Ridge-furrow Rainfall Harvesting Research Articles

Diverse tillage practices with straw mulched management strategies to improve water use efficiency and maize productivity under a dryland farming system

Straw mulching incorporation has a wide range of environmental benefits that make it an effective practice for sustainable agro-ecosystem in the semi-arid regions. There is an urgent need to improve the 13C-photosynthates distribution, water use efficiency (WUE) and maize canopy characteristics under the diverse tillage practices with straw mulched management strategies for sustainable intensification of maize production. The field study consists of three diverse tillage systems (RT: rotary tillage; CT, conventional tillage; MT, minimum tillage) with three straws mulching (NS: no straw mulch; SS: straw mulch on the soil surface; SI: straw incorporated into the soil) were assessed under the ridge-furrow rainfall harvesting system. Our results showed that the rotary tillage with straw incorporated into the soil significantly reduces the ET rate (11 %), and leaf rolling index; as a result considerably improves LAI, LEI, 13C-photosynthates distribution, N accumulation, and above ground biomass under various growth stages. The RTSI treatment significantly improved soil water storage, soil organic carbon (52 %, SOC), soil C storage (39 %, SCS), and NPK nutrients uptake (70 %, 62 %, and 69 %) of maize than observed for the rest of all other treatments, respectively. The RTSI treatment improves soil water balance, grain yield (53 %), biomass yield (37 %), WUEg (51 %), WUEb (35 %), nutrients uptake, and mitigating soil water depletion than the MTNS treatment. Although RTSS can achieve optimal soil water storage in the short term, RTSI has a great potential in improving soil carbon stability, canopy characteristics, soil water storage, and WUE, contributing to sustainable and intensive corn production in agricultural ecosystems in semi-arid regions.

Suitable fertilization can improve maize growth and nutrient utilization in ridge-furrow rainfall harvesting cropland in semiarid area.

The ridge-furrow rainfall harvesting system (RFRH) improved the water shortages, and reasonable fertilization can promote nutrient uptake and utilization of crops, leading to better yield in semi-arid regions. This holds significant practical significance for improving fertilization strategies and reducing the application of chemical fertilizers in semi-arid areas. This field study was conducted to investigate the effects of different fertilization rates on maize growth, fertilizer use efficiency, and grain yield under the ridge-furrow rainfall harvesting system during 2013-2016 in semiarid region of China. Therefore, a four-year localization field experiment was conducted with four fertilizer treatments: RN (N 0 kg hm-2, P2O5 0 kg hm-2), RL (N 150 kg hm-2, P2O5 75 kg hm-2), RM (N 300 kg hm-2, P2O5 150 kg hm-2), and RH (N 450 kg hm-2, P2O5 225 kg hm-2). The results showed that the total dry matter accumulation of maize increased with the fertilizer application rate. The nitrogen accumulation was highest under the RM treatment after harvest, average increase by 1.41% and 22.02% (P<0.05) compared to the RH and RL, respectively, whereas the phosphorus accumulation was increased with the fertilizer application rate. The nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiency both decreased gradually with the fertilization rate increased, where the maximum efficiency was observed under the RL. With the increase of fertilizer application rate, the maize grain yield initially increased and then decreased. Under linear fitting, the grain yield, biomass yield, hundred-kernel weight, and ear-grain number all showed a parabolic trend with the increase of fertilization rate. Based on comprehensive consideration, the recommended moderate fertilization rate (N 300 kg hm-2, P2O5 150 kg hm-2) is suitable for the ridge furrow rainfall harvesting system in semiarid region, and the fertilization rate can be appropriately reduced according to the rainfall.

Effects of Mulching and Slow-release Fertilizer Application Reduction on Soil Microbial Community Structure in Rapeseed Field Under Two Different Rainfall Conditions

