Abstract
Soil degradation and C emissions are a threat to sustainable agriculture in many arid and semi-arid areas. For sustainable agriculture, the influence of soil amendments on crop production and soil respiration has been a key focus of research. A three-year field study to assess how soil amendments influence soil properties, soil respiration (Rs), and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) was conducted. Treatments were: no amendment (NA), chemical fertilizer (CF), swine (Sus scrofa L.) manure (SM), maize stover (MS), and swine manure + chemical fertilizer (SC). Soil amendment (CF, SM, MS, and SC) consistently produced greatest grain yield and aboveground biomass, which averaged 38 and 34% greater than NA, respectively. No amendment reduced Rs by an average of 12% compared to amendment treatments. Enhanced grain yield with soil amendment resulted in increased carbon emission efficiency (CEE) with SC > MS > CF > SM > NA. Across years, SC decreased soil bulk density by 13% and increased CEE, soil total C, and soil hydraulic conductivity by 52, 19, and 21%, respectively, compared to NA. These results demonstrate the viability of swine manure + chemical fertilizer at 200 kg N ha−1 as a soil amendment for improved CEE and advancing sustainable maize production in semi-arid rainfed environments.
Highlights
Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop in northern China
Soil water content was least with no amendment (NA) and greatest with substituted by organic amendment (SC)
Enhanced crop productivity with organic fertilizer alone or in combination with chemical fertilizer has been ascribed to several mechanisms, including enhanced soil physical properties resulting in greater soil water and nutrient uptake by roots [16,38]
Summary
Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop in northern China. The planted area to maize in this region is about 20 million ha, representing ~70% of China’s total maize area [1]. Agriculture in the semi-arid Loess Plateau of northern China is of crucial importance in achieving food security [5] It depends mainly on precipitation, which averages about 450 mm and exhibits high spatial and temporal variation [6]. In an attempt to advance maize production for food security in this region, a complete plastic mulching technique was introduced [8] to decrease evaporation, increase soil temperature, and soil moisture [9].
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