Pub Date : 2026-01-26DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110362
Zhilong Fan , Yunyou Nan , Wen Yin , Falong Hu , Cai Zhao , Aizhong Yu , Weidong Cao , Qiang Chai
Context
In arid irrigated regions with limited growing seasons, establishing sustainable post-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping systems is crucial for agricultural intensification and soil conservation.
Objective
This study aimed to evaluate and identify an optimal post-wheat cropping system that enhances biomass production, soil quality, crop performance, and economic returns under arid conditions.
Methods
A seven-year field experiment (2018–2024) was conducted in northwestern China, comparing seven systems after spring wheat harvest: common vetch (Vicia sativa L.)/hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) mixture (W-CV×HV), common vetch/rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) mixture (W-CV×R), hairy vetch/rapeseed mixture (W-HV×R), sole common vetch (W-SCV), sole hairy vetch (W-SHV), sole rapeseed (W-SR), and a fallow control (W-W).
Results
The W-CV×HV system demonstrated exceptional performance. It produced the highest biomass, with increases of 14.3–23.9 % over other mixtures, and enhanced crude protein yield by 13.7–44.4 %. This advantage was supported by strong interspecific facilitation (LER=1.18). This system significantly improved subsequent wheat performance, increasing grain yield by 2.7–8.8 % and yield stability by 66.9 % compared to sole legume cropping. After seven years, W-CV×HV most substantially improved soil quality, increasing soil organic matter and total nitrogen while reducing pH, EC, and bulk density. Economically, the system achieved 9.8–14.1 % higher monetary value than other cropping systems.
Conclusion
The legume-legume mixture of common vetch and hairy vetch represents a superior post-wheat cropping system, surpassing traditional fallow and single-species systems in agronomic, ecological, and economic performance.
Implications
This system provides a sustainable alternative for integrated agricultural intensification in arid environments, contributing to soil health stabilization, yield resilience, and improved farm profitability.
在生长季节有限的干旱灌区，建立可持续的小麦后种植系统对农业集约化和土壤保持至关重要。
{"title":"Mixed cropping of common vetch and hairy vetch enhances system productivity and economic returns in a wheat-based double-cropping system in an arid irrigated region","authors":"Zhilong Fan , Yunyou Nan , Wen Yin , Falong Hu , Cai Zhao , Aizhong Yu , Weidong Cao , Qiang Chai","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110362","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110362","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>In arid irrigated regions with limited growing seasons, establishing sustainable post-wheat (<em>Triticum aestivum</em> L.) cropping systems is crucial for agricultural intensification and soil conservation.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to evaluate and identify an optimal post-wheat cropping system that enhances biomass production, soil quality, crop performance, and economic returns under arid conditions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A seven-year field experiment (2018–2024) was conducted in northwestern China, comparing seven systems after spring wheat harvest: common vetch (<em>Vicia sativa</em> L.)/hairy vetch (<em>Vicia villosa</em> Roth.) mixture (W-CV×HV), common vetch/rapeseed (<em>Brassica napus</em> L.) mixture (W-CV×R), hairy vetch/rapeseed mixture (W-HV×R), sole common vetch (W-SCV), sole hairy vetch (W-SHV), sole rapeseed (W-SR), and a fallow control (W-W).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The W-CV×HV system demonstrated exceptional performance. It produced the highest biomass, with increases of 14.3–23.9 % over other mixtures, and enhanced crude protein yield by 13.7–44.4 %. This advantage was supported by strong interspecific facilitation (LER=1.18). This system significantly improved subsequent wheat performance, increasing grain yield by 2.7–8.8 % and yield stability by 66.9 % compared to sole legume cropping. After seven years, W-CV×HV most substantially improved soil quality, increasing soil organic matter and total nitrogen while reducing pH, EC, and bulk density. Economically, the system achieved 9.8–14.1 % higher monetary value than other cropping systems.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The legume-legume mixture of common vetch and hairy vetch represents a superior post-wheat cropping system, surpassing traditional fallow and single-species systems in agronomic, ecological, and economic performance.</div></div><div><h3>Implications</h3><div>This system provides a sustainable alternative for integrated agricultural intensification in arid environments, contributing to soil health stabilization, yield resilience, and improved farm profitability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110362"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146048015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-26DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110366
Zheming Liang , Haoyang Han , Miao Wang , Zhenbo Lan , Fanchen Qiao , Zhe Zhang , Jiancan Liu , Shanchao Yue , Qiang Zhang , Ju Bai , Zhiping Yang , Yongliang Wang
<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Achieving synergistic improvements in productivity and sustainability represents a major challenge for maize production on the semi-arid Loess Plateau.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Mulching practices and optimized nitrogen management are critical for regulating maize growth and mitigating gaseous nitrogen losses. However, the mechanisms by which combining different mulching practices and nitrogen fertilizer regimes improves crop productivity while mitigating gaseous nitrogen losses remains unclear, warranting further investigation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Based on a 10-year long-term experiment, a 2-year study (2023–2024) was conducted in the eastern Loess Plateau to assess spring maize growth and gaseous nitrogen losses under different management practices. The experiment included seven field management treatments: six combinations of three mulching practices (no mulching (NM), plastic film mulching (FM), and straw mulching (SM)) and two nitrogen regimes (split urea application (UR) and one-time application of a controlled-release and common urea mixture (CR)), plus a control treatment with no mulching and no nitrogen application (CK).