In order to investigate the effects of furrow and ridge rainwater harvesting, straw mulching, and reduced and slow-release fertilizer on soil microbial community structure of rapeseed, a two-year field study was conducted in rainy (2016-2017) and drought (2017-2018) seasons, which included three cultivation patterns:1 conventional flat planting, 2 straw mulching, and 3 ridge-furrow rainfall harvesting system and four fertilization patterns:1 conventional fertilization (100% of the amount), 2 reduced slow-release fertilizer Ⅰ (80% of the amount), 3 reduced slow-release fertilizer Ⅱ (60% of the amount), and 4 no fertilizer. The results indicated that it was rainy in 2016-2017, with seasonal drought during the nutritional growth stage in 2017-2018. The two technologies (straw mulching+80% slow-release fertilizer, J80 and ridge-furrow rainfall harvesting system+80% slow-release fertilizer, M80) were beneficial to boost the soil microbial activity. J80 and M80 increased the microbial biomass carbon by 9.94% and 10.32% and microbial biomass nitrogen by 2.38% and 1.19%, respectively, compared with that of the local cultivation pattern under two different climate conditions. The total amount of microbial phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) decreased by 30.75% in the rainy year compared with that in the drought year, and mulching technology could effectively increase the total amount of soil PLFA. The PLFA contents of soil bacteria and fungi in the rainy year were 33.67% and 53.21%, respectively, lower than those in the drought year. However, the PLFA content of actinomycetes increased by 13.04%. Microbial communities were sensitive to abnormal precipitation. The bacteria/fungi ratio increased in rainy weather. The drought climate heighted the ratio of straight chain saturated fatty acid/straight chain monounsaturated fatty acid and straight chain monounsaturated fatty acid/cyclopropane acid. In conclusion, adopting the optimal cultivation technologies can stabilize the soil microenvironment under abnormal precipitation, relieve water and nutrient stress, and provide an effective means for rapeseed sustainable development.

Ridge–furrow rainfall harvesting system helps to improve stability, benefits and precipitation utilization efficiency of maize production in Loess Plateau region of China

The ridge–furrow rainfall harvesting (RFRH) system is considered an effective strategy for improving crop productivity and it has been adopted increasingly in the arid and semiarid rainfed agricultural areas of China. However, how RFRH performs at improving the crop productivity and the economic benefits of long-term implementation are not known in different counties and conditions in the Loess Plateau region. Therefore, RFRH and traditional planting method (CK) experiments were carried out by us under five different hydrothermal conditions in the Loess Plateau for many years. The denitrification–decomposition (DNDC) model was corrected and verified by field test data. Then, the performance of RFRH and CK in time (from 1990 to 2019, three test points) and space (387 counties, 112,000 km−2 grain crop planting area) was simulated. The results showed that from 1990 to 2019, the maize yield was 9200–11,395 kg ha–1 under RFRH and 1433–11,326 kg ha–1 under CK. The interannual variation in the maize yield was small under RFRH and it significantly improved the maize yield in dry years (87.0% higher than CK). In addition, RFRH effectively stabilized and improved the maize biomass (increased by 26.9%), harvest index (increased by 24.3%), and economic benefits (increased by 63.4%). In the whole Loess Plateau region, compared with CK, the average grain yield under RFRH increased by 86% and the average net income increased by 133%. The capacity of RFRH to increase the economic benefits in the Loess Plateau regions followed the order of: northwest region > northeast region > southwest region > southeast region. RFRH can improve and stabilize the maize yield, but also enhance the economic benefits of maize production in this region. Therefore, RFRH can be used as an important technique for coping with years when different amounts of precipitation occur in the Loess Plateau region, but especially in the northwest where the precipitation is limited.

A diffusive model of maize root growth in MAIZSIM and its applications in Ridge-Furrow Rainfall Harvesting

The ability to accurately simulate root density and its spatial distribution can enhance our understanding of plant adaption to the soil environment and agricultural water management. “Ridge-Furrow Rainfall Harvest (RFRH)” is a recently proposed management practice, which utilizes a mulched ridge and furrowed soil to increase infiltration and conserve water within soil profiles. However, this management technique has not been extensively assessed for its effects on yield and water use. Two-dimensional (2D) root models are useful tools to assess crop yield and water use in RFRH systems as they can simulate root growth and water uptake. MAIZSIM is a comprehensive mechanistic model of maize (Zea mays L.) growth and yield, which uses a 2D finite element representation for soil physical/chemical processes and root growth. However, MAIZSIM utilizes a simple recursive model based on carbon (C) allocation to simulate root distribution. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to (I) develop and implement a finite element based diffusive root growth model in MAIZSIM with evaluations on model performance; and (II) study the effects of RFRH management on maize yield, water use and root development using MAIZSIM with the new root model. The root model was written into three modules, which (I) allocates total C from plant photosynthesis for root growth based on soil water availability and transpiration demand; (II) assigns new allocated C for root growth to selected spatial locations in soil; and (III) calculates the spatial root distribution as C diffusion. The root model was validated using observed root data from published studies, under the influences of soil bulk density, penetration resistance, and soil water conditions (normal, irrigation and drought). Numerical simulations for RFRH management, compared to a flat soil, demonstrated that, although soil evaporation was decreased, the differences for yields, shoot and root dry mass were small. In conclusion, (I) the newly develop diffusive root model provided an accurate way to simulate maize root growth; (II) despite the positive effects of RFRH management on soil water conservation, its influence on maize yield is relatively small. The diffusive model can be used to evaluate the root growth in response to climate changes or management practices and support integrated agricultural simulators that included soil, crop and environmental components.

