Straw Incorporation Research Articles

Long-Term Application of Organic Fertilizers in Relation to Soil Organic Matter Quality

The quality of soil organic matter plays a central role in soil structure, carbon sequestration and pollutant immobilization. The effect of 16–23 years of fertilization on the quality of soil organic matter was studied in field experiments at ten experimental sites in Central Europe. Soil samples were collected in 2016 after barley harvest. Six crops were rotated: pea–canola–winter wheat–spring barley–beet/potato–spring barley. Six treatments were studied: unfertilized control, mineral fertilization (NPK), farmyard manure, farmyard manure + NPK, straw incorporation, and straw incorporation + NPK. Although carbon input did not significantly correlate with any soil organic carbon fractions, the C/N ratio of applied organic fertilizers significantly correlated with the content of humic acid carbon (C-HA), the C-HA/C-FA ratio and humification index in soil. The combination of farmyard manure + NPK resulted in a higher humic acid carbon content in soil, humification rate, and humification index compared to the application of NPK, straw return, and the combination of straw return + NPK. Although straw return led to a lower E4/E6 (A400/A600, Q4/6) ratio compared to farmyard manure application, the C-HA/C-FA ratio was unchanged among these treatments. The application of farmyard manure with and without the addition of NPK led to higher values of carbon sequestration efficiency in soil compared to the straw return with and without the addition of NPK.

Responses of soil enzymatic activity to rice residue management technologies and fertilizer levels in the rice rhizosphere on a clay loam

Crop residues returned to the soil can maintain or enhance soil quality and productivity through favourable effects on soil properties and life-support processes. The field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2021-2022 at the Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla, ANGRAU, Lam, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh to study the “Responses of soil enzymatic activity to rice residue management technologies and fertilizer levels in the rice rhizosphere on a clay loam”. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with the rice residue management practices, assigned to the main plots and fertilizer levels to sub plots. The main plot comprised four different rice residue management practices viz; Straw burning (M1), Straw incorporation (M2), Straw incorporation + FYM @ 5.0 t ha-1 (M3) and Straw incorporation + DI (decomposing inoculum) + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 (M4). Three fertilizer levels were applied to rice viz., 75% RDF (S1), 100% RDF (S2) and 125% RDF (S3), as sub plot treatments. Enzyme activities viz., dehydrogenase, urease, acid and alkaline phosphatase activities at panicle initiation were significantly influenced by the crop residue management practices and fertilizer levels while their interactions were not significant. Straw incorporation + DI + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 showed significantly higher enzymatic activities among the residue management practices and among the fertilizer levels, 125% RDF is significantly superior over 75% RDF.

Delayed nitrogen application after straw and charred straw addition altered the hot moment of soil N2O emissions

AbstractThe combination of nitrogen (N) fertilization and straw incorporation has complex influences on soil N transformations and derived nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. This study aimed to reveal the coupled effects of straw returning forms and N fertilizer management on soil N2O emissions. Here, carbon (C) sources with varied availabilities were supplied by different straw returning forms, including straw, charred straw, and combined application of straw and charred straw. The time gaps between additions of exogenous N and C sources were carried out by managing the timing of N fertilization, including N application simultaneous with or delayed after straw return. Soil N2O emissions under different straw returning forms and their response relationships to soil C, N, microbial biomass, as well as soil pH and oxygen (O2) were explored. Co‐application of straw and N fertilizer provided sufficient C and N sources, enhanced the microbial biomass, and consequently increased N2O emissions. Delayed N fertilization could decouple the response of N2O emissions to straw addition, because of constrained N availability and limited pH decline, which decreased the cumulative N2O emissions significantly. Possibly due to straw induced N immobilization coupled with charred straw induced pH elevation, the combined application of straw and charred straw constrained soil N2O emissions compared with straw only application, regardless of N fertilizer management. By shaping the microbial biomass and soil C, N, and O2 dynamics, delayed application of N fertilizer could further enhance the inhibition effect of the charred straw and straw combination on soil N2O emissions. Therefore, the varied straw returning forms and the timing of N fertilization could affect the supply of available C and N, influencing the hot moments of N2O emissions, and the joint addition of straw and charred straw with a few weeks delayed N application could possibly reduce the risk of soil N2O emissions from straw return systems. Such mitigation potential should be evaluated further under field conditions.Highlights Delayed N fertilization attenuated the magnitude of N2O emissions after straw additions. Combination of charred straw with straw mitigated N2O emissions, further enhanced by delayed N fertilization. Soil pH was the chief regulator for N2O emissions under different straw returning forms and N application.

The uptake of Arsenic species by commonly grown Australian rice varieties cultivated utilising two widely used agronomic practices (straw incorporation and nitrogen fertilisation) and the role dimethyl arsenic plays in inducing straighthead disease

Rice is inherently efficient at accumulating arsenic (As) due to it being grown under anaerobic conditions. Arsenic in rice plants can pose a significant risk to human health. In this study we aim to determine if two agronomic practices, i.e. straw and nitrogen addition to rice paddies, influence the bioavailability of different As species within the soil and their incorporation in the various components of the rice plant and whether these practices lead to straighthead disease.

IMPACT OF SOME AGRONOMIC PRACTICES ON SOIL PHYSICAL AND HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES: AN OVERVIEW OF COMMON CASES STUDY IN SEMI-ARID ENVIRONMENTS

The development and adoption of sustainable agronomic practices able to preserve and enhance the physical properties of soils and improve agroecosystem functions, with the aim of safeguarding of irrigation and meteoric water, is a challenge for both scientists and farmers. In this investigation a selection of some agronomic practices, common for the Mediterranean agro-environments, including conventional tillage and no-tillage at different soil depth, incorporation of wheat straw into the soil, as well as soil amendments with biochar, were considered. Selected experimental evaporation experiments, obtained under controlled laboratory conditions, were used to detect and summarize the main effect induced on water retention and soil permeability. The use of capacitive indicators, for which reference values of literature are available, e.g., relative field capacity (RFC), allowed to discriminate the effects induced by agronomic treatments, both in accordance with expectations and the results obtained in previous experimental investigations. Results of RFC have clearly highlighted the agronomic treatments that are most capable of modifying the water/air balance of the soil. This study represents an experimental contribution with a view to spreading knowledge on the sustainability of agronomic practices. It further confirms that the assessment of the sustainability of agronomic practices needs specific assessments repeated in space and time, considering long-term experiments.

Effects of alternate wetting and drying water management and rice straw incorporation on sustainable rice production under rainy season conditions in central Thailand

Effects of alternate wetting and drying water management and rice straw incorporation on sustainable rice production under rainy season conditions in central Thailand

Effects of alternate wetting and drying water management and rice straw incorporation for sustainable rice production under dry season conditions in central Thailand

Effects of alternate wetting and drying water management and rice straw incorporation for sustainable rice production under dry season conditions in central Thailand

Inversion tillage with straw incorporation affects the patterns of soil microbial co-occurrence and multi-nutrient cycling in a Hapli-Udic Cambisol

Inversion tillage with straw amendment is widely applied in northeastern China, and it can substantially increase the storage of carbon and improve multiple subsoil functions. Soil microorganisms are believed to be the key to this process, but research into their role in subsoil amelioration is limited. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted in 2018 in a region in northeastern China with Hapli-Udic Cambisol using four treatments: conventional tillage (CT, tillage to a depth of 15 cm with no straw incorporation), straw incorporation with conventional tillage (SCT, tillage to a depth of 15 cm), inversion tillage (IT, tillage to a depth of 35 cm) and straw incorporation with inversion tillage (SIT, tillage to a depth of 35 cm). The soils were managed by inversion to a depth of 15 or 35 cm every year after harvest. The results indicated that SIT improved soil multi-nutrient cycling variables and increased the availability of key nutrients such as soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium in both the topsoil and subsoil. In contrast to CT and SCT, SIT created a looser microbial network structure but with highly centralized clusters by reducing the topological properties of average connectivity and node number, and by increasing the average path length and the modularity. A Random Forest analysis found that the average path length and the clustering coefficient were the main determinants of soil multi-nutrient cycling. These findings suggested that SIT can be an effective option for improving soil multi-nutrient cycling and the structure of microbial networks, and they provide crucial information about the microbial strategies that drive the decomposition of straw in Hapli-Udic Cambisol.

Effects of Paddy Straw Incorporation on Growth and Yield Attributes of Low Land Rice

A field experiment on effects of paddy straw incorporation on growth, physiology and yield attributes of low land rice was conducted at Agronomy experimental field of Central farm, College of Agriculture, Bhubaneswar during rabi-2020.The experiment was laid out in completely randomized block design with six treatments symbolyzed as T1 to T6 along with recommended dose of fertiliser (80:40:40::N: P2O5:K2O kg/ha). Results showed highest plant height, tiller number, leaf number, SPAD and LCC were in T5 followed by T4 and T6. These parameters were found to be highly correlated with grain yield. The growth analysis during different period of growth of the rice cultivar, Lalat, in respect to leaf area index(LAI), crop growth rate(CGR), specific leaf area(SLA), leaf area ratio(LAR), LAD(leaf area duration), total chlorophyll, total carbohydrate, amino acid and protein contents were found to be correlated with grain yield. Maximum values regarding these parameters were found to be highest in T5 followed by T4 and T6. The total biomass was found significant among the treatments and was highest in T5 followed by T4 and T6. Grain yield and straw yield were found to be highly correlated with total biomass (r2=0.70) and physiological growth traits (LAI, SLA, CGR) were prominently significant in T5 with a tune of 4.94t/ha and 5.21t/ha, respectively followed by T4 and T6. In T5 yield attributing parameters like number of panicles, panicle weight, filled grain per panicle, 1000-grain weight were highest. The high percentage of C, H, N, S concentration and high ratio of C:N, C:H implies good quality grain harvested in T5. The soil microbial population and status after harvest was also found to be high inT5. Thus, paddy straw incorporation coupled with chemical fertilizer had significant effect on rice growth and yield with proper maintenance of microbial population in soil when the crop is treated with T5 with booster application of 20 kg/ha of N and P in the form of urea and DAP, respectively. Bangladesh J. Bot. 51(4): 713-719, 2022 (December)

Response of seasonal variation in soil detachment capacity to straw incorporation in sloping farmland on the Loess Plateau

AbstractSoil detachment capacity by rill flow (Dc) is sensitive to changes in topsoil properties generated by crop straw incorporation. In the present study, we investigated the effect of crop straw incorporation on the seasonal variation in Dc, the knowledge regarding which is limited currently, and identified the key influencing factors. Three typical crop straw types (wheat, soybean, and maize) were selected for this study. Soil samples incorporated with crop straw and without crop straw were collected over 375 days (from October 1, 2020 to October 10, 2021) and were subjected to a hydraulic flume (length, 4.0 m; width, 0.2 m) to determine Dc. The topsoil properties soil bulk density (BD), soil cohesion (Coh), soil penetration resistance (PR), soil organic matter content (SOM), mean weight diameter (MWD), and straw decomposition rate (SDR) were measured to explain the seasonal variation in Dc. The results showed that crop straw incorporation effectively reduced Dc, and the Dc for the soil incorporated with straw decreased by 25.92%–38.76% compared with that without straw incorporation. Dc exhibited a significant decreasing trend over time, and the Dc at the end stage decreased by 83.00%–88.31%, compared with the initial stage. Seasonal variation in Dc was significantly correlated with BD, Coh, PR, SOM, MWD, and SDR. The measured Dc decreased with BD and Coh as a power function and with SOM and MWD as an exponential function. The influence of straw incorporation on Dc is time‐dependent and can be divided into short‐term and long‐term effects. Natural soil consolidation gradually masked the effect of straw residue with the decomposition of the incorporated straw. The comprehensive response of seasonal variation in Dc to straw incorporation was described by a power combination equation (Dc = 1.23 τ1.65 BD−2.63 Coh−1.33 SOM−0.70; R2 = 0.96). Thus, the seasonal variations in Dc with straw incorporation were mainly controlled by the changes in soil properties triggered by the decomposition of incorporated straw and natural soil consolidation. The results of this study provided a scientific reference for soil erosion prediction and control in sloping farmlands.

