined with the return of straw (AMS) were selected in western Liaoning from 2018 to 2021. Spring maize yield, yield component factors, soil water content, and water-use efficiency under the four treatments were assessed. In each year, the AMS treatment significantly increased the maize yield, which was 48.22%, 9.33%, 30.66%, and 9.92%, and 11.78%, 7.71%, 12.86%, and 4.77% higher than that obtained after the SM and AM treatments, respectively. However, the harvest index was not significantly improved by AMS. AMS treatment significantly improved the precipitation utilization rate in all assessed years. Moreover, the crop water consumption was significantly increased by AMS treatment. Compared with the NM treatment, water-use efficiencies for economic and biological yield were also significantly improved. Thus, autumn mulching combined with straw-returning technology is an effective technical measure for improve spring maize yield and water-use efficiency in semi-arid areas of western Liaoning.

Keywords: returning straw to the field; mulching; spring maize ( Zea mays L.); yield; water-use 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: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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