Effects of Previous Wheat Straw on the Yield of Maize in the Oasis Irrigation Region

Abstract

The surface mulch effects on maize (Zea mays L.) production are not well studied. Higher yield depends on coordinated development among the yield components of crops. The purpose of this study was to determine whether plastic film combined with four straw management systems (no tillage with straw standing [NTSS]; no tillage with straw covering [NTS]; tillage with straw incorporation [TIS]; and conventional tillage without straw retention [CT]) could boost grain yield of maize via increasing leaf area index and yield components. This study was conducted in a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–maize rotation system from 2009 to 2012 in northwestern China. Plastic film combined with straw retention boosted grain yield by 4.5 to 17.5%, especially, NTS had the highest increasing effect, boosted grain yield by 13.7 to 17.5%, and improved harvest index by 5.4 to 8.4%, compared to CT. Plastic film combined with straw retention significantly increased yield components of maize. Among the three straw retention treatments, NTS increased the maize ear number (EN) by 18.1 to 21.0%, increased the kernel number per ear (KNE) by 63.7 to 67.8%, increased the thousand‐kernel weight (TKW) by 8.7 to 9.6%, compared to CT. Straw retention decreased the maize leaf area index (LAI) before the silking stage and increased the LAI after the silking stage, which effectively regulated the growth and development of maize at early and late stages of development, NTS had the best regulating effect. Path analysis indicated that the integrated system with plastic film combined with straw retention increased the maize grain yield by improving the KNE. We conclude that plastic film combined with previous straw covering can be an effective system for boosting crop productivity by improving the yield components and optimizing LAI dynamics under limited resources in arid environments.

Combined Straw and Plastic Film Mulching Can Increase the Yield and Quality of Open Field Loose-Curd Cauliflower

“…Dual mulching with straw and mulching film (T1) promoted the accumulation of dry matter, which translated into increased yield. A previous study in Northwest China has indicated that a combination of straw mulching with no-tillage and plastic film mulching substantially increased corn yield, by 13.00% (42). Our study also found that dual mulching with straw and mulching film (T1) could increase the economic and biological yield of loosecurd cauliflower by 12.98 and 6.51%, respectively, compared with plastic film coverage only (CK2).…”

Effects of rape/common vetch intercropping on biomass, soil characteristics, and microbial community diversity

“…Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crops on the same land at the same time, which is a typical pattern of aboveground crop diversity (Gong et al, 2019). Intercropping has been widely used all over the world because of its advantages in increasing yield, preventing diseases, and utilizing resources (He et al, 2010;Yin et al, 2017). Following intercropping, the quantity and composition of organic matter in the input soil increases, and the physical and chemical properties of the soil also change (Nyawade et al, 2020).…”

Soil Mechanical Resistance Penetration after Fifteen Years with Previous Crops and Tillage Systems and Productivity of Green Corn Cob in Northeast Brazil

“…Maize (Zea mays L.) in Brazil and in the world is considered one of the most important grains, both economically and socially, as it is used in human and animal feeding [1]. Maize occupies a prominent place among cereals and there is no other cereal that has such immense potential [2]. In terms of world-wide area, Brazil stands next to the USA, India, China and Mexico, while it ranks second to the US when it relates to production [3].…”