Ridge-furrow configuration significantly improves soil water availability, crop water use efficiency, and grain yield in dryland agroecosystems of the Loess Plateau

The ridge-furrow rainfall harvesting system (RFRHS) is an in-situ rainfall collection and utilization technique that has been widely adopted in global arid and semiarid farming areas because of its significant benefits to soil water availability and crop yield. However, the integrated effects of different ridge-furrow configurations on rainwater collection and crop performance are still lacking. Using a specialized database drawn from field experiments in the Loess Plateau, we examined the regional effects of three typical ridge-furrow configurations, namely high (>1:1), uniform (=1:1), and low (<1:1) ridge-furrow ratios, on soil water storage, crop water use efficiency (WUE), and grain yield. The high ridge-furrow ratio achieved the greatest improvements in soil water storage than the other two ratios. Compared with traditional flat planting without ridge-furrow configuration, crop yield and WUE were significantly increased by 37.65%, 27.12%, 31.70%, and 47.70%, 30.00%, and 17.80% under high, uniform, and low ridge-furrow ratios, respectively. Improvements in crop yield and WUE due to the different ridge-furrow configurations were jointly affected by climate, soil organic matter, and fertilizer application. The mean annual precipitation of 600 mm and the mean annual temperature of 12 ℃ can be used as the threshold for selecting the ratio of ridge–furrow. An increase in soil organic matter gradually declined the increase in grain yield and WUE owing to the three ridge–furrow ratios, such that the maximum effect was found for the high ridge–furrow ratio. Among the three ratios, the improvements in crop yield and WUE were most notable when the application rates of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer were 100–200 kg ha−1 and 101–125 kg ha−1, respectively. This study examined the scientific basis of a ridge–furrow farming practice for enhancing rainfall use and crop WUE; thus, these results offer novel insights for the optimized design of a ridge–furrow ratio in dryland agroecosystems of the Loess Plateau by taking into account site-based climatic conditions, soil fertility, and fertilization input level.

Optimum Water and Fertilizer Management for Better Growth and Resource Use Efficiency of Rapeseed in Rainy and Drought Seasons

Optimum water–fertilizer management in rainfed agriculture is an important factor in improving crop productivity and the ecological environment under fluctuating climate conditions, especially in Southwest China, where seasonal drought and waterlogging occur frequently. In order to investigate the effects of different cultivation technologies on growth and the water and fertilizer use efficiency of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), a two-year field study was conducted in rainy (2016–2017) and drought (2017–2018) seasons which included three cultivation patterns: (1) conventional flat planting (FP); (2) straw mulching (SM); (3) ridge-furrow rainfall harvesting system (RF), and three fertilization patterns: (1) conventional fertilization (CF); (2) reduced slow-release fertilizer (SR); and (3) no fertilizer as a control treatment. The results indicated that the yield and its composition values were lower in the rainy year than in the seasonal dry year. The single water-saving technology had no significant effect on yield increase when seasonal drought occurred. The two technologies (SM + SR and RF + SR) improved the height, leaf SPAD value and dry matter of the rapeseed and adjusted the root–shoot ratio under two different climate conditions. In the rainy season, these technologies reduced the loss of nutrients, while in the seasonal drought year, it increased the soil moisture. The SM + SR and RF + SR increased the yield of rapeseed by 7.71% and 29.93% and enhanced oil content by 4.64% and 7.91%, respectively, compared with the local cultivation pattern. Meanwhile, these treatments decreased the total water consumption during whole growth stages and promoted water use efficiency by 14.84% and 28.71%, respectively. The combination of SM + SR and RF + SR also increased the accumulation of N, P, and K and significantly promoted the utilization efficiency of fertilizer. In the future, the adverse effects of environmental factors could be relieved, and the goal of cost savings and increasing efficiency could be achieved by adopting the optimal cultivation technologies in rapeseed production of Southwest China.