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among all treatments, SM+CR (CS) exhibited the strongest synergy: compared with NM+UR (UN), CS maintained higher leaf area index (LAI) and SPAD values from the silking stage (R1) to the milk stage (R3), thereby enhancing photosynthesis and resource capture, and increasing dry matter accumulation by 33.94 %-40.23 %. Consequently, relative to UN, the CS treatment promoted more grains per ear and a higher 100-grain weight, ultimately increasing grain yield by 27.51 %-40.03 % and nitrogen uptake by 50.23 %-57.87 %, while reducing gaseous nitrogen losses by 37.27 %-44.60 %. In comparison, FM promoted early-stage maize growth, increased biomass and LAI, and raised intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR) 4.16 %-10.54 % relative to NM. However, FM also stimulated the activities of key soil N cycle enzymes (urease, ammonia monooxygenase (AMO), and nitrite reductase (NIR)), leading to a 34.71 %-95.50 % increase in cumulative nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) emissions and a 34.35 %-101.10 % increase in global warming potential (GWP). In contrast to FM, SM moderated soil enzyme activities, improved the soil hydrothermal environment, enhanced nitrogen uptake by 5.26 %-14.89 %, and effectively reduced both yield-scaled NH<sub>3</sub> and N<sub>2</sub>O emissions. Compared with UR, CR optimized nitrogen release timing, avoiding a mid-to-late season peak in soil enzyme activity and reducing gaseous nitrogen losses by 13.60 %-27.79 %. Consequently, CR increased grains per panicle and improved crop yield by 8.36 %-21.06 %.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>One-time application of a controlled-release and common urea mixture combined with straw mulching (CS) enhances spring maize productivity while mitigating environmental impac
实现生产力和可持续性的协同改进是半干旱黄土高原玉米生产面临的主要挑战。
{"title":"Straw mulching combined with controlled-release urea improves maize yield and lowers gaseous nitrogen losses in the Loess Plateau via regulating soil enzyme activities and optimizing nitrogen release","authors":"Zheming Liang , Haoyang Han , Miao Wang , Zhenbo Lan , Fanchen Qiao , Zhe Zhang , Jiancan Liu , Shanchao Yue , Qiang Zhang , Ju Bai , Zhiping Yang , Yongliang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110366","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110366","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Achieving synergistic improvements in productivity and sustainability represents a major challenge for maize production on the semi-arid Loess Plateau.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Mulching practices and optimized nitrogen management are critical for regulating maize growth and mitigating gaseous nitrogen losses. However, the mechanisms by which combining different mulching practices and nitrogen fertilizer regimes improves crop productivity while mitigating gaseous nitrogen losses remains unclear, warranting further investigation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Based on a 10-year long-term experiment, a 2-year study (2023–2024) was conducted in the eastern Loess Plateau to assess spring maize growth and gaseous nitrogen losses under different management practices. The experiment included seven field management treatments: six combinations of three mulching practices (no mulching (NM), plastic film mulching (FM), and straw mulching (SM)) and two nitrogen regimes (split urea application (UR) and one-time application of a controlled-release and common urea mixture (CR)), plus a control treatment with no mulching and no nitrogen application (CK).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among all treatments, SM+CR (CS) exhibited the strongest synergy: compared with NM+UR (UN), CS maintained higher leaf area index (LAI) and SPAD values from the silking stage (R1) to the milk stage (R3), thereby enhancing photosynthesis and resource capture, and increasing dry matter accumulation by 33.94 %-40.23 %. Consequently, relative to UN, the CS treatment promoted more grains per ear and a higher 100-grain weight, ultimately increasing grain yield by 27.51 %-40.03 % and nitrogen uptake by 50.23 %-57.87 %, while reducing gaseous nitrogen losses by 37.27 %-44.60 %. In comparison, FM promoted early-stage maize growth, increased biomass and LAI, and raised intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR) 4.16 %-10.54 % relative to NM. However, FM also stimulated the activities of key soil N cycle enzymes (urease, ammonia monooxygenase (AMO), and nitrite reductase (NIR)), leading to a 34.71 %-95.50 % increase in cumulative nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) emissions and a 34.35 %-101.10 % increase in global warming potential (GWP). In contrast to FM, SM moderated soil enzyme activities, improved the soil hydrothermal environment, enhanced nitrogen uptake by 5.26 %-14.89 %, and effectively reduced both yield-scaled NH<sub>3</sub> and N<sub>2</sub>O emissions. Compared with UR, CR optimized nitrogen release timing, avoiding a mid-to-late season peak in soil enzyme activity and reducing gaseous nitrogen losses by 13.60 %-27.79 %. Consequently, CR increased grains per panicle and improved crop yield by 8.36 %-21.06 %.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>One-time application of a controlled-release and common urea mixture combined with straw mulching (CS) enhances spring maize productivity while mitigating environmental impac","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110366"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146048012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-26DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110357
Shuoshuo Liang , Ping He , Qingnan Chu , Wentian He , Ruochen Li , Xinpeng Xu , Rong Jiang , Shuang Liu , Linkui Cao , Zhimin Sha
The possible solutions for maintaining rice productivity while minimizing environmental impacts under climate change remain unclear. We developed a DNDC-Random Forest (DNDC-RF) framework coupling the process-based DNDC model with random forest machine learning to evaluate rice yield, NH₃ volatilization, and greenhouse gas emissions, and explored optimization potential through multi-objective fertilizer management. The DNDC model demonstrated superior performance in simulating rice yield (R² = 0.83) compared to gaseous emissions (R² = 0.80–0.86), while the DNDC-RF framework achieved enhanced predictive accuracy (R² = 0.93–0.97). Multi-objective optimization using the NSGA-III algorithm identified distinct regional variations in optimal fertilizer management strategies across Yangtze River Delta region, with partial replacement of chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer (MF) maintaining comparable yields while reducing GHG emissions by 25–35 % compared to conventional practices (CT). Under the SSP126 scenario, both treatments-maintained productivity gains throughout 2021–2100 with yield increases of 21.8–22.4 % during the early period, while SSP585 led to progressive yield declines reaching 42.3 % below baseline levels. Spatial analysis revealed that northern counties demonstrated greater climate resilience, while southern coastal counties showed increased vulnerability. The findings of our study provide scientific support for developing climate-smart agricultural practices that simultaneously enhance productivity and environmental sustainability.
