Effects of Straw Incorporation and Decomposition on Soil Preferential Flow Patterns Using the Dye-Tracer Method

Zhengyu Duan, Ce Wang (), Chengli Zhu, Xiaoan Chen, Yaming Zhai, Liang Ma, Nan Sun, Jiahao Cai and Yu Fu
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Zhengyu Duan: College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Ce Wang: College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Chengli Zhu: College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Xiaoan Chen: Jiangxi Academy of Water Science and Engineering, Nanchang 330029, China
Yaming Zhai: College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Liang Ma: College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Nan Sun: College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Jiahao Cai: College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Yu Fu: College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-18

Abstract: Preferential pathways in soil lead to nutrient leaching and groundwater contamination. However, the evolution of preferential flow with straw application remains uncertain. This study aims to experimentally determine the hypothesis that, depending on how it is applied, straw will either promote or inhibit the movement of soil preferential flow. Treatments with straw application rates of 0, 5, 10, and 15 t/ha and decomposition time points of 0, 60, and 240 d were set up for the potassium iodide–starch dye-tracer method. The results showed that the straw decomposition rate slowed down in the later stages. At 0 d, the preferential flow coefficients of straw application of 0, 5, 10, and 15 t/ha were 0.13, 0.14, 0.23, and 0.17, respectively. At 60 d, the preferential flow coefficients were approximately 0.17, 0.11, 0.22, and 0.12. Soil properties and irrigation quality improved at 0 d and 60 d. However, a marked increase of 0.31, 0.35, and 0.17 in the preferential flow coefficient was observed at 240 d. Soil properties and irrigation quality deteriorated at 240 d. These results indicate that the effect of straw incorporation and decomposition on preferential flow was initially inhibited and subsequently promoted. Soil properties and irrigation quality were initially improved and subsequently deteriorated. The study serves as a reference for rational utilization of agricultural residuals and scientific irrigation, suggesting that the optimal method of straw incorporation should be adopted based on the growth cycle of the crops.

Keywords: straw incorporation; decomposition process; macropore flow; moisture content; moisture retention capacity; field capacity; irrigation quality (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
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