Response of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration Rate, Nitrogen Use Efficiency, and Corn Yield to Different Exogenous Carbon Inputs in Rainfed Farmlands of the Ningnan Mountainous Area, Northwest China

Huanjun Qi, Jinyin Lei (), Jinqin He, Jian Wang (), Xiaoting Lei, Jianxin Jin and Lina Zhou
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Huanjun Qi: College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
Jinyin Lei: Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Yinchuan 750002, China
Jinqin He: Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Yinchuan 750002, China
Jian Wang: College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
Xiaoting Lei: Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Yinchuan 750002, China
Jianxin Jin: Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Yinchuan 750002, China
Lina Zhou: Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Yinchuan 750002, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 17, 1-17

Abstract: The mechanisms through which different types of exogenous carbon enhance the soil organic carbon sequestration rate (C seq ), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and corn yield (CY) in rainfed farmland on the Loess Plateau remain inadequately elucidated. This study established a four-year fixed-site experiment in the context of organic materials to increase soil organic carbon storage and enhance corn yield in the dry-farmed areas of the mountainous southern Ningxia region. The research investigates the effects of adding different types of exogenous carbon materials on C seq , NUE, and CY. The soil type at the experimental base is loessial soil (Huangmian soil), with a soil pH of 8.28 and a baseline organic carbon content of 8.20 g kg −1 . The main crop cultivated in this area is corn. The experimental treatments were as follows: (i) N, no fertilization; (ii) CK, 100% nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers; (iii) C, 50%CK + corn straw (pulverized); (iv) M, 50%CK + fermented cow manure; (v) C/M, 50%CK + fermented cow manure + corn straw (1:1). The results show that compared with the CK treatment, the C seq of C, M, and C/M treatments increased by 488.89%, 355.56%, and 527.78%, respectively. Compared with the CK treatment, the NUE of C, M, and C/M treatments increased by 15.04%, 7.70%, and 12.20%, respectively. Compared with the CK treatment, the CY under the C, M, and C/M treatments were increased by 7.91%, 19.10%, and 11.59%, respectively. The linear regression results show that the C seq had a significant positive effect on CY ( R 2 = 0.37) and NUE, R 2 = 0.39) ( p < 0.0001). The TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution) evaluation results indicate that the C/M treatment was the optimal measure for achieving increased corn yield while enhancing Cseq and NUE. Therefore, incorporating a 1:1 mixture of corn straw and cattle manure in rainfed farmland in the mountainous area of southern Ningxia may be the best strategy to improve C seq and NUE.

Keywords: corn straw; fermented cow manure; labile organic carbon fraction; nitrogen use efficiency; organic carbon sequestration rate (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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