{"title":"Multi-objective optimization of rice production and environmental sustainability under climate change in the Yangtze River Delta: A DNDC-random forest framework approach","authors":"Shuoshuo Liang , Ping He , Qingnan Chu , Wentian He , Ruochen Li , Xinpeng Xu , Rong Jiang , Shuang Liu , Linkui Cao , Zhimin Sha","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110357","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110357","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The possible solutions for maintaining rice productivity while minimizing environmental impacts under climate change remain unclear. We developed a DNDC-Random Forest (DNDC-RF) framework coupling the process-based DNDC model with random forest machine learning to evaluate rice yield, NH₃ volatilization, and greenhouse gas emissions, and explored optimization potential through multi-objective fertilizer management. The DNDC model demonstrated superior performance in simulating rice yield (R² = 0.83) compared to gaseous emissions (R² = 0.80–0.86), while the DNDC-RF framework achieved enhanced predictive accuracy (R² = 0.93–0.97). Multi-objective optimization using the NSGA-III algorithm identified distinct regional variations in optimal fertilizer management strategies across Yangtze River Delta region, with partial replacement of chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer (MF) maintaining comparable yields while reducing GHG emissions by 25–35 % compared to conventional practices (CT). Under the SSP126 scenario, both treatments-maintained productivity gains throughout 2021–2100 with yield increases of 21.8–22.4 % during the early period, while SSP585 led to progressive yield declines reaching 42.3 % below baseline levels. Spatial analysis revealed that northern counties demonstrated greater climate resilience, while southern coastal counties showed increased vulnerability. The findings of our study provide scientific support for developing climate-smart agricultural practices that simultaneously enhance productivity and environmental sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110357"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146048013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-23DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110364
Kang Du , Xinyue Yang , Zhenpeng Deng , Xi Lin , Mengyuan Hu , Rui Jiang , Guolian Zheng , Xiaoping Yi , Xun Liu , Changwen Lyu , Jichun Wang
Background
Potato production in the mountainous regions of Southwest China is constrained by low soil temperatures and poor nutrient availability. Although mulching is a widely adopted strategy to mitigate these constraints, the integrated effects of different mulching practices on the rhizosphere environment, particularly root development, soil microbial communities, and the rhizospheric metabolites, and their collective roles in yield formation remain poorly understood.
Methods
A two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate four mulching treatments: no mulch (NM), straw mulch (PS), plastic film mulch (PP), and integrated plastic film and straw mulch (PPS). We comprehensively evaluated their impacts on soil temperature, root morphology, soil nutrient availability, enzyme activities, bacterial community composition, the rhizospheric metabolites, and tuber yield.
Results
The PPS treatment most effectively promoted potato growth and final tuber yield, achieving significant increases of 22.8 % in 2023 and 45.0 % in 2024 compared to NM. Specifically, PPS treatment optimized the soil thermal regime, promoted emergence 12–13 days earlier than NM, and stimulated root development, yielding the highest root volume and surface area. These enhanced root traits were associated with a distinct rhizospheric metabolic profile, including upregulation of arabinono-1,4-lactone, malic acid, and fumaric acid. Concurrently, PPS enriched beneficial bacteria taxa such as Burkholderiales and Myxococcota, which were strongly correlated with the altered metabolite pattern. The modified rhizosphere environment further improved soil nutrient availability and increased activities of urease and sucrase. Partial least squares path modeling established a positive regulatory loop: mulching-induced improvements in soil temperature and nutrients enhanced microbial diversity and the rhizospheric metabolites, which together fostered nutrient mobilization and directly promoted tuber yield.
Conclusion
Our findings demonstrate that the integration of plastic film and straw mulching could enhance potato yield by establishing a coordinated mechanism in which early soil warming promotes root growth and stimulates the secretion of specific metabolites. These metabolites subsequently recruit beneficial microbial taxa, leading to enhanced soil nutrient availability and enzyme activity that ultimately support greater tuber yield. This elucidated mechanism provides a foundation for sustainable productivity enhancement in mountainous potato agroecosystems.
{"title":"Integrated plastic film and straw mulching enhances potato tuber yield in mountainous regions by optimizing rhizospheric metabolites and root–microbe interactions","authors":"Kang Du , Xinyue Yang , Zhenpeng Deng , Xi Lin , Mengyuan Hu , Rui Jiang , Guolian Zheng , Xiaoping Yi , Xun Liu , Changwen Lyu , Jichun Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110364","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110364","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Potato production in the mountainous regions of Southwest China is constrained by low soil temperatures and poor nutrient availability. Although mulching is a widely adopted strategy to mitigate these constraints, the integrated effects of different mulching practices on the rhizosphere environment, particularly root development, soil microbial communities, and the rhizospheric metabolites, and their collective roles in yield formation remain poorly understood.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate four mulching treatments: no mulch (NM), straw mulch (PS), plastic film mulch (PP), and integrated plastic film and straw mulch (PPS). We comprehensively evaluated their impacts on soil temperature, root morphology, soil nutrient availability, enzyme activities, bacterial community composition, the rhizospheric metabolites, and tuber yield.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The PPS treatment most effectively promoted potato growth and final tuber yield, achieving significant increases of 22.8 % in 2023 and 45.0 % in 2024 compared to NM. Specifically, PPS treatment optimized the soil thermal regime, promoted emergence 12–13 days earlier than NM, and stimulated root development, yielding the highest root volume and surface area. These enhanced root traits were associated with a distinct rhizospheric metabolic profile, including upregulation of arabinono-1,4-lactone, malic acid, and fumaric acid. Concurrently, PPS enriched beneficial bacteria taxa such as <em>Burkholderiales</em> and <em>Myxococcota</em>, which were strongly correlated with the altered metabolite pattern. The modified rhizosphere environment further improved soil nutrient availability and increased activities of urease and sucrase. Partial least squares path modeling established a positive regulatory loop: mulching-induced improvements in soil temperature and nutrients enhanced microbial diversity and the rhizospheric metabolites, which together fostered nutrient mobilization and directly promoted tuber yield.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our findings demonstrate that the integration of plastic film and straw mulching could enhance potato yield by establishing a coordinated mechanism in which early soil warming promotes root growth and stimulates the secretion of specific metabolites. These metabolites subsequently recruit beneficial microbial taxa, leading to enhanced soil nutrient availability and enzyme activity that ultimately support greater tuber yield. This elucidated mechanism provides a foundation for sustainable productivity enhancement in mountainous potato agroecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110364"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023362","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-23DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110355
