Pub Date : 2026-01-16DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110342
Mosenda Enock , Onesmus Kitonyo , James Mutegi , Victor Sadras , George Chemining’wa
Interactions between water and nitrogen affect the yield of maize in dryland systems. The magnitude and type of these interactions depend on the environment and management practice. In these systems, nitrogen fertilization is often risky due to moisture constraints which impact the synchrony between crop demand and nutrient availability. However, combining soil moisture conservation practices with better fertilizer nitrogen formulations, particularly slow-release forms could improve crop nitrogen economy and yield. An experiment combining soil moisture conservation practices and fertilizer nitrogen sources was replicated in two locations, in Embu and Siakago for three seasons with contrasting rainfall in short rains of 2022 and long and short rains of 2023. Moisture conservation treatments comprised plastic film mulch, crop residue mulch, and superabsorbent polymers (hydrogels), with a bare ground control. Fertilizer nitrogen sources were slow-release urea, conventional urea, calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), and unfertilized control. In Embu, cumulative grain yield increase ranged from 10 % to 111 % compared with control, while up to 120 % yield increase was recorded in Siakago. Plastic film mulch with CAN, conventional urea or slow-release urea and hydrogels with CAN out-yielded controls, which averaged 1.5 t ha−1. Plastic film mulch with CAN or slow-release urea, and crop residue with CAN increased biomass compared with controls, which averaged 4 t ha−1. Of the 54 combinations of moisture and nitrogen treatments, 94 % were additive and 6 % antagonistic for yield. Lack of treatment synergies justify the stepwise adoption of technologies, starting with those with lower upfront costs to build capital before progressing to more expensive options. Claims of synergies between water and nitrogen might be over-estimated and need to be tested rigorously.
旱地系统中，水氮相互作用影响玉米产量。这些相互作用的大小和类型取决于环境和管理实践。在这些系统中，由于水分限制，氮肥施用往往是有风险的，这影响了作物需求和养分供应之间的同步。然而，将土壤保持水分的措施与更好的氮肥配方，特别是缓释氮肥配方相结合，可以提高作物氮肥的经济性和产量。在Embu和Siakago两个地点进行了一项结合土壤水分保持措施和肥料氮源的试验，为期三个季节，对比了2022年的短雨和2023年的长雨和短雨。保湿处理包括塑料薄膜覆盖、作物残茬覆盖和高吸水性聚合物（水凝胶），以及裸地控制。肥料氮源为缓释尿素、常规尿素、硝铵钙（CAN）和未施肥对照。在恩布，与对照相比，籽粒累计产量增加了10 %至111 %，而在Siakago，产量增加了120 %。使用CAN、常规尿素或缓释尿素和使用CAN的水凝胶覆盖的塑料薄膜的产量高于对照，平均为1.5 t ha - 1。与对照相比，覆盖CAN或缓释尿素的地膜和覆盖CAN的作物残茬生物量增加，平均为4 t ha - 1。在54个湿氮组合中，94个 %对产量有促进作用，6个 %对产量有拮抗作用。在缺乏治疗协同效应的情况下，有理由逐步采用技术，从前期成本较低的技术开始，以建立资本，然后再发展到更昂贵的选择。水和氮之间协同作用的说法可能被高估了，需要严格检验。
{"title":"Antagonistic, additive and synergistic relationships between soil moisture and nitrogen for yield of maize in dryland systems","authors":"Mosenda Enock , Onesmus Kitonyo , James Mutegi , Victor Sadras , George Chemining’wa","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110342","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110342","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Interactions between water and nitrogen affect the yield of maize in dryland systems. The magnitude and type of these interactions depend on the environment and management practice. In these systems, nitrogen fertilization is often risky due to moisture constraints which impact the synchrony between crop demand and nutrient availability. However, combining soil moisture conservation practices with better fertilizer nitrogen formulations, particularly slow-release forms could improve crop nitrogen economy and yield. An experiment combining soil moisture conservation practices and fertilizer nitrogen sources was replicated in two locations, in Embu and Siakago for three seasons with contrasting rainfall in short rains of 2022 and long and short rains of 2023. Moisture conservation treatments comprised plastic film mulch, crop residue mulch, and superabsorbent polymers (hydrogels), with a bare ground control. Fertilizer nitrogen sources were slow-release urea, conventional urea, calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), and unfertilized control. In Embu, cumulative grain yield increase ranged from 10 % to 111 % compared with control, while up to 120 % yield increase was recorded in Siakago. Plastic film mulch with CAN, conventional urea or slow-release urea and hydrogels with CAN out-yielded controls, which averaged 1.5 t ha<sup>−1</sup>. Plastic film mulch with CAN or slow-release urea, and crop residue with CAN increased biomass compared with controls, which averaged 4 t ha<sup>−1</sup>. Of the 54 combinations of moisture and nitrogen treatments, 94 % were additive and 6 % antagonistic for yield. Lack of treatment synergies justify the stepwise adoption of technologies, starting with those with lower upfront costs to build capital before progressing to more expensive options. Claims of synergies between water and nitrogen might be over-estimated and need to be tested rigorously.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110342"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974276","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 : 2026-01-16DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110343
Qing Shan Xu, Yu Lian Yan, Hang Feng Wang, Shang Pan Li, Chun Xin Chi, Ya Li Kong, Wen Hao Tian, Xiao Chuang Cao, Lian Feng Zhu, Qiao Ling Li, Jing Wang Li, Jun Hua Zhang, Chun Quan Zhu
Context
Combining slow-release fertilizers (SRFs) with organic amendments holds significant promise to increase rice yield and improve soil quality. However, there are key knowledge gaps regarding the synergistic effects of combining SRFs with different types of amendments on rice yield and soil quality.
Methods
A two-year field experiment was conducted to examine the effects of combining SRFs with manure or woody peat on carbon and nitrogen composition, enzyme activity, aggregate distribution, soil quality index (SQI), and rice grain yield.