Optimizing fertilization under ridge-furrow rainfall harvesting system to improve foxtail millet yield and water use in a semiarid region, China

Effects on the soil water and foxtail millet yield of different fertilizer rates coupled with the ridge-furrow rainfall harvesting system (RFRHS) are unclear, which could guide improvements to productivity in dryland farming. We conducted field experiments using RFRHS and traditional flat planting (TFP) at four different fertilizer rates: (i) no fertilizer (CK); (ii) low (L), N 90+P2O5 60 kg ha–1; (iii) medium (M), N 180+P2O5 120 kg ha–1; and (iv) high (H), N 270+P2O5 180 kg ha–1. RFRHS significantly improved the topsoil water content (by 4.7–8.5% in 0–40 cm layer) and topsoil temperature (by 0.4–0.7 °C), which stimulated stable seedling establishment and accelerated millet growth. Fertilization significantly enhanced water absorption in 0–140 cm profile, prolonged the growth period of millet and significantly increased dry matter accumulation. Finally, under RFRHS, the grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of foxtail millet increased by 6.2% and 6.7%, respectively, compared with TFP, and they tended to increase more as fertilizer rate increases, indicating a positive interaction between water and nutrients. However, under RFRHS, the M fertilizer rate obtained a higher yield (average 6748.6 kg ha–1), WUE (average 18.6 kg ha–1 mm–1) compared with CK and L rates, and made a greater contribution to the grain yield (average 32.1%), but no further significant increases were observed with the H fertilizer rate where RFRFS showed a tendency to decrease grain yield compared to TFP in wet years. Therefore, RFRHS with fertilizer application at a rate of N 180+P2O5 120 kg ha–1 may be suitable for high-efficiency farming management to improve the yield and WUE for foxtail millet in this semiarid region.

Deficit irrigation strategies to improve winter wheat productivity and regulating root growth under different planting patterns

Soil moisture status and knowledge of rooting systems are essential for improving winter wheat productivity in the semiarid areas. The ridge-furrow rainfall harvesting (RI) system in combination with deficit irrigation is the key strategy for improving winter wheat productivity. Therefore, a research trail we conducted during 2015–16 and 2016–17, on RI system where the amount of irrigation was decreased by half due to the rainfall harvesting, than that of traditional boarder irrigation (BI). The following two planting patterns were used (1) the RI system with (75, 37, 18, 0 mm) irrigation levels, and (2) BI planting pattern with (150, 75, 37, 0 mm) deficit irrigation levels. Results showed that under the RI75 treatment soil water and soil respiration in topsoil increase significantly ; whereas there was reduction in ET rate that was (44.2%) and soil temperature; thus, therefore and the morphology of winter wheat rooting system owing to significant improvement in grain yield (14.6%) and WUE (64.8%) as compared to BI150 treatment. This treatment improved wheat root tissue density (4.9%), root length ratio (16.3%), root mass ratio (8.3%) and root fineness (9.5%) as compared with conventional border irrigation. The RI75 treatment produced significantly greater RWD, RLD, and RSD at 10–40 cm soil depth when compared with BI150 treatment. The RI system increased the root bleeding sap rate and root dry weight as compared to BI planting pattern. Therefore, the RI system combined with 75 mm deficit irrigation can be an efficient water saving strategy in semi-arid regions due to increased soil moisture across the rooting zones, a resulting in higher WUE and wheat production.

Strategies of supplemental irrigation and modified planting densities to improve the root growth and lodging resistance of maize (Zea mays L.) under the ridge-furrow rainfall harvesting system

