Integrating Straw Management and Seeding to Improve Seed Yield and Reduce Environmental Impacts in Soybean Production

Cailong Xu,Tingting Wu,Wenwen Song,Tianfu Han,Ruidong Li,Weiliang Shen,Shi Sun,Cunxiang Wu,Shuixiu Hu

doi:10.3390/agronomy11061033

Abstract

Multiple cropping systems boost grain yields and have an immense potential to increase land productivity. In such cropping systems in China, soybean is directly seeded after the wheat harvest in early June. After the wheat harvest, the farmland has low amounts of soil moisture and contains large amounts of wheat straw, which negatively affect soybean growth and yields. To address these challenges, an integrated management practice (IMP) than can achieve precise direct seeding and straw mulching return, was developed. In this study, differences in the soil temperature and moisture, seedling quality, dry matter accumulation, soybean yield, and greenhouse gas emissions were investigated between IMP and the farmers’ practices (FP). Compared with the FP treatment, IMP significantly increased the soil moisture and decreased the soil temperature in the topsoil layer. In addition, under the IMP treatment, the rate of emergence and developmental uniformity of soybean plants significantly increased by 21.7% and 99.5%, respectively, thus increasing the leaf area index by 30.0% and dry matter accumulation by 12.0% and, in turn, increasing soybean yields by 24.7%. A principal component analysis showed that the dry matter weight, relative water content, leaf area index, and developmental uniformity were strong sensitivity indices for the IMP treatment. In addition, the intensity of emission of N2O and greenhouse gases under IMP both decreased significantly by 25.1% and 28.9% compared with the FP, respectively. Thus, it was concluded that IMP is a suitable farming practice for sustainable agricultural production, and it has broad prospects for application in wheat–soybean double cropping systems in China and other similar areas globally.

Highlights

Introduction published maps and institutional affilTo meet the needs of the growing global population, grain production must increase by 35–50% relative to current production, in developing countries [1,2,3]
Based on the principal component analysis (PCA), the dry matter weight, relative water content, leaf area index, and developmental uniformity were strong sensitivity indices for the integrated management practice (IMP), which was confirmed in the results described above (Figure 9)
Compared with traditional soybean agricultural practices, IMP significantly increased the rate of emergence and uniform growth of soybean plants

Summary

Introduction

Introduction published maps and institutional affilTo meet the needs of the growing global population, grain production must increase by 35–50% relative to current production, in developing countries [1,2,3]. As an important raw material of vegetable oil and vegetable protein, more than 100 million tons of soybean are consumed per year in China. The domestic production of soybeans in China cannot meet the demand for consumption, and approximately 100 million tons are imported each year [5]. Increasing the yield of soybeans and stabilizing soybean planting areas are the urgent aims for soybean production in China. The Huang-Huai-Hai (HHH) Plain is one of the most important food production areas in China, and more than 30% of China’s soybeans are grown there [6]. In this region, winter wheat–summer soybean double cropping is commonly practiced.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion