Increased Maize Yield Research Articles

The indispensable function of agricultural cooperatives in South Sudan

AbstractMost of South Sudan's rural population ekes out a living from farming in a fragile context characterized by compounding and interrelated shocks. The productivity of maize, a key staple, has remained comparatively low. South Sudan is currently transforming its agricultural sector to be at the centre of its economic activity. Programming has zoomed in on seed‐related interventions. Cooperatives, which are longstanding and widespread in the country, are leveraged to distribute seed and, by mitigating production risk, could contribute to resilient development. To shed light on the key functions of cooperatives and how their role can be enhanced, we analysed recent data from 1247 maize‐producing households and 126 agricultural cooperatives from South Sudan. We find that through their services cooperatives contribute to both increasing maize yields and reducing their variability. Yield increases associated with seed production and/or distribution services are substantial but exclusive to members. Managerial capital in the form of a hired manager instead also generates spillover effects to the broader community. Our findings point to the relevance of cooperatives as indispensable stakeholders for the resilient development of the country and the need for investments to strengthen their managerial capital and enhance the provision of services related to seed production and/or distribution.

Straw return can increase maize yield by regulating soil bacteria and improving soil properties in arid and semi-arid areas

Straw return has been found to benefit soil fertility and crop yield, however, by which it affects microbial communities to mediate soil factors driving crop yields under maize continuous cropping systems in dryland areas is still unclear. To fill this gap, a 6-year field experiment was established with five straw return amounts (T0, T1, T2, T3, and T4, representing 0, 3,000, 6,000, 9,000, and 12,000kgha-1 of straw, respectively), and investigated the effects of on soil properties, enzymes, bacterial community composition and diversity, and crop yields. Our analysis showed that soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) contents significantly increased by 1-8%, 5-25%, and 2-9% under straw return treatments, respectively, compared to the T0, and soil catalase, urease, and alkaline phosphatase activities increased by at least 34.00%. Additionally, crop yield significantly increased by 4.23-12.00% under T1-T4 treatments, and showed highly significant relationships with SOC, TN, and TP. Importantly, we found straw return significantly altered the community of bacteria involved in the carbon and nitrogen cycle, and their abundance of strong responses depending on the amounts of straw return. For example, straw input increased the abundance of Proteobacteria (+2.64–5.57%), Acidobacteria (+3.82–13.83%), and Bacteroidetes (+15.37–30.49%). Similarly, the amount of straw application increased the bacterial diversity indexes (Shannon, 2.65–10.93%; Chao1, 13.47–18.50%), and had significant positive correlations with SOC, TN, and TP contents. Structural equation models (SEM) revealed that straw return management practice had positive and indirect effects on crop yields by influencing soil properties or the bacteria community. In conclusion, our findings revealed common associations and variations of bacterial community diversity with soil factors and crop yields at different straw return rates, and these findings provide insights and options for the development of better straw return strategies and sustainable agriculture in semi-arid regions.

Impacts of multivalued interventions on maize farmers’ welfare: Evidence from SIPMA development project in Ghana

Recent research has highlighted the significance of agricultural development programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa for enhancing production, food security, and farmer welfare. However, these studies frequently investigate the effects of a single intervention rather than a combination of interventions. This study examines the impact of three interventions (credit access, structured market, and entrepreneurial training) on maize yield, food security, food expenditure and non-food expenditure in Ghana. We utilized multivalued inverse probability weighted regression correction, and propensity score matching with data from the Smallholder Inclusive Productivity and Market Access (SIPMA) agricultural development programme on 477 maize farmers. Participation in SIPMA interventions significantly increased maize yields, farm income, food spending, and non-food spending. For smallholder farmers, participation in a combination of input credit provision, structured market, and entrepreneurial training results in the highest yield, farm income, and non-food expenditures, while participation in entrepreneurial training alone results in a lower yield. Our empirical evidence suggests that the interventions should be expanded to other communities because the project's characteristics are distinctive in terms of fostering community engagement and collaboration with local/regional institutions.