Results
Relative to the conventional urea treatment, the use of SRFs under 15 % nitrogen reduction sustained rice grain yield and increased Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency (NUE) by 7.78–12.22 %. SRFs combined with manure significantly increased soil organic carbon (SOC) by 9.14 %, and total nitrogen (TN) by 11.82 %. It also enhanced labile carbons pools by 11.68 %–22.41 %, labile nutrients pools by 10.16 %–52.95 %, C- and N-acquiring enzyme activities by 8.21 %–38.02 %, and the proportion of aggregates > 0.25 mm (R0.25) by 6.36 %–8.44 %, ultimately resulting in highest soil quality index (SQI). The rice yield increased by 7.95–13.77 %. Across all treatments, SRFs combined with woody peat exhibited the highest SOC, ROC, and DOC contents, demonstrating superior carbon sequestration efficiency. It also reduced bulk density (BD) by 8.91 %–10.69 %, and increased the proportion of aggregates > 0.25 mm (R0.25) by 5.66 %–6.13 %. Random forest and Mantel’s test analyses identified labile nutrient pools (AP, AN, AHN, and DON) and enzyme activities as primary predictors of both SQI and rice yield.
Conclusions
SRFs can maintain rice yields and improve NUE. The combination of SRFs and manure can significantly increase soil quality and rice yield by improving nutrient supply, biological activity, and soil structure, whereas woody peat mainly contributes to soil carbon accumulation.
{"title":"Slow-release fertilizers applied in conjunction with manure enhanced soil quality and rice grain yield by regulating labile nutrient pools, soil enzyme activities, and soil structure","authors":"Qing Shan Xu, Yu Lian Yan, Hang Feng Wang, Shang Pan Li, Chun Xin Chi, Ya Li Kong, Wen Hao Tian, Xiao Chuang Cao, Lian Feng Zhu, Qiao Ling Li, Jing Wang Li, Jun Hua Zhang, Chun Quan Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110343","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110343","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Combining slow-release fertilizers (SRFs) with organic amendments holds significant promise to increase rice yield and improve soil quality. However, there are key knowledge gaps regarding the synergistic effects of combining SRFs with different types of amendments on rice yield and soil quality.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A two-year field experiment was conducted to examine the effects of combining SRFs with manure or woody peat on carbon and nitrogen composition, enzyme activity, aggregate distribution, soil quality index (SQI), and rice grain yield.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Relative to the conventional urea treatment, the use of SRFs under 15 % nitrogen reduction sustained rice grain yield and increased Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency (NUE) by 7.78–12.22 %. SRFs combined with manure significantly increased soil organic carbon (SOC) by 9.14 %, and total nitrogen (TN) by 11.82 %. It also enhanced labile carbons pools by 11.68 %–22.41 %, labile nutrients pools by 10.16 %–52.95 %, C- and N-acquiring enzyme activities by 8.21 %–38.02 %, and the proportion of aggregates > 0.25 mm (R<sub>0.25</sub>) by 6.36 %–8.44 %, ultimately resulting in highest soil quality index (SQI). The rice yield increased by 7.95–13.77 %. Across all treatments, SRFs combined with woody peat exhibited the highest SOC, ROC, and DOC contents, demonstrating superior carbon sequestration efficiency. It also reduced bulk density (BD) by 8.91 %–10.69 %, and increased the proportion of aggregates > 0.25 mm (R<sub>0.25</sub>) by 5.66 %–6.13 %. Random forest and Mantel’s test analyses identified labile nutrient pools (AP, AN, AHN, and DON) and enzyme activities as primary predictors of both SQI and rice yield.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>SRFs can maintain rice yields and improve NUE. The combination of SRFs and manure can significantly increase soil quality and rice yield by improving nutrient supply, biological activity, and soil structure, whereas woody peat mainly contributes to soil carbon accumulation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110343"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974285","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 : 2026-01-16DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110348
Guoxin Shi , Xiaoqiang Cao , Qiang Fu , Tianxiao Li , Qingshan Chen
Biochar is widely recognized as a beneficial soil amendment; however, its potential to mitigate long-term continuous cropping obstacles in soybean systems remains poorly understood. Based on an 11-year field experiment, this study systematically explored the effects of biochar application on soil physical properties, nutrients, hydrological characteristics, erosion resistance, and soybean yield stability. The results demonstrated that long-term continuous soybean cropping led to soil structural degradation, nutrients depletion, increased erosion, reduced soybean yield, and lower water use efficiency. In contrast, biochar application significantly enhanced total soil porosity (TP) and the generalized soil structure index (GSSI), increased the proportion of macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) and pores with diameters ≥ 0.3 μm. Furthermore, biochar improved soil hydrological functions by enhancing water retention capacity and hydraulic conductivity, and significantly raised the initial, steady, and mean soil water infiltration rates. Notably, the application of 5.0 t·ha⁻¹ biochar was the most effective treatment. Compared to the control across years, it increased cumulative soil infiltration within 60 min by 50.26 mm (2015), 52.15 mm (2017), 69.88 mm (2019), 57.75 mm (2021), 55.52 mm (2023), and 67.92 mm (2025), respectively. This treatment also markedly reduced annual runoff and soil erosion, increased soil nutrients (organic carbon, alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium), promoted soybean growth, and improved water use efficiency and yield stability. Structural equation modeling indicated that biochar primarily enhanced soybean yield by improving soil hydrological properties and reducing soil erosion. These long-term findings highlight that biochar, particularly at 5.0 t·ha⁻¹ , can effectively alleviate continuous cropping obstacles, providing a theoretical and technical basis for sustainable soybean production.
