Abstract
The ridge and furrow rainwater harvesting (RFRH) system is a promising water-saving planting technique for dryland farming, but we lack a full understanding of the effects of different fertilizer rates (N:P) on plant nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency (NuUE) in foxtail millet using this planting method, as well as the available nutrient residues in the soil. We conducted field studies (Loess Plateau, China) comparing RFRH planting (R) and traditional flat planting (T) at four different fertilizer rates to determine suitable fertilizer application rates for R during 2013–2015. Compared with T, R improved the soil moisture and the utilization of rainwater and fertilizer, thereby enhancing the grain yield, water use efficiency (WUE), grain nutrient uptake, and NUE in a dry year, but with no improvements in a rainy year. The grain yield and WUE exhibited parabolic increasing trends as the fertilizer application rate increased over three years, but no significant increase was found when the fertilizer rate exceeded 189:96 kg N:P ha−1 under R, which significantly reduced the NuUE and might waste nutrients. Therefore, we recommend R combined with 189:96 kg N:P ha−1 as a promising planting strategy for foxtail millet in semiarid areas.
Highlights
In the semiarid Loess Plateau region of northwest China, dryland farming is the major agricultural type and crop production depends mainly on limited and erratic precipitation[1]
In 2014, 157 mm of rainfall fell during 134–154 days after sowing (DAS) (Fig. 1), which led to soil water infiltration to depths of 140 and 120 cm under ridge and furrow rainwater harvesting (RFRH) planting (R) and traditional flat planting (T) at harvesting (Fig. 1c and d), respectively
We found that the RFRH system obtained a better yield than T under the same fertilizer application rate, and when the fertilizer application rate was reduced to F2, there were no significant reductions in the yield and water use efficiency (WUE) with the RFRH system, but there was a significant increase in the fertilizer use efficiency due to the significant reductions in NO3-N and available residual P in the soil
Summary
In the semiarid Loess Plateau region of northwest China, dryland farming is the major agricultural type and crop production depends mainly on limited and erratic precipitation[1]. Liu et al.[19] found that a lower application rate (110 kg N ha−1) for maize on ridges and furrows mulched with plastic-film system obtained 82% of the maximum yield, increased the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and mitigated the risk of nitrogen losses from the system. The main objectives of this study were as follows: (1) to clarify the effects of the RFRH system on nitrogen and phosphorus uptake by foxtail millet under different fertilizer rates (F0: no fertilizer, F1: N:P at 93:48 kg ha−1, F2: N:P at 186:96 kg ha−1, and F3: N:P at 279:144 kg ha−1); (2) to compare the soil nutrient residue levels (NO3-N and available P) under the RFRH system and traditional flat planting with different fertilizer rates; and (3) to identify a highly efficient and sustainable fertilization strategy for use in foxtail millet production with the RFRH system during dryland farming in the semiarid area of China
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