Comparison of the effects of different maize straw returning methods on saline soil improvement

Abstract

Using corn straw as raw material, the effects of three different ways of returning corn straw to the field, namely direct returning corn straw to the field, decomposed corn straw returning to the field and maize straw biochar returning to the field, on saline-alkali soil were studied by indoor culture. The results showed that maize straw directly returned to the field was the best way to improve the stability of saline-alkali soil aggregates; maize straw biochar returned to the field was the best way to reduce the alkalinity of saline-alkali soil; maize straw directly returned to the field and decomposed maize straw returned to the field enhanced the activity of soil urease and alkaline phosphatase, while reducing the activity of soil catalase. Maize straw biochar returned to field reduced soil urease activity and increased soil catalase activity, but had no significant effect on soil alkaline phosphatase activity.