{"title":"Biochar alleviated soybean continuous cropping obstacles by improving soil hydrological properties and reducing erosion: Insights from an 11 year field study on sloping farmland","authors":"Guoxin Shi , Xiaoqiang Cao , Qiang Fu , Tianxiao Li , Qingshan Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110348","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110348","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biochar is widely recognized as a beneficial soil amendment; however, its potential to mitigate long-term continuous cropping obstacles in soybean systems remains poorly understood. Based on an 11-year field experiment, this study systematically explored the effects of biochar application on soil physical properties, nutrients, hydrological characteristics, erosion resistance, and soybean yield stability. The results demonstrated that long-term continuous soybean cropping led to soil structural degradation, nutrients depletion, increased erosion, reduced soybean yield, and lower water use efficiency. In contrast, biochar application significantly enhanced total soil porosity (TP) and the generalized soil structure index (GSSI), increased the proportion of macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) and pores with diameters ≥ 0.3 μm. Furthermore, biochar improved soil hydrological functions by enhancing water retention capacity and hydraulic conductivity, and significantly raised the initial, steady, and mean soil water infiltration rates. Notably, the application of 5.0 t·ha⁻¹ biochar was the most effective treatment. Compared to the control across years, it increased cumulative soil infiltration within 60 min by 50.26 mm (2015), 52.15 mm (2017), 69.88 mm (2019), 57.75 mm (2021), 55.52 mm (2023), and 67.92 mm (2025), respectively. This treatment also markedly reduced annual runoff and soil erosion, increased soil nutrients (organic carbon, alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium), promoted soybean growth, and improved water use efficiency and yield stability. Structural equation modeling indicated that biochar primarily enhanced soybean yield by improving soil hydrological properties and reducing soil erosion. These long-term findings highlight that biochar, particularly at 5.0 t·ha⁻¹ , can effectively alleviate continuous cropping obstacles, providing a theoretical and technical basis for sustainable soybean production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110348"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974741","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 : 2026-01-15DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110344
Rosella Motzo, Simona Bassu, Francesca Mureddu, Francesco Giunta
Context and objective
Considering the constitutively higher number of spikes and grains per square meter in bread wheat compared with durum wheat, this study investigates whether nitrogen fertilization affects grain yield and yield components differently in bread wheat and durum wheat.
Methods
A three-year field experiment was conducted using two bread wheat and two durum wheat cultivars under three nitrogen application rates (0, 80, and 160 kg N ha⁻¹) in a Mediterranean environment.
Results
Across the three years, bread wheat produced a higher kernel number per square meter (15,903 on average) but a lower kernel weight (41.5 mg), whereas durum wheat exhibited the opposite pattern (11,463 kernels m⁻² and 51.7 mg per kernel on average). Both species showed similar nitrogen accumulation capacities; however, bread wheat allocated more nitrogen to the stems, while durum wheat allocated more to the grains, resulting in a higher Nitrogen Harvest Index for durum wheat (0.75 vs. 0.68 in bread wheat). Species differences in Nitrogen Nutrition Index (NNI) emerged only under high N supply: bread wheat approached optimal N status (>0.95) at N160 in favorable seasons, whereas durum wheat plateaued at lower values (≈0.86), suggesting structural limitations in achieving full N sufficiency. Significant relationships were found between NNI, yield and yield components, with the exception of kernel weight. At any given NNI level, bread wheat consistently produced more kernels per spike, as well as more spikes and kernels per square meter, than durum wheat; however, these differences were independent of NNI.
Conclusions and significance
Because nitrogen fertilization rate did not directly correspond to nitrogen nutritional status, accurate assessment of species or cultivar sensitivity to nitrogen should rely on NNI rather than fertilization rate, and different nitrogen application strategies should be adopted for bread and durum wheat cultivars when high nitrogen inputs are required.
背景与目的考虑到面包小麦的穗数和粒数均高于硬粒小麦，本研究探讨了氮肥对面包小麦和硬粒小麦籽粒产量和产量成分的影响是否存在差异。方法以2个面包小麦和2个硬粒小麦品种为研究对象，在3种施氮量（0、80和160 kg N ha⁻¹）下，在地中海环境下进行3年的田间试验。结果三年间，面包小麦每平方米的粒数较高（平均15,903粒），但粒重较低（41.5 mg），而硬粒小麦表现出相反的模式（11,463粒m⁻²，平均每粒51.7 mg）。两种植物的氮素积累能力相似；然而，面包小麦分配给茎部的氮更多，而硬粒小麦分配给籽粒的氮更多，因此硬粒小麦的氮收获指数更高（0.75 vs.面包小麦0.68）。氮素营养指数（NNI）的物种差异仅在高氮供应下出现：在有利季节，面包小麦在N160时接近最佳氮状态（>0.95），而硬粒小麦在较低的值（≈0.86）趋于稳定，表明在实现完全氮充足方面存在结构性限制。除籽粒重外，NNI与产量、产量各组分之间存在显著相关。在任何给定的NNI水平下，面包小麦的每穗粒数以及每平方米的穗粒数和粒数都比硬粒小麦多；然而，这些差异与NNI无关。结论与意义施氮量与氮素营养状况没有直接对应关系，因此准确评价品种或品种对氮的敏感性应依靠氮肥指数而非施氮量，在高氮投入条件下，面包小麦和硬粒小麦品种应采取不同的施氮策略。
{"title":"The higher kernel number in bread wheat compared with durum wheat is independent of nitrogen nutritional status","authors":"Rosella Motzo, Simona Bassu, Francesca Mureddu, Francesco Giunta","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110344","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110344","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context and objective</h3><div>Considering the constitutively higher number of spikes and grains per square meter in bread wheat compared with durum wheat, this study investigates whether nitrogen fertilization affects grain yield and yield components differently in bread wheat and durum wheat.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A three-year field experiment was conducted using two bread wheat and two durum wheat cultivars under three nitrogen application rates (0, 80, and 160 kg N ha⁻¹) in a Mediterranean environment.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Across the three years, bread wheat produced a higher kernel number per square meter (15,903 on average) but a lower kernel weight (41.5 mg), whereas durum wheat exhibited the opposite pattern (11,463 kernels m⁻² and 51.7 mg per kernel on average). Both species showed similar nitrogen accumulation capacities; however, bread wheat allocated more nitrogen to the stems, while durum wheat allocated more to the grains, resulting in a higher Nitrogen Harvest Index for durum wheat (0.75 vs. 0.68 in bread wheat). Species differences in Nitrogen Nutrition Index (NNI) emerged only under high N supply: bread wheat approached optimal N status (>0.95) at N160 in favorable seasons, whereas durum wheat plateaued at lower values (≈0.86), suggesting structural limitations in achieving full N sufficiency. Significant relationships were found between NNI, yield and yield components, with the exception of kernel weight. At any given NNI level, bread wheat consistently produced more kernels per spike, as well as more spikes and kernels per square meter, than durum wheat; however, these differences were independent of NNI.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions and significance</h3><div>Because nitrogen fertilization rate did not directly correspond to nitrogen nutritional status, accurate assessment of species or cultivar sensitivity to nitrogen should rely on NNI rather than fertilization rate, and different nitrogen application strategies should be adopted for bread and durum wheat cultivars when high nitrogen inputs are required.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110344"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974740","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 : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110345
Zhenbo Zhang , Hongyun Kou , Jinkai Lü , Jihao Qin , Zhen An , Deheng Zhang , Shenghao Zhang , Jincheng Si , Zhen Liu , Tangyuan Ning
Context
In salinealkaline lands (∼10 % of the global arable area), crop productivity is restricted by osmotic stress and ion toxicity. Intercropping systems can mitigate these constraints by optimizing water utilization, redistributing salts, and enhancing soil fertility. However, their potential in coastal salinealkaline ecosystems remains under explored.