Effects of combined application of Se and ammonium fertilizers on the growth and nutritional quality of maize in Hg-polluted soil under two irrigation conditions and its health risk assessment

The interactive effects of Se (Na2SeO3) and ammonium fertilizers ((NH4)2SO4 and NH4Cl) on the growth and quality of maize (Zea mays L.) in mercury (Hg)-contaminated soil were studied under different water conditions. This study determined how two nutrient sources (Se and NH4+-N) interacted to improve the yield, quality, and safety of maize to ensure food security and quality assurance under the stress of heavy metal Hg. The experiment was conducted under two irrigation conditions: W1 (complete irrigation condition, 60-70% of water-holding capacity) and W2 (restricted irrigation condition, 40-50% of water-holding capacity). The combined treatment of Se and ammonium fertilizers significantly improved the growth of maize and the quality of grain in Hg-polluted soil. When Na2SeO3 and (NH4)2SO4 were combined, the growth and quality of maize increased the highest among all treatments. The interaction between Na2SeO3 and ammonium fertilizers significantly affected the available Hg/methylmercury (MeHg) content in soil and the Hg/MeHg concentration in maize. NH4Cl significantly increased the content of available Hg/MeHg in soil and increased the accumulation of Hg/MeHg in maize tissues due to Cl-. However, the treatments containing Na2SeO3 or (NH4)2SO4 significantly reduced the content of available Hg/MeHg in soil, reduced the accumulation of Hg/MeHg in maize tissues, and significantly reduced the possible health risks to human beings. The treatments containing Na2SeO3 or (NH4)2SO4 promoted maize growth by increasing the Se content in maize tissues and reducing the Hg/MeHg content, relieving the stress induced by Hg, and increasing the nutrient content. The combined treatment of Na2SeO3 and (NH4)2SO4 had the best effect in this experiment. This study also showed that this strategy is helpful in reducing the opportunities for consumers to accumulate Hg/MeHg by eating maize and its derivatives, thus ensuring food safety. Se and ammonium fertilizer can be used together to increase maize yield and develop agricultural production in Hg-polluted areas, which may have a significant impact on global food production. In addition, this simple method can help farmers manage soil affected by heavy metal pollution.

Boron availability and fertilizer response of maize in soils from sub‐Saharan Africa

AbstractBackground and aimsLow boron (B) availability is associated with strongly weathered, coarse‐textured, and low organic matter soils, widespread in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). It is unknown to what extent B fertilization can increase maize yields in SSA. This study aims to understand the soil properties controlling B availability to field‐grown maize.MethodsBoron fertilizer omission trials with maize were executed at 15 sites in Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Yield, B uptake, and soil parameters potentially relevant for B availability, including extractable soil B (hot water, 0.01 M CaCl2, and 0.43 M HNO3), were determined.ResultsSoil B pools were strongly intercorrelated and were positively correlated with organic carbon, suggesting the relevance of organic matter for soil B availability. Soil parameters described limited variation in B uptake and the yield response to B fertilization. Boron fertilization did not increase yields in any of the 15 sites but increased uptake in 11 sites. Yields were reduced through B fertilization in five sites, likely because B application induced toxicity. No clear critical soil or plant B concentrations indicating deficiency could be derived, but positive yield responses to B fertilization were absent with hot water B levels above 0.69 mg kg−1.ConclusionAssessing B fertilizer needs in maize grown in tropical soils based on soil or plant tissue concentrations remains challenging. Improving soil organic matter status could potentially alleviate B deficiency in crops when present. Recommendations are given to overcome the identified challenges associated with studying B availability in tropical soils.

Short-Term Effects of Incorporation Depth of Straw Combined with Manure During the Fallow Season on Maize Production, Water Efficiency, and Nutrient Utilization in Rainfed Regions

Diminishing soil fertility and crop productivity due to traditional intensive cultivation has prompted the use of straw and manure to improve soil health in Northeast China. However, few comparative studies have explored the influence of varying straw and manure incorporation depths on crop growth. A field experiment in the rainfed black soil regions of Gongzhuling and Keshan assessed the effects of deep (30 cm) and shallow (15 cm) incorporations of straw and manure on soil fertility, maize root growth, and maize productivity. Deep incorporations, via subsoiling tillage (DST) and deep-plow (DDT) tillage, enhanced soil water storage of 30–100 cm soil layer during periods of low rainfall, improved the availability of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) and soil organic matter content, especially in deeper soil, compared to shallow incorporation using rotary tillage (SRT). Both DST and DDT induced a larger rooting depth and a higher fine root (diameter class 0–0.5 mm) length density by 31.0% and 28.9%, respectively, accompanied by reduced root turnover. Furthermore, the sub-surface foraging strategies of roots under the DST and DDT treatments boosted the total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium uptake (6.5–17.9%) and achieved a higher dry mass accumulation during the later growth period, thus leading to notable improvements in the 100-kernel weight and yield (16.1–19.7%) and enhancing water- and nutrient-use efficiencies by 2.5–20.5%. Overall, compared to shallow incorporation, deep incorporation of straw and manure significantly enhances root growth and spatial distribution of soil water and nutrients, which has great potential for increasing maize yield in rainfed agricultural areas.