Zhenyue Liu , Tong Heng , Pengrui Ai , Zhenghu Ma , Maosong Tang , Yingjie Ma
Drought and water scarcity have emerged as critical stress factors threatening crop yields in arid regions, necessitating the exploration of innovative water-saving technologies to enhance water use efficiency and optimize soil microenvironments. Through field experiments conducted from 2023 to 2024, this study systematically analyzed the effects of three mulch film widths (W1: ultra-wide film 4.4 m, W2: medium-width film 2.05 m, W3: narrow film 1.4 m) and two irrigation water types (M1: magnetized irrigation, M2: unmagnetized irrigation), comprising six experimental treatments, on soil oxygen levels and microbial communities in the cotton rhizosphere. The results demonstrated that the magnetized water irrigation combined with ultra-wide film mulching treatment (W1M1) achieved soil temperature and porosity of 23.49℃ and 49.8 %, respectively, both significantly higher than all other treatments. Medium-width film mulching treatments exhibited the highest soil oxygen levels; however, due to the higher porosity and lower soil moisture content under ultra-wide film mulching, the latter demonstrated higher total soil oxygen levels, with W1M1 exceeding W2M1 by 0.07 % and W1M2 surpassing W2M2 by 0.56 % in total soil oxygen content. Furthermore, W1M1 enhances microbial metabolic functions by modulating the relative abundance of microbial communities in cotton rhizosphere soil. The combined relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota phyla under W1M1 treatment increased by 11.20 % and 14.25 % compared to W2M1 and W3M1, respectively, while the relative abundance of Chloroflexota phylum decreased by 1.07 % and 3.05 % compared to W2M1 and W3M1, respectively. Compared to W2M1 and W3M1 treatments, W1M1 showed increases of 1.79 % and 21.34 % in Carbohydrate metabolism, 5.84 % and 13.04 % in Glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, and 1.98 % and 3.68 % in Membrane transport, respectively. In 2023 and 2024, the W1M1 treatment achieved the highest cotton root dry matter mass, seed cotton yield, and irrigation water use efficiency, recording 38.9 g plant⁻¹ and 40.9 g plant⁻¹ , 6328 kg ha⁻¹and 7545 kg ha⁻¹ , and 1.7 kg cm⁻³ and 1.8 kg cm⁻³ , respectively. These findings demonstrate that the W1M1 synergistic technique effectively optimizes soil structure, enhances soil oxygen content, and stimulates microbial metabolic activity, consequently improving cotton yield and water use efficiency, thus providing a promising approach for the widespread implementation of ultra-wide film mulching cultivation technology for cotton production in Xinjiang.
{"title":"Assessment of oxygen levels and microbial diversities under synergistic influence of irrigation methods and different mulching widths in cotton rhizosphere soil","authors":"Zhenyue Liu , Tong Heng , Pengrui Ai , Zhenghu Ma , Maosong Tang , Yingjie Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110355","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110355","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Drought and water scarcity have emerged as critical stress factors threatening crop yields in arid regions, necessitating the exploration of innovative water-saving technologies to enhance water use efficiency and optimize soil microenvironments. Through field experiments conducted from 2023 to 2024, this study systematically analyzed the effects of three mulch film widths (W1: ultra-wide film 4.4 m, W2: medium-width film 2.05 m, W3: narrow film 1.4 m) and two irrigation water types (M1: magnetized irrigation, M2: unmagnetized irrigation), comprising six experimental treatments, on soil oxygen levels and microbial communities in the cotton rhizosphere. The results demonstrated that the magnetized water irrigation combined with ultra-wide film mulching treatment (W1M1) achieved soil temperature and porosity of 23.49℃ and 49.8 %, respectively, both significantly higher than all other treatments. Medium-width film mulching treatments exhibited the highest soil oxygen levels; however, due to the higher porosity and lower soil moisture content under ultra-wide film mulching, the latter demonstrated higher total soil oxygen levels, with W1M1 exceeding W2M1 by 0.07 % and W1M2 surpassing W2M2 by 0.56 % in total soil oxygen content. Furthermore, W1M1 enhances microbial metabolic functions by modulating the relative abundance of microbial communities in cotton rhizosphere soil. The combined relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota phyla under W1M1 treatment increased by 11.20 % and 14.25 % compared to W2M1 and W3M1, respectively, while the relative abundance of Chloroflexota phylum decreased by 1.07 % and 3.05 % compared to W2M1 and W3M1, respectively. Compared to W2M1 and W3M1 treatments, W1M1 showed increases of 1.79 % and 21.34 % in Carbohydrate metabolism, 5.84 % and 13.04 % in Glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, and 1.98 % and 3.68 % in Membrane transport, respectively. In 2023 and 2024, the W1M1 treatment achieved the highest cotton root dry matter mass, seed cotton yield, and irrigation water use efficiency, recording 38.9 g plant⁻¹ and 40.9 g plant⁻¹ , 6328 kg ha⁻¹and 7545 kg ha⁻¹ , and 1.7 kg cm⁻³ and 1.8 kg cm⁻³ , respectively. These findings demonstrate that the W1M1 synergistic technique effectively optimizes soil structure, enhances soil oxygen content, and stimulates microbial metabolic activity, consequently improving cotton yield and water use efficiency, thus providing a promising approach for the widespread implementation of ultra-wide film mulching cultivation technology for cotton production in Xinjiang.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110355"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-23DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110360
Hailong Xu , Bianhong Zhang , Xin Wu , Yijiang Hu , Americ Allison , Bin Qin , Jinying Li , Chaojie Lan , Jingnan Zou , Yazhou Liu , Anqi Li , Qingyang Zhang , Chunlin Guo , Zhixing Zhang , Wenxiong Lin
Grain chalkiness affects rice quality, and the chalkiness reduction improves grain appearance and processing quality. Ratoon season rice (RSR), is characterized by intrinsically reduced chalkiness and superior grain quality parameters. However, the physiological pathways governing these traits remain largely uncharacterized. Using three genotypes (YY1540, HHZ, M1YZZ), we compared grain-filling traits, endogenous hormone dynamics, and metabolomic profiles among main crop (MC), single-season mid-late rice (LR) heading simultaneously with RSR, and RSR.The results showed that the chalkiness degree of inferior spikelets (IS) in RSR significantly reduced by 38.09–40.24 % compared to MC and LR, respectively, whereas the head rice percentage increased by 2.50–2.86 %. Grain filling of IS began earlier in RSR, and peak filling occurred 7.99 and 6.64 days earlier than in MC and LR.Hormonal measurements indicated that ABA content in RSR grains was significantly higher at the grain-filling peak, with ABA levels of IS elevated by 17.61–22.03 % relative to MC and LR. Metabolomic analysis identified significant enrichment of antioxidant-related metabolites such as ascorbic acid (ASA), D-galactose, and malic acid in IS of RSR. Exogenous ABA enhanced ASA-GSH (reduced glutathione) cycling and activities of antioxidant enzymes, and reduced chalkiness by 9.32 %-20.04 % in IS of MC and LR. ASA application improved endosperm structure，increased starch synthesis-related enzyme activities, and reduced chalkiness by 16.35 %-17.42 %. In summary, elevated ABA in RSR promotes ASA accumulation and antioxidant defenses, which mitigates oxidative damage, improves starch deposition, and reduces the chalkiness of RSR. This study reveals a key ABA-ASA regulatory mechanism that contributes to grain quality formation in RSR.