Objective
We hypothesized that integrating alfalfa, a salt-tolerant forage, into a wheat–maize rotation (W-M||A) would regulate water–salt dynamics more effectively than monocropping (W-M or SA), thereby enhancing productivity and economic returns in saline–alkaline lands.
Methods
Field experiments were carried out in 2018 and 2019. Three planting systems, namely the W-M, SA, and W-M||A systems, were compared to assess the dynamic changes of water and salt, the physical and chemical properties of the soil, as well as the crop yield, quality, and economic benefits.
Results
The W-M||A system significantly decreased soil bulk density and evapotranspiration, and increase soil water content while decreased salt accumulation in the 0–100 cm layer. Specifically, in the 0–40 cm layer during the maize filling stage, the system increased the soil water content by 0.59–4.80 % compared with other systems, and it reduced the surface salt content by 11.11–16.75 % compared with the W-M system in the 0–20 cm layer during the wheat heading stage in 2019. The increased water content with reduced salt content are benefit for mitigating osmotic stress and ion toxicity for the crops. In the W-M||A system, the yields of wheat, maize, and alfalfa accounted for 65.40 %–76.09 %, 68.41 %–81.55 %, and 32.43 %–39.61 %, respectively, of the corresponding sole crop. The land equivalent ratio indicated an intercropping advantage at 1.14 in 2018 and 1.04 in 2019, with minimal fluctuations in feed quality. The W-M||A system attained the highest overall profitability, reaching 14,398 RMB/ha in 2018 and 5443 RMB/ha in 2019. This exceeded the profitability of the W-M and SA systems by 32.20–163.05 %. Moreover, it had a relatively high output-to-input ratio of 2.20 in 2018 and 1.67 in 2019.
Conclusions
The W-M||A system effectively alleviates osmotic stress and ion toxicity by stabilizing soil moisture and reducing surface salt accumulation, thereby facilitating synergistic foodfeed production. The substantial economic and ecological benefits advocate for its scalable adoption in salinealkaline regions.
Significance
The adoption of the W-M||A system in salinealkaline lands can promote the sustainable development of agriculture and animal husbandry, showing remarkable potential for widespread dissemination.
{"title":"Wheatmaize intercropping with alfalfa increases crop yield, quality, and economic benefits by controlling water and salt dynamics in saline–alkaline lands","authors":"Zhenbo Zhang , Hongyun Kou , Jinkai Lü , Jihao Qin , Zhen An , Deheng Zhang , Shenghao Zhang , Jincheng Si , Zhen Liu , Tangyuan Ning","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110345","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110345","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>In saline<img>alkaline lands (∼10 % of the global arable area), crop productivity is restricted by osmotic stress and ion toxicity. Intercropping systems can mitigate these constraints by optimizing water utilization, redistributing salts, and enhancing soil fertility. However, their potential in coastal saline<img>alkaline ecosystems remains under explored.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>We hypothesized that integrating alfalfa, a salt-tolerant forage, into a wheat–maize rotation (W-M||A) would regulate water–salt dynamics more effectively than monocropping (W-M or SA), thereby enhancing productivity and economic returns in saline–alkaline lands.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Field experiments were carried out in 2018 and 2019. Three planting systems, namely the W-M, SA, and W-M||A systems, were compared to assess the dynamic changes of water and salt, the physical and chemical properties of the soil, as well as the crop yield, quality, and economic benefits.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The W-M||A system significantly decreased soil bulk density and evapotranspiration, and increase soil water content while decreased salt accumulation in the 0–100 cm layer. Specifically, in the 0–40 cm layer during the maize filling stage, the system increased the soil water content by 0.59–4.80 % compared with other systems, and it reduced the surface salt content by 11.11–16.75 % compared with the W-M system in the 0–20 cm layer during the wheat heading stage in 2019. The increased water content with reduced salt content are benefit for mitigating osmotic stress and ion toxicity for the crops. In the W-M||A system, the yields of wheat, maize, and alfalfa accounted for 65.40 %–76.09 %, 68.41 %–81.55 %, and 32.43 %–39.61 %, respectively, of the corresponding sole crop. The land equivalent ratio indicated an intercropping advantage at 1.14 in 2018 and 1.04 in 2019, with minimal fluctuations in feed quality. The W-M||A system attained the highest overall profitability, reaching 14,398 RMB/ha in 2018 and 5443 RMB/ha in 2019. This exceeded the profitability of the W-M and SA systems by 32.20–163.05 %. Moreover, it had a relatively high output-to-input ratio of 2.20 in 2018 and 1.67 in 2019.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The W-M||A system effectively alleviates osmotic stress and ion toxicity by stabilizing soil moisture and reducing surface salt accumulation, thereby facilitating synergistic food<img>feed production. The substantial economic and ecological benefits advocate for its scalable adoption in saline<img>alkaline regions.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>The adoption of the W-M||A system in saline<img>alkaline lands can promote the sustainable development of agriculture and animal husbandry, showing remarkable potential for widespread dissemination.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110345"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974739","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 : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110337
Ying Song , Xiaoling He , Jinxia Fu , Fenli Zheng , Zhi Li
<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Conservation Agriculture (CA) is globally recognized as a critical strategy for sustaining agricultural productivity while preserving soil ecosystem services. In the black soil region of Northeast China, long-term conventional tillage has contributed to black soil degradation, resulting in yield stagnation and loss of critical soil functions. Regenerative tillage practices, including no-tillage (NT) and deep tillage (DT), are now being adopted as key components of CA to restore soil functions and sustain productivity.</div></div><div><h3>Research question</h3><div>However, because most studies have focused on the impacts of either NT or DT on individual soil properties, the trade-offs between crop yield and soil quality under these two CA tillage practices remain poorly understood.