English

Abstract

In order to promote the comprehensive production capacity and yield of farmland soil, the effects of subsoil tillage on soil structure, root activity, photosynthetic characteristics, dry matter accumulation, yield and water use through long-term positioning research in semi-arid areas were studied. This study was started in 2011 and investigated in the 2015–2016 research cycle. The experiment was conducted with five treatments including 30 cm subsoiling (SS-30) and 40 cm subsoiling (SS-40) before spring sowing, 30 cm (AS-30) and 40 cm (SS-40) between rows after autumn harvest and no subsoiling (CK). The effects of subsoiling on soil properties, crop growth, yield and water use of maize in semi-arid areas were investigated. The results showed that subsoiling significantly reduced the penetration resistance and bulk density of soil, and significantly increased the soil moisture content from subsoiling to the surface. Subsoiling increased GSand Ci, Tr, Pnand WUE in maize plants, and significantly increased root activity. Subsoiling significantly increased dry weight of aboveground part and root, significantly decreased root shoot ratio, and significantly increased WUE per plant. Subsoiling significantly increased 100 grain weight, yield and WUE of population. Subsoiling can effectively improve the soil structure, enhance the water storage capacity of the soil in arid areas, delay water loss, improve root activity, net photosynthetic rate, dry matter accumulation and WUE, and promote crop growth and yield of maize. Subsoiling in autumn has the best effect on soil improvement. Increasing the subsoiling depth properly can improve their effects, which will gradually less with the passage of time.© 2021 Friends Science Publishers