Optimizing Ridge–Furrow Ratio to Improve Water Resource Utilization for Wheat in the North China Plain

Kun Liu, Zhen Zhang, Yu Shi (), Xizhi Wang and Zhenwen Yu
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Kun Liu: National Key Laboratory of Wheat Breeding, Agricultural College, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Zhen Zhang: National Key Laboratory of Wheat Breeding, Agricultural College, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Yu Shi: National Key Laboratory of Wheat Breeding, Agricultural College, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Xizhi Wang: Agricultural Technology Extension Center, Yanzhou District, Jining 272116, China
Zhenwen Yu: National Key Laboratory of Wheat Breeding, Agricultural College, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-17

Abstract: The shortage of water resources seriously limits sustainable production in agriculture, and the ridge–furrow planting pattern is an effective water-saving cultivation pattern. However, the mechanism of the ridge–furrow planting pattern that drives the efficient utilization of field water resources in the North China Plain (NCP) is still unclear. A two-year field experiment was conducted in the NCP from 2021 to 2023. The ridge–furrow planting patterns followed a randomized block design as follows: ridge–furrow ratios of 50 cm:50 cm (M2), 75 cm:50 cm (M3), and 100 cm:50 cm (M4). A traditional planting pattern was used as the control (M1). These were used to investigate the effects of different treatments on water use and roots. The results showed that M3 reduced the amount of irrigation, improved water distribution after irrigation, increased water use efficiency (WUE), and promoted root growth. Compared with other treatments, M3 increased soil water consumption at a 0–100 cm soil depth by 6.76–21.34% (average values over two years), root length density by 8.46–20.77%, and root surface area density by 7.87–22.13%. On average, M3 increased grain yields by 3.96–9.80%, biomass yields by 5.32–10.94%, and WUE by 4.5–9.87%. In conclusion, M3 is an effective planting pattern for improving the yield and WUE of wheat in the NCP.

Keywords: ridge–furrow ratio; wheat; grain 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
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