{"title":"Synergistic regulation of chalkiness reduction in ratoon season rice by ABA and ascorbic acid: A physiological perspective","authors":"Hailong Xu , Bianhong Zhang , Xin Wu , Yijiang Hu , Americ Allison , Bin Qin , Jinying Li , Chaojie Lan , Jingnan Zou , Yazhou Liu , Anqi Li , Qingyang Zhang , Chunlin Guo , Zhixing Zhang , Wenxiong Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110360","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110360","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Grain chalkiness affects rice quality, and the chalkiness reduction improves grain appearance and processing quality. Ratoon season rice (RSR), is characterized by intrinsically reduced chalkiness and superior grain quality parameters. However, the physiological pathways governing these traits remain largely uncharacterized. Using three genotypes (YY1540, HHZ, M1YZZ), we compared grain-filling traits, endogenous hormone dynamics, and metabolomic profiles among main crop (MC), single-season mid-late rice (LR) heading simultaneously with RSR, and RSR.The results showed that the chalkiness degree of inferior spikelets (IS) in RSR significantly reduced by 38.09–40.24 % compared to MC and LR, respectively, whereas the head rice percentage increased by 2.50–2.86 %. Grain filling of IS began earlier in RSR, and peak filling occurred 7.99 and 6.64 days earlier than in MC and LR.Hormonal measurements indicated that ABA content in RSR grains was significantly higher at the grain-filling peak, with ABA levels of IS elevated by 17.61–22.03 % relative to MC and LR. Metabolomic analysis identified significant enrichment of antioxidant-related metabolites such as ascorbic acid (ASA), <span>D</span>-galactose, and malic acid in IS of RSR. Exogenous ABA enhanced ASA-GSH (reduced glutathione) cycling and activities of antioxidant enzymes, and reduced chalkiness by 9.32 %-20.04 % in IS of MC and LR. ASA application improved endosperm structure，increased starch synthesis-related enzyme activities, and reduced chalkiness by 16.35 %-17.42 %. In summary, elevated ABA in RSR promotes ASA accumulation and antioxidant defenses, which mitigates oxidative damage, improves starch deposition, and reduces the chalkiness of RSR. This study reveals a key ABA-ASA regulatory mechanism that contributes to grain quality formation in RSR.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110360"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-23DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110363
Zhentao Bai , Bingxue Dong , Xinwei Deng , Zhijun Li , Kechun Wang , Shawn Carlisle Kefauver , José Luis Araus , Muhammad Farooq , Junliang Fan , Feihu Yin
<div><h3>Context</h3><div>The seed cotton (<em>Gossypium hirsutum</em> L.) yield is highly dependent on irrigation in arid and semi-arid regions around the world. However, the effects of irrigation amount on soil moisture and leaf photochemical characteristics during the drought-rewatering process, as well as canopy radiation interception and seed cotton yield of drip-irrigated cotton under film mulch remain poorly understood.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The study aimed to investigate how irrigation amounts affect soil moisture distribution, leaf photochemical recovery, and canopy radiation interception following drought‑rewatering in drip‑irrigated cotton under film mulch. We further sought to reveal the multiscale pathways (soil–leaf–canopy) through which irrigation regulates water use and yield formation.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>A two-season (2023–2024) field experiment was performed in the northern Xinjiang of China, with four irrigation amounts (60 %ET<sub>c</sub>, 80 %ET<sub>c</sub>, 100 %ET<sub>c</sub> and 120 %ET<sub>c</sub>, where ET<sub>c</sub> is crop evapotranspiration). Soil moisture and leaf physiology were measured on the 1st day before irrigation, 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th days after irrigation. The photosynthetic pigments, canopy radiation and dry matter accumulation after irrigation as well as the final seed cotton yield were measured.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>During the drought-rewatering process, high irrigation amount (120 %ET<sub>c</sub>) significantly prolonged the retention time of deep soil moisture (80–100 cm). The narrow rows and wide rows were always the main distribution areas of soil moisture, and bare soil moisture was significantly affected by soil evaporation. The leaf stomatal conductance, actual photochemical quantum effect (φ<sub>PSII</sub>) and electron transfer rate (ETR) showed a threshold response with increasing irrigation amount. The φ<sub>PSII</sub> and ETR increased by 20.4 % and 20.6 % under 120 %ET<sub>c</sub> compared with 60 %ET<sub>c</sub>, respectively. The leaf temperature and saturated water vapor pressure deficit were significantly reduced. High irrigation increased the upper layer intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR) in narrow rows by 25.9 % in 2023 and 53.5 % in 2024, but decreased it in the lower layer by 78.7 % in 2023 and 90.0 % in 2024. Total IPAR was strongly correlated with seed cotton yield (path coefficient 0.87). The 100 %ET<sub>c</sub> treatment maintained 90.4 % of the yield potential achieved while saving water under 120 %ET<sub>c</sub> demonstrating higher water-saving efficiency.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The drought-rewatering process drives cotton yield formation through a soil–leaf–canopy cascade: soil moisture dynamics regulate leaf physiological recovery, which in turn shapes canopy light capture and assimilate partitioning. Moderately increasing irrigation (80 %–100 %ET<sub>c</sub>) can increase seed cotton yie