The incorporation of straw into the subsoil increases C, N, and P enzyme activities and nutrient supply by enriching distinctive functional microorganisms

AbstractIncorporation of crop residues into agricultural soils is a common practice that can improve soil quality. However, the impact of different straw incorporation techniques on soil bacteria and their functions is still not well understood, especially across soil depths. Here, we investigated the impact of three maize straw management methods (straw removal, straw incorporation into topsoil, and deep‐injected straw incorporation into subsoil) on soil bacterial communities and how they were linked to extracellular enzymes and soil properties. Deep‐injected straw incorporation strongly promoted enzyme activities: C‐cycling enzymes increased by 111–532 nmol g−1 hr−1, N‐cycling enzymes by 229–708 nmol g−1 hr−1, and P‐cycling enzymes by 142–216 nmol g−1 hr−1 compared to straw removal and straw incorporation into topsoil. In addition, deep‐injected straw incorporation considerably increased soil organic carbon (SOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and total nitrogen (TN) compared to the other straw management methods (249–253% for SOC, 303–370% for DOC, and 178–196% for TN). However, in topsoil, only minimal effects of straw management practices on bacterial communities, enzymes activities, and soil properties were found. Deep‐injected straw incorporation favoured copiotrophic bacteria which resulted in a reduction of 41% in Shannon index. Bacteria associated with carbon and nitrogen cycling were mainly Actinobacteria, which were positively correlated with TN, SOC, and DOC. Acidobacteria were the dominant species in P‐cycling module and were positively associated with SOC, DOC, and available phosphorus. Overall, injection of straw into subsoil alters bacterial communities and functioning, and increases soil nutrients and soil organic C in subsoil.

The fate of N released from the fixed NH4+ pool in response to different straw application doses

Ammonium (NH4+) can be fixed by clay minerals and subsequently released, and this process plays a vital role in promoting soil nitrogen retention and supply in agriculture. However, the process of fixed NH4+ release and its driving forces remain unclear, especially under inputs of exogenous organic matter. In this study, the fixed NH4+ pool of an Udoll (based on the USDA Soil Taxonomy System) in Northeast China was labelled using a 15N tracer under chloroform-fumigated conditions, and then the labelled soil was mixed with unlabelled (unfumigated) soil at four levels of straw incorporation: S0 (without straw), S4 (4 t ha−1), S8 (8 t ha−1), and S12 (12 t ha−1). By monitoring the tracer, we found that 20 %–24 % of the labelled fixed NH4+ was released at the end of the incubation period (288 d), and the release of fixed NH4+ was significantly affected by the straw addition rate. Generally, S4 promoted the accumulated release and fixation amounts, but S8 and S12 showed inhibitory effects compared with the S0 treatment. Moreover, microbial immobilization played a predominant role in the release of fixed NH4+ during stage 1 (0.5–72 d), while both nitrification and immobilization played important roles in promoting fixed NH4+ release during stage 2 (72–288 d). In addition, more than 47 % of the labelled fixed NH4+ released was incorporated into the nonmicrobial organic nitrogen pool after microbial turnover, reducing N loss and prolonging the N supply, and this proportion increased under increasing rates of straw application. This study clarifies the fate of fixed NH4+ derived N under different rates of straw addition, which is critical for our understanding of soil N cycling and to optimize straw application in agricultural soils.