Enhancing Water Use Efficiency and Carbon Profitability Through the Long-Term Impact of Sustainable Farming Systems

This study aims to enhance water use efficiency, maximize productivity, and minimize environmental impact through the implementation of sustainable agricultural systems using drip irrigation systems. It investigates the effects of biodynamic farming compared to those of organic and conventional methods over a six-year period and focuses on soil properties, water use efficiency, crop yield, and environmental and economic perspectives. Using a biodynamic farming system resulted in an average increase in water use efficiency of 1.96 and 10.67% for maize and 3.62 and 10.68% for faba bean and an increase in maize yield of 1.68 and 0.99%, while the faba bean yield reached 3.25 and 1.57% compared to the organic and conventional farming systems, respectively. The biodynamic system sequestered the highest average soil carbon of 6.16 tons/ha (which is equivalent to 22.45 tons/ha of CO2 emissions), representing a 13% increase compared to the organic system. Additionally, the biodynamic system yielded an increase in total net profit of 5.70 and 21.66% for the maize crop and 6.72 and 22.19% for the faba bean crop compared to the organic and conventional farming systems, respectively. The farming system significantly influenced the soil carbon sequestration and organic carbon.

The effect of aeration and irrigation on the improvement of soil environment and yield in dryland maize.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of long-term aerated seepage irrigation technology on soil fertility changes and maize yield under continuous maize cropping system in red loam soil, and to explain the mechanism of maize yield increase under this technology, which can provide theoretical basis for crop quality improvement and yield increase under aerated irrigation (AI) technology. Therefore, this research was conducted for four field seasons in 2020-2023 at the National Soil Quality Observation Experimental Station, Zhanjiang, China. Soil aeration, soil fertility, root growth, physiological traits, and yield indicators were evaluated by conventional underground drip irrigation (CK) and AI. Our results showed that AI treatment significantly improved soil aeration and soil fertility. Increases in soil oxygen content, soil respiration rate, soil bacterial biomass, and soil urease activity were observed, corresponding to increases from 3.08% to 21.34%, 1.90% to 24.71%, 26.37% to 0.09%, and 12.35% to 100.96%, respectively. The effect of AI on maize indicators increased year by year. Based on improvements in soil aeration and fertility, root length, root surface area, and root dry weight under AI treatment were enhanced by 15.56% to 53.79%, 30.13% to 62.31%, and 19.23% to 35.64% (p < 0.05) compared to the CK group. In addition, maize agronomic traits and physiological characteristics showed improved performance; in particular, over 1.16% to 14.42% increases were identified in maize yield by AI treatment. Further analysis using a structural equation model (SEM) demonstrated that the AI technology significantly promotes the improvement of root indicators by enhancing soil aeration and soil fertility. As a result, maize yield could be increased significantly and indirectly.

Cow Dung Liquid Mulch Improves Maize Yields: Beneficial Microorganisms Are Enriched and Environmental Risks Are Reduced and Nutrient Cycling Is Promoted

Cow dung liquid mulch (CDLM), which uses cow dung as a raw material, has a good degradability and is a potential alternative to traditional plastic agricultural mulch, but there is a lack of research on the effects of CDLM on rhizosphere soil physicochemical properties, rhizosphere soil microbial functions, and crop yields. In this study, the link between maize yield, environmental factors, and functional genes as well as the responses of microbial community functions to CDLM and polyethylene mulch (PE) were studied using metagenomic sequencing. Functional annotation was also performed on clusters of orthologous groups of proteins, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, and carbohydrate-active enzyme sequencing data. The results showed that CDLM significantly increased maize yield by 30.9% compared to CK while maintaining lower soil microplastic levels. CDLM promotes the enrichment of beneficial microorganisms such as Mycolicibacterium and Pseudomonas. The relative abundance of functional genes related to microbial metabolism, soil element cycling pathways, and organic matter degradation was significantly higher in CDLM than in CK. Microbial functional genes were positively correlated with maize yield and environmental factors such as soil nutrients. These results suggested that CDLM can improve maize yield by enriching beneficial microorganisms, reducing rhizosphere soil environmental risks, and enhancing rhizosphere soil microbial function. Rhizosphere soil nutrients and microbial functional genes together mediated the positive response of maize yield to CDLM. This study can provide a scientific basis and data support for the safe use of mulch in the future.