{"title":"Responses of soil moisture, leaf physiological characteristics, and canopy radiation interception to irrigation amount during the drought-rewatering process of drip-irrigated cotton under film mulch","authors":"Zhentao Bai , Bingxue Dong , Xinwei Deng , Zhijun Li , Kechun Wang , Shawn Carlisle Kefauver , José Luis Araus , Muhammad Farooq , Junliang Fan , Feihu Yin","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110363","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110363","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>The seed cotton (<em>Gossypium hirsutum</em> L.) yield is highly dependent on irrigation in arid and semi-arid regions around the world. However, the effects of irrigation amount on soil moisture and leaf photochemical characteristics during the drought-rewatering process, as well as canopy radiation interception and seed cotton yield of drip-irrigated cotton under film mulch remain poorly understood.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The study aimed to investigate how irrigation amounts affect soil moisture distribution, leaf photochemical recovery, and canopy radiation interception following drought‑rewatering in drip‑irrigated cotton under film mulch. We further sought to reveal the multiscale pathways (soil–leaf–canopy) through which irrigation regulates water use and yield formation.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>A two-season (2023–2024) field experiment was performed in the northern Xinjiang of China, with four irrigation amounts (60 %ET<sub>c</sub>, 80 %ET<sub>c</sub>, 100 %ET<sub>c</sub> and 120 %ET<sub>c</sub>, where ET<sub>c</sub> is crop evapotranspiration). Soil moisture and leaf physiology were measured on the 1st day before irrigation, 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th days after irrigation. The photosynthetic pigments, canopy radiation and dry matter accumulation after irrigation as well as the final seed cotton yield were measured.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>During the drought-rewatering process, high irrigation amount (120 %ET<sub>c</sub>) significantly prolonged the retention time of deep soil moisture (80–100 cm). The narrow rows and wide rows were always the main distribution areas of soil moisture, and bare soil moisture was significantly affected by soil evaporation. The leaf stomatal conductance, actual photochemical quantum effect (φ<sub>PSII</sub>) and electron transfer rate (ETR) showed a threshold response with increasing irrigation amount. The φ<sub>PSII</sub> and ETR increased by 20.4 % and 20.6 % under 120 %ET<sub>c</sub> compared with 60 %ET<sub>c</sub>, respectively. The leaf temperature and saturated water vapor pressure deficit were significantly reduced. High irrigation increased the upper layer intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR) in narrow rows by 25.9 % in 2023 and 53.5 % in 2024, but decreased it in the lower layer by 78.7 % in 2023 and 90.0 % in 2024. Total IPAR was strongly correlated with seed cotton yield (path coefficient 0.87). The 100 %ET<sub>c</sub> treatment maintained 90.4 % of the yield potential achieved while saving water under 120 %ET<sub>c</sub> demonstrating higher water-saving efficiency.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The drought-rewatering process drives cotton yield formation through a soil–leaf–canopy cascade: soil moisture dynamics regulate leaf physiological recovery, which in turn shapes canopy light capture and assimilate partitioning. Moderately increasing irrigation (80 %–100 %ET<sub>c</sub>) can increase seed cotton yie","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110363"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-23DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110358
Muhammad Usman Ghani , Shanning Lou , Jiao Ning , Muhammad Kamran , Awais Shakoor , Wanhe Zhu , Fujiang Hou
Sustainable intensification of forage production in arid regions requires strategies that enhance yield while minimizing environmental impacts. Organic amendments improve soil health by increasing soil organic matter; however, their effectiveness compared to mineral fertilizers with increased cutting frequency remains unclear. A two-year field study (2022–2023) evaluated the effects of nitrogen sources, including control (CK), urea (UF), cow manure compost (CMC), and poultry manure compost (PMC), and cutting frequencies (3 and 5 cuttings/year) on forage yield, quality, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in alfalfa-tall fescue mixtures in arid conditions. Increasing cutting frequency from 3 to 5 resulted in a 5.8 % to 6.2 % increase in dry matter yield (DMY), 5.9 % to 15.4 % increase in crude protein yield (CPY), 4.3 % to 6.7 % increase in relative feed value (RFV), and 5.6 % to 5.8 % increase in nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) with urea fertilization, but had no significant effect with CK, CMC, and PMC. Urea fertilization with 5 cuttings (UF-5) produced the highest DMY (13,721 kg ha⁻¹ and 14,074 kg ha⁻¹) and CPY (1989 kg ha⁻¹ and 2376 kg ha⁻¹) in 2022 and 2023, respectively, outperforming organic amendments. UF-5 also reduced fiber contents (ADF and NDF), improving forage quality. Although urea fertilization increased nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes, the global warming potential (GWP) and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) were lowest with UF-5, due to increased methane (CH₄) uptake and reduced carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Organic composts improved soil organic carbon (SOC) but did not maintain high productivity. These findings demonstrate that urea fertilization with increased cutting frequency optimizes forage yield while minimizing GHGI in arid grasslands. The slow nitrogen release from organic amendments limits their effectiveness, making mineral nitrogen sources more efficient in intensified cutting regimes.