Managing straw and nitrogen fertilizer based on nitrate threshold for balancing nitrogen requirement of maize and nitrate residue

Optimized straw and nitrogen (N) fertilizer management instrumental in realizing synchronized soil N supply and crop N requirement (Nr), reducing nitrate-N leaching and achieving efficient and cleaner agricultural production systems, especially in the areas with poor soil fertility retention. A three-year field trial during 2019–2021 was conducted in northwest China with different straw incorporation methods (SM) (without straw or biochar (NI), straw incorporation (SI) and straw-derived biochar incorporation (BI)) combined with four N application rates (NR) (0, 225, 300, and 375 kg ha−1). The grain yield, Nr and the critical nitrate threshold in the root zone (0–100 cm soil layer; NAc) after maize harvest were determined to optimize straw and N inputs for maize yield enhancement and nitrate residue control. Then the prediction methods of optimal N rate determined with NAc (TONR) and soil testing were modified for straw or straw-derived biochar incorporated spring maize production in the future. The results showed that grain yield and nitrate residue in the deep soil (100–200 cm soil; NA100-200) after maize harvest increased by N application, grain yield further increased but NA100-200 decreased when combined with SI and BI (P < 0.05). In particular, a significant increase in grain yield, Nr and N recovery efficiency (NRE) under BI was attributed to an increase in soil N supply and N assimilation after the tassel stage (VT) of maize as compared with SI (P < 0.05). The NAc values were determined as 49, 104 and 67 kg ha−1 under NI, SI and BI, respectively for maintaining N supply and preventing leaching into 100–200 cm soil. Compared with the economically optimal N rate (EONR), BI combined with TONR (268 kg N ha−1) reduced the N rate by 22 kg ha−1 per year and NA100-200 by 5.3% and increased NRE by 5.7% to achieve 99.7% maximum yield (14.448 Mg ha−1), which was a sustainable management method of straw and N rate for enhancing spring maize production and controlling soil nitrate leaching.

Disentangling the impact of straw incorporation on soil microbial communities: Enhanced network complexity and ecological stochasticity

Straw incorporation is typically employed to enhance the nutrient content of soil and promote crop growth in intensive agricultural systems. Despite studies regarding the effects of straw incorporation on soil microbial communities, the underlying mechanisms of its effect on community co-occurrence interactions and assembly processes remain poorly understood. Herein, soil samples with or without straw incorporation were collected across a latitudinal gradient from north to central China. We found that straw incorporation considerably altered the structure of soil microbial community. The relative abundance of bacterial Latescibacterota and fungal Mortierellomycota were higher in straw-amended soils owing to their ability to decompose straw residues. The co-occurrence network in straw-amended soil exhibited greater complexity, including more network connectivity and keystone species, and higher average degrees and clustering coefficients compared with the control sample network. The network robustness and vulnerability indices suggested that straw incorporation increased the microbial network stability. Normalized stochastic ratios demonstrated that the stochastic process was the dominant mechanisms shaping the assembly of microbial communities in straw-amended soils. Concurrently, null model analysis revealed that straw increased the contribution of dispersal limitation to the assembly of bacterial and fungal communities. The migration rate of the microbial community, obtained from Sloan neutral community model, was relatively low in straw-amended soil at all the sample sites, potentially indicating the great importance of dispersal limitation. These findings would enhance our understanding of the ecological patterns and interactions of soil microbial communities in response to straw incorporation.

Fall Straw Incorporation with Plastic Film Cover Increases Corn Yield and Water Use Efficiency under a Semi-Arid Climate