Liquid bio-slurry enhances the productivity of N-fertilized maize under field conditions in Ethiopia

Enhancing maize production and productivity is critical for ensuring small-scale farmers' food security. Yet, declining soil fertility poses a substantial challenge to cereal production, including maize, in developing countries. Farmers are currently finding liquid bio-slurry to be a valuable organic amendment because it improves maize productivity and food security by altering the physicochemical properties of the soil. However, extensive research on liquid bio-slurry as an organic amendment in Ethiopia is still limited. Hence, a field experiment was conducted at two sites to identify the optimal combination of inorganic nitrogen (N) and liquid bio-slurry to improve maize productivity. The trial involved the application of two mineral N fertilizers and five different rates of liquid bio-slurry in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed that the main effects of mineral N and liquid bio-slurry were significant (p&lt; 0.05) on most of the parameters examined. The interaction between mineral N x liquid bio-slurry had a significant (p&lt; 0.05) effect on plant height, ear length, number of rows ear-1, number of kernels ear-1, above-ground dry biomass yield, hundred-grain weight, grain yield, and straw yield. The highest grain yield (8,220 kg ha-1) was achieved by combining 46 kg N ha-1 with 18 t liquid bio-slurry ha-1. Therefore, 46 kg N ha-1 with 18 t liquid bio-slurry ha-1 is highly recommended for increasing maize yield in the study sites and other areas with similar agroecological zones.

Optimum management strategy for improving maize water productivity and partial factor productivity for nitrogen in China: A meta-analysis

China’s agricultural production suffers significant constraints due to low water productivity (WP) and partial factor productivity for nitrogen (PFPN). The pivotal solution to enhance maize yield, WP, and PFPN is through optimizing field management practices. However, previous studies primarily focused on the effects of individual or coupled field management practices on maize yield, WP, or PFPN in an area or land mass, so it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various field management practices on maize yield, WP, and PFPN at the national scale. In this study, we compiled 286 studies encompassing 6959 pairs of experimental data spanning from 1990 to 2023. Meta-analysis was conducted to observe the variations in maize yield, WP, and PFPN across diverse field management practices (straw returning, nitrogen fertilizer application, irrigation practice, and tillage practice) on a national scale. The results showed that nitrogen fertilizer application (215 kg N ha−1) was the most effective in enhancing maize yield and WP by 68.1 % and 54.8 %, respectively. Additionally, irrigation had the most substantial impact on PFPN, enhancing 16.8 %. Straw mulching, application of slow and controlled release fertilizers, drip irrigation, and subsoiling were identified as the most effective practices in increasing maize yield, WP, and PFPN by Random forest model. Maize straw returning could reduce nitrogen fertilizer application by 20 kg ha−1, while increasing WP and PFPN by 4.2 % and 11.6 %, respectively. Moreover, straw returning could reduce water consumption by 23–60 mm, while increasing WP and PFPN by 2.9 % and 6.8 %, respectively. These findings can provide a reference for the formulation of comprehensive management strategies for sustainable maize production in China and globally.

Maize/soybean intercropping with nitrogen supply levels increases maize yield and nitrogen uptake by influencing the rhizosphere bacterial diversity of soil.

Intercropping practices play a crucial role in enhancing and maintaining the biodiversity and resiliency of agroecosystems, as well as promoting stable and high crop yields. Yet the relationships between soil nitrogen, microbes, and yield in maize cultivated under maize/soybean intercropping systems remain unclear. To fill that knowledge gap, here we collected maize rhizosphere soil at the staminate stage after 6 consecutive years of maize/soybean intercropping, to investigate how intercropping and nitrogen application rates affected nitrogen utilization by crops and soil microbial community composition and function. We also examined correlations of those responses with yields, to clarify the main ways that yield is enhanced via intercropping and by nitrogenous fertilizer gradient changes generated by different nitrogen application rates. The amount of applied fertilizer was 240 kg N ha-1 was best for obtaining a high maize yield and also led to the greatest nitrogen-use efficiency and bacterial diversity. Under the same N application rate, intercropping increased the maize yield by 31.17% and soil nitrogen (total, ammonium and nitrate nitrogen) by 14.53%, on average, in comparison to monocropping. The enrichment of Gemmatimonas and Bradyrhizobium significantly increased the soil nitrogen content, and a greater relative abundance of Sphingomonas and Gemmatimonas increased the maize yield, whereas enrichment of Candidatus_Udaeobacter and Bradyrhizobium decreased it. The benefits of intercropping mainly arise from augmenting the abundance of beneficial microorganisms and enhancing the efficiency of N use by crop plants. This study's findings are of key importance to bolster the stability of agro-ecosystems, to guide the scientific rational use of nitrogen fertilizers, and to provide a sound theoretical basis for achieving the optimalmanagement of intensive crop-planting patterns and green sustainable development.