干旱地区牧草生产的可持续集约化需要在提高产量的同时尽量减少对环境的影响。有机改良剂通过增加土壤有机质来改善土壤健康；然而，与增加切割频率的矿物肥料相比，它们的有效性尚不清楚。通过为期两年的田间研究（2022-2023），评估了干旱条件下不同氮源（对照氮、尿素氮、牛粪堆肥氮、禽粪堆肥氮）和刈割频率（3和5刈割/年）对苜蓿-高羊茅混合牧草产量、品质和温室气体（GHG）排放的影响。将刈割次数从3次增加到5次，可使干物质产量（DMY）提高5.8 % ~ 6.2 %，粗蛋白质产量（CPY）提高5.9 % ~ 15.4 %，相对饲料价值（RFV）提高4.3 % ~ 6.7 %，氮素利用效率（NUE）提高5.6 % ~ 5.8 %，而CK、CMC和PMC对刈割次数的影响不显著。5枝尿素（UF-5）在2022年和2023年分别产生了最高的DMY（13,721 kg ha⁻¹和14,074 kg ha⁻¹）和CPY（1989 kg ha⁻¹和2376 kg ha⁻¹），超过了有机肥料。UF-5还降低了饲料中纤维含量（ADF和NDF），提高了饲料品质。虽然尿素施肥增加了一氧化二氮（N₂O）通量，但由于增加了甲烷（CH₄）吸收量和减少了二氧化碳（CO₂）排放，UF-5的全球变暖潜势（GWP）和温室气体强度（GHGI）最低。有机堆肥提高了土壤有机碳（SOC），但不能保持较高的生产力。这些结果表明，增加刈割频率的尿素施肥在减少GHGI的同时优化了干旱草地的牧草产量。有机改进剂的缓慢氮释放限制了它们的有效性，使矿物氮源在强化切割制度下更有效。
{"title":"Increased cutting frequency coupled with mineral nitrogen fertilization enhances forage productivity and reduces greenhouse gas intensity in an arid legume-grass cultivated grassland","authors":"Muhammad Usman Ghani , Shanning Lou , Jiao Ning , Muhammad Kamran , Awais Shakoor , Wanhe Zhu , Fujiang Hou","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110358","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110358","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sustainable intensification of forage production in arid regions requires strategies that enhance yield while minimizing environmental impacts. Organic amendments improve soil health by increasing soil organic matter; however, their effectiveness compared to mineral fertilizers with increased cutting frequency remains unclear. A two-year field study (2022–2023) evaluated the effects of nitrogen sources, including control (CK), urea (UF), cow manure compost (CMC), and poultry manure compost (PMC), and cutting frequencies (3 and 5 cuttings/year) on forage yield, quality, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in alfalfa-tall fescue mixtures in arid conditions. Increasing cutting frequency from 3 to 5 resulted in a 5.8 % to 6.2 % increase in dry matter yield (DMY), 5.9 % to 15.4 % increase in crude protein yield (CPY), 4.3 % to 6.7 % increase in relative feed value (RFV), and 5.6 % to 5.8 % increase in nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) with urea fertilization, but had no significant effect with CK, CMC, and PMC. Urea fertilization with 5 cuttings (UF-5) produced the highest DMY (13,721 kg ha⁻¹ and 14,074 kg ha⁻¹) and CPY (1989 kg ha⁻¹ and 2376 kg ha⁻¹) in 2022 and 2023, respectively, outperforming organic amendments. UF-5 also reduced fiber contents (ADF and NDF), improving forage quality. Although urea fertilization increased nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes, the global warming potential (GWP) and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) were lowest with UF-5, due to increased methane (CH₄) uptake and reduced carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Organic composts improved soil organic carbon (SOC) but did not maintain high productivity. These findings demonstrate that urea fertilization with increased cutting frequency optimizes forage yield while minimizing GHGI in arid grasslands. The slow nitrogen release from organic amendments limits their effectiveness, making mineral nitrogen sources more efficient in intensified cutting regimes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110358"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110353
Pierre G. Tovihoudji , Mouiz W.I.A. Yessoufou , Sissou Zakari , G. Esaie Kpadonou , Ali Ibrahim , Robert Zougmoré , P.B. Irénikatché Akponikpè
The use of crop modeling has advanced the understanding of maize cropping systems, but promising management practices require validation under sub-Saharan Africa's climate conditions. This study evaluates the effects of optimal combination rates of hill-placed farmyard manure (FYM) and chemical fertilizer on maize yield. A long-term (32 years) crop simulation was conducted to investigate variations in maize yields, soil organic carbon (SOC), water use efficiency (WUE), nutrient use efficiency (NUE) and nitrate leaching, using the sequential analysis in the DSSAT-CERES-Maize model. Data from a four-year maize trial combining hill-placed FYM and mineral fertilizer under different rainfall patterns was used for model evaluation. The model accurately simulated grain yield, nutrient uptake, SOC and soil nitrogen with nRMSE ranging from 13 % to 27 %. Generally, the continuous application of hill-placed FYM was beneficial for maize cropping: yields (+59 %), SOC (+10 %), total nitrogen (+248 %) and WUE (+43 %). During dry years, the combination of 3 t ha−1 FYM and 50 kg ha⁻1 NPK was optimal for simultaneous improvement of grain yield, WUE, and NUE; while reducing nitrate leaching and maintaining sustainable soil carbon stock. Furthermore, 6 t ha−1 FYM and 100 kg ha⁻1 NPK seemed suitable during normal and wet years, with higher yield, WUE, and NUE, and moderate nitrate leaching. These findings provide insights for improving nutrient management to reduce climate change effects in SSA and ensure sustainable maize production. An application of 6 t ha−1 of farmyard manure without NPK is advised in areas with abundant manure availability for sustainable maize cropping.