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study synthesized 745 paired observations from 151 publications in Northeast China, integrating meta-analysis with the Soil Quality Index (<em>SQI</em>) and interpretable machine learning methods to quantify how NT and DT influence crop yield and <em>SQI</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Overall, NT and DT increase crop yield by an average of 3 % and improve <em>SQI</em> by 7 %. NT shows a greater benefit for <em>SQI</em> (+8 % vs. +6 %), while DT provides larger yield gains (8 %, CI: 5 % to 11 %). Tillage effectiveness varies with climate and soil conditions: DT outperforms NT in enhancing both yield and <em>SQI</em> under cold (MAT < 3°C) or dry (MAP < 500 mm) climates and under unfavorable soil conditions (bulk density > 1.35 g/cm³, pH < 6, or soil organic matter < 20 g/kg). Straw retention is critical for maximizing tillage benefits. Fertilization strategies further influence outcomes: single fertilization favors <em>SQI</em> improvement (+9 %) under NT, whereas split applications are more effective under DT, leading to a substantial yield increase (+14 %) and simultaneous improvement in <em>SQI</em> (+8 %). The positive effects of NT accumulate over time, whereas DT benefits decline after six years. Under NT, nitrogen application rate and duration as the dominant drivers of yield and <em>SQI</em>, whereas MAP and straw management are the primary determinants under DT.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Both NT and DT effectively enhance yield and soil quality in Northeast China’s black soils, but their suitability depends heavily on local conditions. Tailoring tillage practices to specific climatic, soil, and management contexts is essential for maximizing agricultural sustainability.</div></div><div><h3>Implications</h3><div>This study provides an evidence-based framework for optimizing tillage practices in mollisols. By elucidating the context-dependent efficacy of NT and DT, it supports the development of region-specific conservation strategies that balance productivity and soil health. These insights are valuable for policymakers and farmers aiming to implement su
{"title":"Crop yield–soil quality trade-offs under no-tillage and deep tillage in the black soil region of Northeast China","authors":"Ying Song , Xiaoling He , Jinxia Fu , Fenli Zheng , Zhi Li","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110337","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110337","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Conservation Agriculture (CA) is globally recognized as a critical strategy for sustaining agricultural productivity while preserving soil ecosystem services. In the black soil region of Northeast China, long-term conventional tillage has contributed to black soil degradation, resulting in yield stagnation and loss of critical soil functions. Regenerative tillage practices, including no-tillage (NT) and deep tillage (DT), are now being adopted as key components of CA to restore soil functions and sustain productivity.</div></div><div><h3>Research question</h3><div>However, because most studies have focused on the impacts of either NT or DT on individual soil properties, the trade-offs between crop yield and soil quality under these two CA tillage practices remain poorly understood.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study synthesized 745 paired observations from 151 publications in Northeast China, integrating meta-analysis with the Soil Quality Index (<em>SQI</em>) and interpretable machine learning methods to quantify how NT and DT influence crop yield and <em>SQI</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Overall, NT and DT increase crop yield by an average of 3 % and improve <em>SQI</em> by 7 %. NT shows a greater benefit for <em>SQI</em> (+8 % vs. +6 %), while DT provides larger yield gains (8 %, CI: 5 % to 11 %). Tillage effectiveness varies with climate and soil conditions: DT outperforms NT in enhancing both yield and <em>SQI</em> under cold (MAT < 3°C) or dry (MAP < 500 mm) climates and under unfavorable soil conditions (bulk density > 1.35 g/cm³, pH < 6, or soil organic matter < 20 g/kg). Straw retention is critical for maximizing tillage benefits. Fertilization strategies further influence outcomes: single fertilization favors <em>SQI</em> improvement (+9 %) under NT, whereas split applications are more effective under DT, leading to a substantial yield increase (+14 %) and simultaneous improvement in <em>SQI</em> (+8 %). The positive effects of NT accumulate over time, whereas DT benefits decline after six years. Under NT, nitrogen application rate and duration as the dominant drivers of yield and <em>SQI</em>, whereas MAP and straw management are the primary determinants under DT.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Both NT and DT effectively enhance yield and soil quality in Northeast China’s black soils, but their suitability depends heavily on local conditions. Tailoring tillage practices to specific climatic, soil, and management contexts is essential for maximizing agricultural sustainability.</div></div><div><h3>Implications</h3><div>This study provides an evidence-based framework for optimizing tillage practices in mollisols. By elucidating the context-dependent efficacy of NT and DT, it supports the development of region-specific conservation strategies that balance productivity and soil health. These insights are valuable for policymakers and farmers aiming to implement su","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110337"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145956487","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 : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2025.110324
Hongjin Li , Tao Li , Jianghui Yu , Tianyu Du , Ping Zhang , Jingjing Cui , Zheshu Xu , Ying Zhu , Fangfu Xu , Qun Hu , Guodong Liu , Guangyan Li , Haiyan Wei
<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Currently, indica rice cultivation faces significant challenges in achieving coordinated enhancement of high yield, superior quality, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Carbon-nitrogen (C-N) metabolic coordination is recognized as a pivotal trait for attaining this goal.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aims to systematically analyze the dynamic characteristics of C-N metabolism under nitrogen (N) regulation and clarify their mechanistic roles in synergistically improving the yield-quality-NUE relationship.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this study, the indica rice cultivar Quanliangyou 851 was used with nine N regulation treatments (78.75–292.5 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) established through dynamic allocation of basal, tillering, supplementary, and panicle fertilizers. This approach shaped distinct C-N metabolic patterns across the growth cycle.