Enhancing Maize Yield and Nutrient Utilization through Improved Soil Quality under Reduced Fertilizer Use: The Efficacy of Organic–Inorganic Compound Fertilizer

Objectives: The substitution of chemical fertilizers with organic alternatives presents a viable strategy for enhancing soil quality and boosting agricultural productivity. However, the question remains whether organic–inorganic compound fertilizers (COIFs) can sustain improved soil quality and crop yields while reducing chemical fertilizer use. The underlying mechanisms of COIF’s impact still warrant further exploration. Methods: In this study, a long-term fertilization trial was conducted from 2020 to 2023 at two sites with different soil textures and types in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, China. The experiment involved three fertilization treatments, each replicated three times: (1) LCF (conventional fertilizer treatment); (2) COIF1 (COIF applied at 90% of the recommended rate); and (3) COIF2 (COIF applied at 80% of the recommended rate). The objective was to assess the effects of COIF on summer maize growth, grain yield, nutrient uptake and utilization, and soil quality. Results: Compared to LCF, COIF1 in Yantai and Dezhou increased biomass by 6.4% and 8.1%, grain yield by 5.9% and 4.12%, PFP (N, P, and K) by 17.6% and 15.7%, and soil quality by 563.6% and 462.5%, respectively. No significant differences in biomass and grain yield were observed between COIF2 and LCF, yet COIF1 in Yantai and Dezhou enhanced PFP (N, P, and K) by 19.7% and 18.6%, and soil quality by 109.1% and 175.0%, respectively. In conclusion, COIF improved soil quality by enhancing soil organic matter (SOM), available nutrients, pH, and other soil indices. It promoted summer maize growth, increased grain yield, and improved nutrient utilization. COIF was a practical and effective measure to reduce chemical fertilizer use, enhance field soil quality, and ultimately increase maize yield and nutrient utilization.

Maize yields have stagnated in sub-Sahara Africa: a possible transgenic solution to weed, pathogen and insect constraints.

Despite major breeding efforts by various national and international agencies, yields for the ~40 million hectares of maize, the major food crop in sub-Saharan Africa, have stagnated at <2 tons/ha/year for the past decade, one-third the global average. Breeders have succeeded in breeding increased yield with a modicum of tolerance to some single-weed or pathogen stresses. There has been minimal adoption of these varieties because introgressing polygenic yield and tolerance traits into locally adapted material is very challenging. Multiple traits to deal with pests (weeds, pathogens, and insects) are needed for farmer acceptance, because African fields typically encounter multiple pest constraints. Also, maize has no inherent resistance to some of these pest constraints, rendering them intractable to traditional breeding. The proposed solution is to simultaneously engineer multiple traits into one genetic locus. The dominantly inherited multi-pest resistance trait single locus can be bred simply into locally adapted, elite high-yielding material, and would be valuable for farmers, vastly increasing maize yields, and allowing for more than regional maize sufficiency. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Straw Incorporation on Maize Yield and Water Use Efficiency in China under Different Production Conditions

Maize plays a crucial role in China’s grain production, with a cultivation area reaching 44.22 million hectares and an annual yield of 289 million tons in 2023. However, the challenge remains on how to further increase maize yield and water use efficiency (WUE) without adding to the environmental burden. To systematically evaluate the impact of straw incorporation under varying production conditions on maize yield and WUE, this study collected experimental data from multiple locations across China. A meta-analysis was conducted to compare the effects of straw incorporation versus no incorporation, and the main influencing factors were identified using correlation analysis and a random forest model. The results indicate that straw incorporation significantly enhances both maize yield and WUE, with the most pronounced improvements observed under conditions of an average growing season temperature of 19–23 °C, soil pH of 6.5–7.5, low initial soil organic matter content, and deep plowing for straw incorporation. Additionally, moderate nitrogen application rates and straw incorporation amounts (9000–15,000 kg·ha−2) also significantly boost maize yield and WUE. Field management practices and meteorological conditions are identified as the primary factors affecting maize yield and WUE under straw incorporation conditions. Therefore, straw incorporation stands out as an effective agricultural practice for achieving high maize yields and efficient resource utilization. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for global food security and the sustainable development of agriculture.

