Organic Amendments Influence Soil Water Depletion, Root Distribution, and Water Productivity of Summer Maize in the Guanzhong Plain of Northwest China

Abstract

Organic amendments improve general soil conditions and stabilize crop production, but their effects on the soil hydrothermal regime, root distribution, and their contributions to water productivity (WP) of maize have not been fully studied. A two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the impacts of organic amendments on soil temperature, water storage depletion (SWSD), root distribution, grain yield, and the WP of summer maize (Zea mays L.) in the Guanzhong Plain of Northwest China. The control treatment (CO) applied mineral fertilizer without amendments, and the three amended treatments applied mineral fertilizer with 20 Mg ha−1 of wheat straw (MWS), farmyard manure (MFM), and bioorganic fertilizer (MBF), respectively. Organic amendments decreased SWSD compared to CO, and the lowest value was obtained in MBF, followed by MWS and MFM. Meanwhile, the lowest mean topsoil (0–10 cm) temperature was registered in MWS. Compared to CO, organic amendments generally improved the root length density (RLD) and root weight density (RWD) of maize. MBF showed the highest RLD across the whole soil profile, while MWS yielded the greatest RWD to 20 cm soil depth. Consequently, organic amendments increased grain yield by 9.9–40.3% and WP by 8.6–47.1% compared to CO, and the best performance was attained in MWS and MBF. We suggest that MWS and MBF can benefit the maize agriculture in semi-arid regions for higher yield, and WP through regulating soil hydrothermal conditions and improving root growth.

Innovation Issues in Water, Agriculture and Food

“…Therefore, straw amendments not only contributed to improved crop conditions and increased yields but also to control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Furthermore, Zhao et al [14] show that the applications of organic amendments like farmyard manure and bioorganic fertilizer to a maize crop in the Guanzhong Plain of northwest China improve soil properties and crop roots distribution, controlled soil water depletion, and favored the soil hydrothermal conditions and crop yields.…”

Effects of conservation tillage with straw mulching on annual yield and water utilization in a winter wheat‐summer maize cropping system on the North China Plain

“…Winter wheat‐summer maize cropping rotation has been the main planting pattern on the North China Plain, whose food production accounts for approximately one‐fourth of the national food production (Fang et al., 2010; C. M. Liu et al., 2001). In this region, winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) and especially summer maize ( Zea mays L.) mainly consumed water from precipitation (Kong et al., 2014; Z. H. Zhao, 2022). However, the imbalance in the distribution, timing, and location of precipitation limits crop production.…”