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Treatments under phased insufficient N supply conditions always exhibited low yield and poor rice appearance quality, treatments with a total N application of 225 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> achieved yield increases (9.50–10.35 × 10<sup>3</sup> kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) through supplementary or panicle fertilization. Notably, appropriate dosage and application period of nitrogen (N6 treatment, panicle fertilizer applied at the 13th leaf stage) significantly increased the total spikelet number and stem-sheath non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) translocation rate, thereby achieving higher yield and partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPN). Furthermore, its optimization of carbon-dominated assimilate allocation during grain filling mitigated the negative impact of excessive protein accumulation on rice taste value, ultimately demonstrating optimal yield-quality-NUE synergy through balanced carbon-nitrogen metabolism. A comprehensive evaluation of yield-quality-NUE based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model revealed strong correlations between comprehensive evaluation scores and C-N metabolism indicators. Stepwise regression modeling further validated that SPAD decay rate (β=-0.4), the ratio of stem-sheath NSC accumulation (NSCA) to stem-sheath N accumulation (NA) at heading (NSCA/NA) (β= 0.62), and the ratio of LAI to SPAD value at heading stage (LAI/SPAD) (β=1.20) collectively explained 87.1 % of the synergistic variation (R<sup>2</sup>=0.871). This demonstrates that efficient C-N metabolic coordination is crucial for synergistic yield-quality-NUE improvement.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The synergistic improvement in yield, quality, and NUE achieved by applying panicle fertilizer at the 13th leaf stage (225 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) is fundamentally underpinned by the regulated balance of C-N metabolism. This balance optimizes sink strength, assimilate allocation, and nitrogen remobilization. Furthermore, NSCA/NA, LAI/SPAD, and SPAD decay rate are validated as key diagnostic indicators for guiding this precision managem
{"title":"Synergistic optimization of yield, quality, and nitrogen use efficiency in indica rice: Influence of nitrogen management and C-N metabolism linkages","authors":"Hongjin Li , Tao Li , Jianghui Yu , Tianyu Du , Ping Zhang , Jingjing Cui , Zheshu Xu , Ying Zhu , Fangfu Xu , Qun Hu , Guodong Liu , Guangyan Li , Haiyan Wei","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.110324","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.110324","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Currently, indica rice cultivation faces significant challenges in achieving coordinated enhancement of high yield, superior quality, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Carbon-nitrogen (C-N) metabolic coordination is recognized as a pivotal trait for attaining this goal.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aims to systematically analyze the dynamic characteristics of C-N metabolism under nitrogen (N) regulation and clarify their mechanistic roles in synergistically improving the yield-quality-NUE relationship.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this study, the indica rice cultivar Quanliangyou 851 was used with nine N regulation treatments (78.75–292.5 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) established through dynamic allocation of basal, tillering, supplementary, and panicle fertilizers. This approach shaped distinct C-N metabolic patterns across the growth cycle.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Treatments under phased insufficient N supply conditions always exhibited low yield and poor rice appearance quality, treatments with a total N application of 225 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> achieved yield increases (9.50–10.35 × 10<sup>3</sup> kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) through supplementary or panicle fertilization. Notably, appropriate dosage and application period of nitrogen (N6 treatment, panicle fertilizer applied at the 13th leaf stage) significantly increased the total spikelet number and stem-sheath non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) translocation rate, thereby achieving higher yield and partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPN). Furthermore, its optimization of carbon-dominated assimilate allocation during grain filling mitigated the negative impact of excessive protein accumulation on rice taste value, ultimately demonstrating optimal yield-quality-NUE synergy through balanced carbon-nitrogen metabolism. A comprehensive evaluation of yield-quality-NUE based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model revealed strong correlations between comprehensive evaluation scores and C-N metabolism indicators. Stepwise regression modeling further validated that SPAD decay rate (β=-0.4), the ratio of stem-sheath NSC accumulation (NSCA) to stem-sheath N accumulation (NA) at heading (NSCA/NA) (β= 0.62), and the ratio of LAI to SPAD value at heading stage (LAI/SPAD) (β=1.20) collectively explained 87.1 % of the synergistic variation (R<sup>2</sup>=0.871). This demonstrates that efficient C-N metabolic coordination is crucial for synergistic yield-quality-NUE improvement.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The synergistic improvement in yield, quality, and NUE achieved by applying panicle fertilizer at the 13th leaf stage (225 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) is fundamentally underpinned by the regulated balance of C-N metabolism. This balance optimizes sink strength, assimilate allocation, and nitrogen remobilization. Furthermore, NSCA/NA, LAI/SPAD, and SPAD decay rate are validated as key diagnostic indicators for guiding this precision managem","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110324"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145956485","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 : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110341
Natalia da Silva Volpato , Víctor D. Giménez , Gustavo A. Maddonni , P.V. Vara Prasad , Timothy Durrett , Ignacio A. Ciampitti
Context
Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek) is a legume valued due to its high nutritional quality, rich in protein, essential amino acids and micronutrients. Mungbean also plays a key role in sustainable agriculture via nitrogen fixation and adaptability to diverse cropping systems. However, there is a noticeable gap in knowledge about the critical period of mungbean for seed yield determination.
Objectives
This study aimed to (i) identify the critical period for seed yield determination in mungbean and (ii) determine the main important seed yield components influencing yield variation.
Methods
Successive 14-day shading treatments were applied throughout the crop cycle at different points, from emergence to maturity, in field experiments conducted during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons in Manhattan, Kansas, United States (US), with treatment timing expressed as thermal time (sum of degree-days above a base temperature of 7.5 °C) relative to flowering.
Results
The critical period for yield determination was identified between 139 °C days before flowering (∼7 days before flowering) and 427 °C days after flowering (∼25 days after flowering), ranging from V8 to R5 crop growth stages (seventh trifoliate leaf to one pod on the main stem turning dark brown). Shade treatments reduced seed yield, with penalties ranging from 41 % to 68 %, and were mainly due to reductions in seed number per unit area, with limited compensation from increased seed weight. Pod number per unit area was the strongest determinant of final yield, while seeds per pod had a lesser effect.
Conclusions
Defining the critical period for seed yield determination is essential for optimizing mungbean productivity through breeding and management strategies.
{"title":"Defining the critical period for yield determination in mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek]","authors":"Natalia da Silva Volpato , Víctor D. Giménez , Gustavo A. Maddonni , P.V. Vara Prasad , Timothy Durrett , Ignacio A. Ciampitti","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110341","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110341","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Mungbean (<em>Vigna radiata</em> (L.) R. Wilczek) is a legume valued due to its high nutritional quality, rich in protein, essential amino acids and micronutrients. Mungbean also plays a key role in sustainable agriculture via nitrogen fixation and adaptability to diverse cropping systems. However, there is a noticeable gap in knowledge about the critical period of mungbean for seed yield determination.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study aimed to (i) identify the critical period for seed yield determination in mungbean and (ii) determine the main important seed yield components influencing yield variation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Successive 14-day shading treatments were applied throughout the crop cycle at different points, from emergence to maturity, in field experiments conducted during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons in Manhattan, Kansas, United States (US), with treatment timing expressed as thermal time (sum of degree-days above a base temperature of 7.5 °C) relative to flowering.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The critical period for yield determination was identified between 139 °C days before flowering (∼7 days before flowering) and 427 °C days after flowering (∼25 days after flowering), ranging from V8 to R5 crop growth stages (seventh trifoliate leaf to one pod on the main stem turning dark brown). Shade treatments reduced seed yield, with penalties ranging from 41 % to 68 %, and were mainly due to reductions in seed number per unit area, with limited compensation from increased seed weight. Pod number per unit area was the strongest determinant of final yield, while seeds per pod had a lesser effect.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Defining the critical period for seed yield determination is essential for optimizing mungbean productivity through breeding and management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110341"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923518","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 : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110338
Koloina Rahajaharilaza , Kirsten vom Brocke , Philippe Letourmy , Bertrand Muller , Ramavovololona , Perraud Rebecca , Tuong-Vi Cao , Joël Rakotomalala , Louis-Marie Raboin
Context or problem
Madagascar heavily depends on rice for caloric intake, especially through irrigated farming. In the Vakinankaratra region, rainfed upland rice farming is an important complement but faces challenges such as poor soil fertility and vulnerability to pathogens like Pyricularia oryzae.
Objective or research question
To address these challenges, we evaluated extended elite lines upland rice varietal mixtures adapted to local conditions, focusing on yield performance, stability, and food security.
Methods
Four upland rice varieties: Chhomrong Dhan, FOFIFA 172, FOFIFA 173, and FOFIFA 180, well-suited to Madagascar's high-altitude climatic conditions and resistant to Pyricularia oryzae, were evaluated in three experiments conducted in the highlands of Madagascar between 2013 and 2017. The experimental design assessed all variety combinations, considering two treatment factors: 'mixture type' (ranging from pure stands to mixtures of all four varieties) and 'varietal composition' (15 modalities representing different varietal combinations). The analysis included the identification of the best-performing varietal compositions using a mixed-effects linear regression model and land equivalent ratio calculations.
Results
The analysis revealed that grain yield did not significantly differ among various mixture types, while varietal composition within mixtures had a highly significant effect. No mixture combination yielded more than the best varieties in pure stand although some matched their performance. Three combinations showed a significantly improved land equivalent ratio. Varieties differed in competitive abilities and trait plasticity.
Conclusions
Contrary to literature suggesting that increased diversity through varietal mixtures enhances production, the study found that the number of varieties in mixtures (mixture type) did not have significant effects. However, it appears possible to identify specific mixture combinations with strong mixing abilities.
Implications
This study evaluated mixtures of elite rice varieties that are currently available to farmers, under optimal fertility management. In these conditions, varietal mixtures did not demonstrate clear advantages over pure stands. However, results may differ under low-fertility conditions more representative of farmers’ fields, or when using a broader genetic diversity. These scenarios warrant further investigation. In such contexts, varietal mixtures could complement other diversification strategies aimed at enhancing the resilience of agricultural systems, particularly in vulnerable regions such as the Madagascar Highlands.
{"title":"Evaluation of upland rice variety mixtures in the Madagascar highlands","authors":"Koloina Rahajaharilaza , Kirsten vom Brocke , Philippe Letourmy , Bertrand Muller , Ramavovololona , Perraud Rebecca , Tuong-Vi Cao , Joël Rakotomalala , Louis-Marie Raboin","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110338","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110338","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context or problem</h3><div>Madagascar heavily depends on rice for caloric intake, especially through irrigated farming. In the Vakinankaratra region, rainfed upland rice farming is an important complement but faces challenges such as poor soil fertility and vulnerability to pathogens like <em>Pyricularia oryzae</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Objective or research question</h3><div>To address these challenges, we evaluated extended elite lines upland rice varietal mixtures adapted to local conditions, focusing on yield performance, stability, and food security.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Four upland rice varieties: Chhomrong Dhan, FOFIFA 172, FOFIFA 173, and FOFIFA 180, well-suited to Madagascar's high-altitude climatic conditions and resistant to <em>Pyricularia oryzae</em>, were evaluated in three experiments conducted in the highlands of Madagascar between 2013 and 2017. The experimental design assessed all variety combinations, considering two treatment factors: 'mixture type' (ranging from pure stands to mixtures of all four varieties) and 'varietal composition' (15 modalities representing different varietal combinations). The analysis included the identification of the best-performing varietal compositions using a mixed-effects linear regression model and land equivalent ratio calculations.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The analysis revealed that grain yield did not significantly differ among various mixture types, while varietal composition within mixtures had a highly significant effect. No mixture combination yielded more than the best varieties in pure stand although some matched their performance. Three combinations showed a significantly improved land equivalent ratio. Varieties differed in competitive abilities and trait plasticity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Contrary to literature suggesting that increased diversity through varietal mixtures enhances production, the study found that the number of varieties in mixtures (mixture type) did not have significant effects. However, it appears possible to identify specific mixture combinations with strong mixing abilities.</div></div><div><h3>Implications</h3><div>This study evaluated mixtures of elite rice varieties that are currently available to farmers, under optimal fertility management. In these conditions, varietal mixtures did not demonstrate clear advantages over pure stands. However, results may differ under low-fertility conditions more representative of farmers’ fields, or when using a broader genetic diversity. These scenarios warrant further investigation. In such contexts, varietal mixtures could complement other diversification strategies aimed at enhancing the resilience of agricultural systems, particularly in vulnerable regions such as the Madagascar Highlands.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110338"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923519","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 : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110340
Wangmei Li , Yu Sun , Tingting He , Yuhan Xue , Ke Hu , Ruotong Si , Mingsheng Fan , Haiqing Chen
Context
Determining optimum nitrogen (N) management is essential for maintaining rice yield while reducing the environmental risk caused by N loss. The C/N ratio of agricultural inputs plays a critical role in regulating reactive N (Nr) emissions and soil N retention.
