Long-term straw incorporation increases rice yield stability under high fertilization level conditions in the rice–wheat system

Abstract

Straw incorporation is a global common practice to improve soil fertility and rice yield. However, the effect of straw incorporation on rice yield stability is still unknown, especially under high fertilization level conditions. Here, we reported the effect of straw returning on rice yield and yield stability under high fertilization levels in the rice–wheat system over nine years. The results showed that straw incorporation did not significantly affect the average rice yield of nine years. Straw incorporation reduced the coefficient of variation of rice yield by 25.8% and increased the sustainable yield index by 8.2%. The rice yield positively correlated with mean photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) of rice growth season and the effects of straw incorporation on rice yield depended on the PAR. Straw incorporation increased the rice yield by 5.4% in the low PAR years, whereas it did not affect the rice yield in the high PAR years. Long-term straw incorporation lowered soil bulk density but improved the soil organic matter, total N, available N, available P, and available K more strongly than straw removal. Our findings suggest that straw incorporation can increase rice yield stability through improving the resistance of rice plant growth to low PAR.