Abstract
Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) monoculture is conventionally cultivated followed by two to three months of summer fallow in the Loess Plateau. To develop a sustainable cropping system, we conducted a six-year field experiment to investigate the effect of leguminous green manure (LGM) instead of bare fallow on the yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat and the soil water balance (SWB) in different precipitation years in a semi-arid region of northwest China. Results confirmed that planting LGM crop consumes soil water in the fallow season can bring varied effects to the subsequent wheat. The effect is positive or neutral when the annual precipitation is adequate, so that there is no significant reduction in the soil water supplied to wheat. If this is not the case, the effect is negative. On average, the LGM crop increased wheat yield and WUE by 13% and 28%, respectively, and had considerable potential for maintaining the SWB (0–200 cm) compared with fallow management. In conclusion, cultivation of the LGM crop is a better option than fallow to improve the productivity and WUE of the next crop and maintain the soil water balance in the normal and wet years in the Loess Plateau.
Highlights
Time, averaging 2.5 to 3.7 t/ha, which presents a substantial difference compared with the average yields in China (4.7 t/ha) and some European countries[9,10]
We identified the impacts of the legume green manure (LGM) crop on the subsequent wheat yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and soil water balance in dry, normal, and wet years
The slope of the decadal-mean growing season precipitation (GSP) versus time was significantly different to zero (−10.08), there were no significant differences between the slopes of the decadal-mean fallow season precipitation (FSP) (8.32) as Leguminous green manure (LGM)
Summary
Time, averaging 2.5 to 3.7 t/ha, which presents a substantial difference compared with the average yields in China (4.7 t/ha) and some European countries (averaging 6 to 7 t/ha)[9,10]. Green manure, which is primarily used as a soil amendment and an added nutrient for subsequent crops, is a cleaner and more secure organic fertilizer source that has been the essence of traditional agriculture in ancient China[13] Due to their unique ability to fix atmospheric N2 via root nodules and produce substantial biomass and nutrient accumulations, the legume green manure (LGM) has become one of the most common and widely studied crop in the worldwide various agro-ecosystems. The results of this study will be used to establish a LGM-based cropping system, providing a theoretical basis and guiding field management strategies for local and other similar dryland regions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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.