Maize-Soybean Rotation and Intercropping Increase Maize Yield by Influencing the Structure and Function of Rhizosphere Soil Fungal Communities.

Soil-borne diseases are exacerbated by continuous cropping and negatively impact maize health and yields. We conducted a long-term (11-year) field experiment in the black soil region of Northeast China to analyze the effects of different cropping systems on maize yield and rhizosphere soil fungal community structure and function. The experiment included three cropping systems: continuous maize cropping (CMC), maize-soybean rotation (MSR), and maize-soybean intercropping (MSI). MSI and MSR resulted in a 3.30-16.26% lower ear height coefficient and a 7.43-12.37% higher maize yield compared to CMC. The richness and diversity of rhizosphere soil fungi were 7.75-20.26% lower in MSI and MSR than in CMC. The relative abundances of Tausonia and Mortierella were associated with increased maize yield, whereas the relative abundance of Solicoccozyma was associated with decreased maize yield. MSI and MSR had higher proportions of wood saprotrophs and lower proportions of plant pathogens than CMC. Furthermore, our findings indicate that crop rotation is more effective than intercropping for enhancing maize yield and mitigating soil-borne diseases in the black soil zone of Northeast China. This study offers valuable insights for the development of sustainable agroecosystems.

Enhancing Soil Conditions and Maize Yield Efficiency through Rational Conservation Tillage in Aeolian Semi-Arid Regions: A TOPSIS Analysis

Conservation tillage technology possesses substantial potential to enhance agricultural production efficiency and tackle issues such as wind erosion and land degradation in semi-arid regions. The integration of no-tillage and straw mulching technologies in the conventional aeolian semi-arid agricultural zones of western Liaoning, China, has led to notable improvements in crop yield and soil quality. However, a comprehensive assessment of the mechanisms and kinetics involved in soil nutrient variations is yet to be conducted. During a two-year study period, we assessed four tillage systems in the aeolian semi-arid regions of Northern China: no-tillage with full straw mulching (NTFS), no-tillage with half straw mulching (NTHS), no-tillage without straw mulching (NT), and conventional tillage (CT). The investigation focused on examining nutrient conditions, enhancing photosynthetic activity, and increasing maize yield while improving water use efficiency (WUE). Our findings emphasize the beneficial impact of combining no-tillage and straw mulching on enhancing soil water retention, resulting in a notable rise in soil moisture levels during the crucial growth phases of maize. This approach also positively influenced soil nutrient levels, particularly in the 0–20 cm layer, fostering an environment conducive to maize cultivation. In terms of ecological benefits, no-tillage with straw mulching curtailed soil sediment transport and wind erosion, notably at 30–40 cm heights, aiding in the ecological protection of the region. The yield and WUE were substantially higher under NTFS and NTHS than under CT, with NTHS demonstrating the most significant gains in yield (14.5% to 16.6%) and WUE (18.3% to 21.7%) throughout the study period. A TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) analysis confirmed NTHS as the optimal treatment, achieving the highest scores for soil water, nutrient availability, wind erosion control, maize photosynthesis, yield, and WUE, thus emerging as the most effective conservation tillage strategy for sustainable agriculture in aeolian semi-arid regions.