Objectives
However, critical knowledge gaps persist regarding the optimization of N management (application rates and surplus levels) to simultaneously achieve yield maximization and yield-scaled Nr loss minimization in straw-incorporated, deep-fertilized paddy systems.
Methods
We conducted a three-year field experiment in Sanjiang Plain in northeast China with four N application rate treatments (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg N ha−1). Through systematic evaluation N input (straw-N, biological N fixation, atmospheric N deposition，irrigation-derived N), output (grain N removal, NH3 volatilization, N2O emissions, runoff, leaching, and drainage loss), and yield of paddy system.
Results
We identified closely aligned thresholds for agronomic (104.5 kg N ha−1 for maximum yield) and environmental (99.5 kg N ha−1 for minimal yield-scaled Nr loss) objectives, corresponding to similar N surpluses (32.9–34.1 kg N ha−1). The system maintains high efficiency with Nr losses of just 2.3–6.5 kg N ha−1 annually, dominated by NH3 volatilization (2.7–4.4 % of applied N). When N application exceeded 100 kg N ha−1, both Nr losses and yield-scaled Nr losses increased sharply, with a critical inflection point at 110 kg N ha−1 corresponding to accelerated N surplus accumulation. Notably, a negative correlation was observed between paddy Nr losses and the C:N ratio of input materials.
Conclusions
The recommended 99.5–110 kg N ha−1 application range provides a scientifically validated pathway for sustainable intensification, requiring 30.3–33.6 % N less than conventional systems while maintaining comparable yields through optimized N cycling rather than increased inputs. The synergistic effects of optimization N rates，straw incorporation, and deep fertilization collectively regulate the C:N ratio and Nr losses of paddy systems, thereby mitigating the typical trade-off between productivity and sustainability in intensive rice systems.
确定最佳氮素管理对维持水稻产量和减少氮素损失造成的环境风险至关重要。农业投入品的碳氮比在调节活性氮（Nr）排放和土壤氮保持中起关键作用。然而，对于优化氮素管理（施氮量和剩余水平），以同时实现秸秆复合深度施肥水稻系统的产量最大化和产量比例的氮素损失最小化，仍然存在关键的知识空白。方法在三江平原进行为期3年的大田试验，施氮量分别为0、50、100和150 kg N ha−1。通过系统评价水稻系统的氮输入（秸秆氮、生物固氮、大气氮沉降、灌溉衍生氮）、输出（谷粒氮去除、NH3挥发、N2O排放、径流、淋溶和排水损失）和产量。结果我们确定了农艺（104.5 kg N ha - 1为最高产量）和环境（99.5 kg N ha - 1为最小产量比例的氮损失）目标的紧密一致的阈值，对应于相似的氮盈余（32.9-34.1 kg N ha - 1）。该系统保持了较高的效率，每年的Nr损失仅为2.3-6.5 kg N ha - 1，主要是NH3挥发（占施氮量的2.7-4.4 %）。当施氮量超过100 kg N ha−1时，氮素损失和产量比例的氮素损失均急剧增加，在110 kg N ha−1处出现临界拐点，对应于氮素剩余积累加速。值得注意的是，水稻Nr损失与输入材料的C:N比呈负相关。结论建议的99.5-110 kg N ha - 1施用范围为可持续强化提供了一条经过科学验证的途径，该范围比传统系统减少30.3 - 33.6% %的氮素需求，同时通过优化氮循环而不是增加投入来保持相当的产量。优化施氮量、秸秆还田和深度施肥的协同效应共同调节了水稻系统的C:N比和Nr损失，从而缓解了集约化水稻系统中典型的生产力与可持续性之间的权衡。
{"title":"Optimizing nitrogen application to minimize yield-scaled reactive nitrogen loss and nitrogen surplus in rice systems","authors":"Wangmei Li , Yu Sun , Tingting He , Yuhan Xue , Ke Hu , Ruotong Si , Mingsheng Fan , Haiqing Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110340","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110340","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Determining optimum nitrogen (N) management is essential for maintaining rice yield while reducing the environmental risk caused by N loss. The C/N ratio of agricultural inputs plays a critical role in regulating reactive N (Nr) emissions and soil N retention.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>However, critical knowledge gaps persist regarding the optimization of N management (application rates and surplus levels) to simultaneously achieve yield maximization and yield-scaled Nr loss minimization in straw-incorporated, deep-fertilized paddy systems.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a three-year field experiment in Sanjiang Plain in northeast China with four N application rate treatments (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup>). Through systematic evaluation N input (straw-N, biological N fixation, atmospheric N deposition，irrigation-derived N), output (grain N removal, NH<sub>3</sub> volatilization, N<sub>2</sub>O emissions, runoff, leaching, and drainage loss), and yield of paddy system.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We identified closely aligned thresholds for agronomic (104.5 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> for maximum yield) and environmental (99.5 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> for minimal yield-scaled Nr loss) objectives, corresponding to similar N surpluses (32.9–34.1 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup>). The system maintains high efficiency with Nr losses of just 2.3–6.5 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> annually, dominated by NH<sub>3</sub> volatilization (2.7–4.4 % of applied N). When N application exceeded 100 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup>, both Nr losses and yield-scaled Nr losses increased sharply, with a critical inflection point at 110 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> corresponding to accelerated N surplus accumulation. Notably, a negative correlation was observed between paddy Nr losses and the C:N ratio of input materials.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The recommended 99.5–110 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> application range provides a scientifically validated pathway for sustainable intensification, requiring 30.3–33.6 % N less than conventional systems while maintaining comparable yields through optimized N cycling rather than increased inputs. The synergistic effects of optimization N rates，straw incorporation, and deep fertilization collectively regulate the C:N ratio and Nr losses of paddy systems, thereby mitigating the typical trade-off between productivity and sustainability in intensive rice systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110340"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923515","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}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号