Harnessing Microbial Agents to Improve Soil Health and Rice Yield Under Straw Return in Rice–Wheat Agroecosystems

Yangming Ma, Yanfang Wen, Ruhongji Liu, Zhenglan Peng, Guanzhou Luo, Cheng Wang, Zhonglin Wang, Zhiyuan Yang, Zongkui Chen, Jun Ma () and Yongjian Sun ()
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Yangming Ma: Crop Ecophysiology and Cultivation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Yanfang Wen: Crop Ecophysiology and Cultivation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Ruhongji Liu: Crop Ecophysiology and Cultivation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Zhenglan Peng: Crop Ecophysiology and Cultivation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Guanzhou Luo: Crop Ecophysiology and Cultivation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Cheng Wang: Crop Ecophysiology and Cultivation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Zhonglin Wang: Crop Ecophysiology and Cultivation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Zhiyuan Yang: Crop Ecophysiology and Cultivation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Zongkui Chen: Crop Ecophysiology and Cultivation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Jun Ma: Crop Ecophysiology and Cultivation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Yongjian Sun: Crop Ecophysiology and Cultivation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 14, 1-19

Abstract: We clarified the effect of wheat straw return combined with microbial agents on rice yield and soil properties. A field experiment was conducted using hybrid indica rice ‘ Chuankangyou 2115 ’ and five treatments: no wheat straw return (T 1 ), wheat straw return alone (T 2 ), T 2 + microbial agent application ( Bacillus subtilis / Trichoderma harzianum = 1:1) (T 3 ); T 2 + microbial agent application ( Bacillus subtili s/ Trichoderma harzianum = 3:1) (T 4 ); T 2 + microbial agent application ( Bacillus subtilis / Trichoderma harzianum = 1:3) (T 5 ). T 2 –T 5 significantly increased dry matter accumulation, soil total N, ammonium N, nitrate N, and organic matter, improving yield by 3.81–26.63%. T 3 exhibited the highest yield increases in two consecutive years. At the jointing and heading stages, Penicillium and Saitozyma dominated under T 3 and positively correlated with dry matter, yield, and nitrogen levels. Straw return combined with Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum (20 g m −2 each) enhanced soil nitrogen availability and dry matter accumulation and translocation. Our findings guide efficient straw utilization, soil microbial regulation, and sustainable high-yield rice production.

Keywords: rice; wheat straw return; microbial agents; soil nutrients; soil fungi (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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