In the semi-arid area of northwest China, a ridge-furrow rainfall harvesting (RFRH) system and supplementary irrigation techniques have been implemented to increase crop yields. However, the effects of supplementary irrigation and planting density on maize root growth and lodging resistance under the RFRH system are unknown. Therefore, we conducted field trials implementing three planting densities (Low: 52,500 plants ha−1; Medium: 75,000 plants ha−1; High: 97,500 plants ha−1) and four irrigation modes (NI: no irrigation; IV: irrigation at the 11-leaf stage; IS: irrigation at the silking stage; and IVS: irrigation at the 11-leaf and silking stages) under the RFRH system. The results showed that the average root length density (RLD) and root surface area density (RSD) in the 0–100 cm soil layers increased at the silking and dough stages under medium and high densities compared with low density. However, the root weight under high density significantly decreased compared with that under low density. Increased planting density significantly increased ear height and the ear height coefficient, leading to an increased probability of maize lodging. The root and stalk lodging rates under high density were higher than those under low and medium densities. Compared with NI treatment, at the dough stage, the average RLD and RSD increased in all irrigation treatments; supplementary irrigation also increased the root weight and root shoot ratio. The results showed that the grain yield under IS and IVS treatments significantly increased compared with that under NI treatment. The total lodging rate under IVS treatment was 41.2% higher than that under IS treatment. Therefore, the IS treatment under medium density achieved a higher grain yield (13.2 t ha−1) and reduced maize lodging, which could be a suitable planting model in semi-arid areas.

Fertilizer Response and Its Contribution to Yield of Foxtail Millet under Ridge-furrow Rainfall Harvesting Planting Model in Semi-arid Areas

Fertilizer Response and Its Contribution to Yield of Foxtail Millet under Ridge-furrow Rainfall Harvesting Planting Model in Semi-arid Areas

Mulch covered ridges affect grain yield of maize through regulating root growth and root-bleeding sap under simulated rainfall conditions

Application of various ridges covering mulch materials with ridge-furrow rainfall harvesting (RFRH) system are the principal agricultural technique for enhancing characteristics of ear and grain yield through regulating root growth distribution across the rooting zone. Therefore, at the College of Life Science in Semi-Arid Regions of China in Ningxia University, Yinchuan, and Ningxia Province， during 2014-15. The objectives of this research work were to enhance characteristics of ear and grain yield through regulating root growth and root bleeding sap flow, with following two planting models: (i) traditional flat planting (CK); (ii) ridge covered with different mulches materials (plastic film (PM), biodegradable film (BM), soil crust ridges (SC)); and two simulated rainfall levels: 320mm and 430mm rainfall. Finding of the current research work indicated that ridge covering mulch materials under simulated rainfall had significantly improved characteristics of ear which led to distinct effect on grain yield as compared with flat planting. The average grain yield increased by 30%, 25% and 12% for PM430, BM430 and SC430 as compared to CK430 over 2 consecutive years, respectively. RFRH system significantly enhanced the rooting systems on the top 50cm soil profile which was attributed to enhancing the grain yield. Root length density (RLD) and root surface area density (RSD) were significantly higher under PM430 (plastic film mulch with 430mm rainfall) and BM430 (biodegradable film mulch with 430mm rainfall) in the uppermost soil profile layer of 10–50cm as compared with flat planting, but there was no significant difference in RLD and RSD among all the treatments at the deeper soil profile below 60cm. The effect of RFRH system on root dry weight (g plant−1) and bleeding sap of root is significantly related to the simulated rainfall levels. PM430 and BM430 significantly improved the root dry weight (g plant−1) and rate of root bleeding sap in the different growth stages in both study years. Our results suggested that PM430 and BM430 is an effective, modern cultivation mode for maize productivity in semi-arid areas due to enhanced characteristics of ear, root spatial and temporal distribution of rooting systems across the root zones at different soil profiles, as a result in higher grain yield and reducing maize productivity risk under dry-land farming system.

Effects of ridge and furrow rainfall harvesting system on Elymus sibiricus yield in Bashang agro-pastoral zone of China

A ridge-furrow rainfall harvesting system (RFRHS) was designed to increase the available soil water for Elymus sibiricus artificial grassland in order to improve and stabilize its yield in the agro-pastoral zone of Bashang region in North China. Field experiments were conducted during the growth seasons in 2008 to 2010 to evaluate the effects of the RFRH system on soil temperature, soil water content and the yield of E. sibiricus. Specifically, the following three systems were investigated: ridge width 60 cm and furrow width 30 cm (MR60), ridge width 30 cm and furrow width 30 cm (MR30) and flat (CK). The results show that in regrowth periods, average daily minimum temperature of MR30 and MR60 in the furrow soil surface was 3.22 and 2.16°C, which were significantly higher than that of CK. Soil water content of MR60, was higher than that of MR30 and the latter was higher than that of CK in most of the experimental periods. Due to the improved hydrothermal condition, the three year average of annual yields of MR60 and MR30 was 3.14 and 2.77 t ha -1 , which was significantly higher and increased by 99