作物模型的使用提高了对玉米种植系统的理解，但是有希望的管理实践需要在撒哈拉以南非洲的气候条件下进行验证。评价了坡地农家肥与化肥最优配施量对玉米产量的影响。采用DSSAT-CERES-Maize模型的序列分析方法，研究了玉米产量、土壤有机碳（SOC）、水分利用效率（WUE）、养分利用效率（NUE）和硝酸盐淋失的变化规律。利用4年不同降雨模式下丘陵栽培FYM与矿质肥联合施用玉米试验数据进行模型评价。模型准确模拟了粮食产量、养分吸收、有机碳和土壤氮，nRMSE范围为13 % ~ 27 %。总体而言，连续施用丘陵陵园肥有利于玉米种植：产量（+59 %）、有机碳（+10 %）、全氮（+248 %）和水分利用效率（+43 %）。在干旱年份，施用3 1 ha - 1化肥和50 kg ha - 1氮磷钾最能同时提高粮食产量、水分利用效率和氮肥利用效率；同时减少硝态氮淋失，保持土壤碳储量的可持续性。此外，在正常和湿润年份，6 t ha - 1 FYM和100 kg ha - 1 NPK似乎是合适的，具有较高的产量，WUE和NUE，适度的硝酸盐淋失。这些发现为改善营养管理以减少气候变化对SSA的影响和确保玉米可持续生产提供了见解。在肥力充足的地区，建议施用6 t / 1的不含氮磷钾的农家肥，以实现玉米的可持续种植。
{"title":"Modeling the impact of hill-placed manure and inorganic fertilizer on maize productivity, soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics in the Sudan Savanna of West Africa","authors":"Pierre G. Tovihoudji , Mouiz W.I.A. Yessoufou , Sissou Zakari , G. Esaie Kpadonou , Ali Ibrahim , Robert Zougmoré , P.B. Irénikatché Akponikpè","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110353","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110353","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of crop modeling has advanced the understanding of maize cropping systems, but promising management practices require validation under sub-Saharan Africa's climate conditions. This study evaluates the effects of optimal combination rates of hill-placed farmyard manure (FYM) and chemical fertilizer on maize yield. A long-term (32 years) crop simulation was conducted to investigate variations in maize yields, soil organic carbon (SOC), water use efficiency (WUE), nutrient use efficiency (NUE) and nitrate leaching, using the sequential analysis in the DSSAT-CERES-Maize model. Data from a four-year maize trial combining hill-placed FYM and mineral fertilizer under different rainfall patterns was used for model evaluation. The model accurately simulated grain yield, nutrient uptake, SOC and soil nitrogen with nRMSE ranging from 13 % to 27 %. Generally, the continuous application of hill-placed FYM was beneficial for maize cropping: yields (+59 %), SOC (+10 %), total nitrogen (+248 %) and WUE (+43 %). During dry years, the combination of 3 t ha<sup>−1</sup> FYM and 50 kg ha<sup>⁻1</sup> NPK was optimal for simultaneous improvement of grain yield, WUE, and NUE; while reducing nitrate leaching and maintaining sustainable soil carbon stock. Furthermore, 6 t ha<sup>−1</sup> FYM and 100 kg ha<sup>⁻1</sup> NPK seemed suitable during normal and wet years, with higher yield, WUE, and NUE, and moderate nitrate leaching. These findings provide insights for improving nutrient management to reduce climate change effects in SSA and ensure sustainable maize production. An application of 6 t ha<sup>−1</sup> of farmyard manure without NPK is advised in areas with abundant manure availability for sustainable maize cropping.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110353"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146014593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110356
Runheng Yang , Jinxia Zhang , Meng Yin , Pengliang Tian , Liangliang Du , Yingru Xie , Lin Ding , Yangang Yang , Qingzhuo Li , Jianrong Xiao , Xi Wei , Xinlong Fan
<div><div>Maize production in arid Northwestern China is increasingly constrained by water scarcity and rising carbon emissions. Inefficient water and nitrogen management practices exacerbate resource waste and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, hindering progress toward sustainable agriculture and carbon neutrality. Consequently, there is an urgent need to optimize integrated water-nitrogen management strategies to simultaneously enhance crop yield and water use efficiency (WUE) while mitigating GHG emissions. In this study, field experiments combined with the DeNitrification-DeComposition (DNDC) model were used to assess the effects of water-nitrogen coupling on maize yield and GHG emissions. A field experiment was conducted with three irrigation gradients: severe water deficit (W1: 45–60 % θ<sub>f</sub>), moderate water deficit (W2: 60–75 % θ<sub>f</sub>), and mild water deficit (W3: 75–90 % θ<sub>f</sub>, where θ<sub>f</sub> denotes field capacity); and three nitrogen application rates: low (F1: 120 kg/ha), medium (F2: 240 kg/ha), and high (F3: 360 kg/ha). The DNDC model was calibrated and validated using field data from 2023 to 2024, and was then linked with four Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) to project maize yield and GHG emissions from 2025 to 2100. Results indicated that N<sub>2</sub>O and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions were significantly affected by water-nitrogen interactions (P < 0.05), whereas CH<sub>4</sub> fluxes remained a weak sink and showed no significant response to the treatments (P > 0.05). The higher cumulative N<sub>2</sub>O and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions observed in the second year were primarily attributed to variations in water-filled pore space (WFPS), whereas soil temperature showed no significant correlation with N<sub>2</sub>O emissions. Compared with high nitrogen input, a moderate nitrogen application rate significantly reduced N<sub>2</sub>O and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. Across irrigation regimes, global warming potential (GWP) increased progressively with increasing water and nitrogen inputs. Nitrogen application rate was the dominant controlling factor for greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) under wet conditions, whereas water deficit severity was dominant under drought. The F2W3 treatment achieved the highest maize yield and significantly enhanced WUE and key growth traits. This management strategy is projected to support yield increases and emissions reduction under the SSP1–2.6 and SSP2–4.5 scenarios. However, under high-emission scenarios, maize yield is projected to decline significantly alongside increased GHG emissions, with soils shifting from a CH<sub>4</sub> sink to a source. Based on the combined results of the Mann-Kendall trend test and VIKOR multi-criteria decision analysis, F2W3 was identified as the optimal strategy, simultaneously achieving high yield, improved WUE, and lower GHG emissions. These findings provide a robust scientific basis for sustainable maize production and carbon-neutral agricul
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