Abstract
The impact of farmland nutrient losses on environment security is of serious concern. Conservation tillage led to reduced water and soil losses and increased grain yield, and is therefore one potential solution, but this approach requires an understanding of the complex adaptive traits for environment conditions. In this study, a 4-year field experiment was conducted to quantify the crop yield, runoff and soil water, organic C and N content dynamics in summer maize-winter wheat rations subjected to different tillage and straw management practices. Based on these, the effects of different tillage and straw management regimes on water, C and N balances of the soil-plant system was evaluated with a 11-year model prediction using the SPACSYS model. The treatments used in this study included conventional tillage (CT) with straw removal, conventional tillage with straw returning (CTSR), reduced tillage (RT) with straw removal and reduced tillage with straw returning (RTSR). The results showed that maize yield was remarkably affected by straw returning while there was no significant tillage effect. By contrast, wheat yield showed a high inter-annual variability, but was not significantly influenced by tillage and straw management practices. The soil water balance analysis demonstrated that the treatments with straw returning improved water use efficiency by increasing transpiration while reducing water losses through evaporation and runoff, compared to the straw-removal treatments. The simulations for all of the treatments showed that the soils acted as C and N sinks in the present study. Furthermore, plots that included straw returning amassed more C and N in the soil than the that with straw removal. Our work demonstrates that in maize-wheat rotation slopping land reduced tillage with straw returning is a win-win practice for the equilibrium between agricultural productivity and low soil water, C and N losses.
Highlights
The impact of farmland nutrient losses on environment security is of serious concern (Chen et al, 2011; Ti et al, 2019)
By combining experimental field observations with model predictions, this study aims to, 1) quantify the yield, runoff and soil water, organic C and N contents dynamic under different tillage and straw management practices, and 2) evaluate how different tillage and straw management regimes affect water, C and N balances of the soilplant system using the SPACSYS model
We evaluated the ability of the SPACSYS model to simulate crop growth and soil nutrient processes in the Danjiangkou Reservoir area, China with data collected from field experiments performed between 2008 and 2012
Summary
The impact of farmland nutrient losses on environment security is of serious concern (Chen et al, 2011; Ti et al, 2019) Agriculture management practices, such as conservation tillage and rational fertilization, led to reduce water and soil losses and increase grain yield are potential solution (Dikgwatlhe et al, 2014; Xia et al, 2016), but these approaches require an understanding of complex adaptive traits for climatic factors and environment conditions (Zhang et al, 2018). The actual impacts of conservation tillage practices on these processes need to be clarified if we want to simultaneously increase crop production and reduce soil nutrient and water losses (Zhao et al, 2012).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