Soil quality associated with microbial community characteristics and dominant taxa across different tillage practices

AbstractDespite conservation tillage being a promising strategy to mitigate soil degradation, the intricate role of microbial communities in shaping soil quality over long‐term tillage remains poorly understood. The study aimed to investigate the microbial mechanisms governing the soil quality index (SQI) and maize yield under different tillage practices spanning 13 years, including no‐till without straw retention (NT0), no‐till with straw retention (NTSR), plough tillage with straw retention (PTSR), and rotary tillage with straw retention (RTSR). The findings revealed that NTSR improved the SQI index by 22.4% and 11.3% higher than PTSR and RTSR, respectively, within the 0–10 cm soil layer. This improvement was correlated with an increase in maize yield (R2 = 0.39, p &lt; 0.05). PERMANOVA analysis confirmed that both soil depth and tillage practices significantly impacted the composition of microbial communities (p &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, conservation tillage, compared to PTSR and RTSR, increased the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis by 78.6%–460.3% but decreased the saprophytic fungal abundance by 27.5%–28.3%. Soil quality was notably influenced by the interaction between bacterial and fungal communities. The presence of bacterial‐dominated Module 2 was associated with decreased soil quality in the 0–10 cm soil depth (r = −0.47, p &lt; 0.01). This study emphasizes the pivotal role of microbial diversity and dominant taxa in driving soil quality after long‐term conservation tillage practices. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for establishing farmland management to achieve agricultural and ecological sustainability in the face of climate change and soil degradation challenges.

The effect of irrigation with magnetized wastewater on soil heavy metals, water productivity and heavy metals in aerial parts and grains of maize

Rising population strains food resources; reusing wastewater increases but brings microbial and heavy metal pollution, impacting nature and human health. Among environmental pollutants, heavy metals in wastewater are a major concern. Using magnetized water is a method to improve water and soil quality. The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of using treated magnetized wastewater on the chemical properties and tracking of heavy metals in the soil, performance and yield components, water efficiency, and absorption of heavy metals by maize plant. Irrigation treatments consisted of various water and wastewater blending ratios under both magnetic and non-magnetic field application conditions. The results showed that the effect of irrigation water and mixing of water and wastewater on electrical conductivity, soil salts and heavy metals in different depths were significant at 1% probability level. On average, irrigation with magnetized wastewater caused a significant increase in grain yield (9.8%) and biological yield of maize (10.63%) compared to non-magnetized wastewater treatment. Irrigation with magnetized wastewater caused a significant increase in biological (10.92%) and physical (10.13%) productivities compared to non-magnetized wastewater treatment. With applying a magnetic field resulted in a reduction of 17.99%, 23.25%, 17.86%, and 17.12% in the concentration of lead, cadmium, zinc, and nickel in the aerial parts of the plant, respectively, compared to the non-magnetized water treatment. Magnetized water increases the water use efficiency of maize and irrigation management with this technology can be useful in more effective and economical use of limited water resources.

One–third substitution of nitrogen with cow manure or biochar greatly reduced N2O emission and carbon footprint in saline–alkali soils

The rapid expansion of farmland and long−term excessive nitrogen (N) application have caused huge environmental risks in fragile ecosystems facing global warming. Partially substituting N fertilizer with organic fertilizers offers an alternative field management strategy to alleviate the pressure of the ecological environment. To this end, the influence of one−third substitution of N fertilizer with cow manure or biochar field experiment was conducted under maize in Tarim River Basin since 2019. Five treatments with three replications were applied: CK (Fallow); no fertilization (0 N); conventional N fertilizer (N; N: 300 kg N ha−1, organic fertilizer: 0 kg N ha−1); one−third substitution of N with biochar (NB; N: 200 kg N ha−1, Biochar: 100 kg N ha−1) and one−third substitution of N with cow manure (NM; N: 200 kg N ha−1, Cow manure: 100 kg N ha−1) under maize season in saline−alkali soils. The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, net ecosystem carbon budget (NECB), soil organic carbon (SOC), maize yield, carbon footprint (CF), and yield carbon footprint (CFy) were analyzed from 2021 to 2022. The results showed that NB treatment decreased the average cumulative CO2 emissions by 21 %, while NM treatment showed no difference compared to N treatment. NB and NM treatments reduced the average cumulative N2O emissions (−61 %, −49 %), CF (−68 %, −10 %), CFy (−66 %, −19 %) and increased maize yield (+3 %, +2 %), SOC storage (+43 %, +6 %), NECB (+80 %, +24 %), and agronomic N use efficiency (ANUE) (+5 %, +3 %), compared to N treatment. NB treatment had the lowest emission factors (EF) (0.19 %) and the highest sustainability index (1.58) compared to NM treatment (0.26 %, 0.61) and N treatment (0.53 %, 0.84). To sum up, substituting one−third of N fertilizer with biochar or manure in saline−alkali soils was proved to be a multi−benefit strategy to increase yields and reduce GHG emissions and CF.