Corn straw incorporation in soil has been regarded as an environment-friendly approach for straw utilization. However, straw incorporation has been a challenge under a cold and dry climate due to slow decomposition. This field study was to use a novel approach to incorporate corn straw into the soil during the fall season with a plastic film cover in an effort to enhance the straw degradation, soil water use efficiency, and corn growth and yield. Two-year field experiments were conducted in northeast China to investigate the effects of four treatments on soil properties and corn growth: (1) straw incorporation with film cover, (2) straw incorporation only, (3) film cover only, and (4) control. Soils and corn plants were collected during the growing season and analyzed for soil temperature and moisture, straw degradation, corn biomass, grain yield, and water use efficiency. Results indicated that straw incorporation with film cover increased grain yield by 53% as compared to straw incorporation only and by 102% to control. The straw decomposition under film cover was 20% faster, significantly higher than that of the straw incorporation treatment. In all cases, soil water content before planting, corn water uptake, and corn water use efficiency under straw incorporation with film cover were significantly higher than straw incorporation and control. Surface film cover resulted in 10-day earlier corn tasseling in compared to treatments without film cover. This field study demonstrated that straw incorporation with film cover would enhance straw degradation in soil, improve soil properties, and increase corn yield and water use efficiency, which could be potentially used as a sustainable soil management practice in northeast China.

Key soil properties influencing infiltration capacity after long-term straw incorporation in a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–maize (Zea mays L.) rotation system

Straw incorporation is increasingly being adopted in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–maize (Zea mays L.) rotation systems to improve soil physiochemical properties. To identify the main soil properties influencing infiltration capacity under long-term straw incorporation in a wheat–maize rotation system, the study set four treatments: no straw incorporation and fertilizer application, wheat straw incorporation with 276 kg nitrogen/ha, wheat and maize straw incorporation with 276 kg N/ha, and wheat and maize straw incorporation. The initial, average, and final infiltration rates were calculated to represent soil infiltration capacity. Compared with other treatments, wheat straw incorporation with 276 kg nitrogen/ha treatment significantly decreased soil bulk density, soil aggregate (DMWD) mean weight diameter measured using the dry sieving method, and weight rate of soil aggregates with diameters greater than 0.25 mm measured using the wet sieving method, and significantly increased total soil porosity, soil capillary porosity, field capacity, and weight rate of soil aggregates with diameters less than 0.25 mm measured using the wet sieving method. In contrast, wheat and maize straw incorporation treatment significantly increased soil bulk density and noncapillary porosity, but decreased total soil porosity, capillary porosity, and field capacity. The results of partial least squares regression indicated that the soil moisture content and DMWD were the primary factors influencing initial infiltration rate with positive regression coefficient. Higher total soil porosity, capillary porosity, field capacity, and DMWD contributed to higher final infiltration rate, while higher soil bulk density and noncapillary porosity were correlated with a lower final infiltration rate. The key influencing factors of average infiltration rate were soil bulk density, soil moisture content, total soil porosity, capillary porosity, and DMWD. The wheat straw incorporation with 276 kg nitrogen/ha treatment had higher infiltration rates than no straw incorporation and fertilizer application treatment. However, with an increase in straw amount, the influence of straw on infiltration showed a law of diminishing marginal returns. Therefore, wheat and maize straw incorporation with 276 kg nitrogen/ha treatments had a lower infiltration rate than wheat straw incorporation with 276 kg nitrogen/ha treatment. In addition, wheat and maize straw incorporation treatment had the lowest average and final infiltration rates of all treatments, indicating that excessive straw incorporation without nitrogen fertilizer had adverse effects on infiltration rates. This study furthers understanding of the influence of long-term straw incorporation on soil hydrological processes and helps rationally use straw resources in wheat–maize rotation systems.

Evaluation of rice straw and its transformation products on norfloxacin degradation and antibiotic resistome attenuation during soil incorporation

Straw incorporation into reclaimed soils has been demonstrated to increase soil nutrients and has the potential to efficiently increase crop production. However, which incorporation mode is more helpful in the control of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) remains unknown. In this study, we systematically compared the occurrence of antibiotic resistome in norfloxacin contaminated soils amended with rice straw (RS) and the transformation products, biochar (RSB) and ash (RSA). RS significantly promoted the degradation of norfloxacin (0.0648 d−1, 3 times faster than control), whereas RSB had little effect and RSA hindered the degradation. Based on metagenomic analysis, RS and RSB significantly reduced the ARGs relative abundance (0.1421 and 0.1991 compared to 0.2540 in control) at the end of soil incubation. Adonis test indicated that all of amendment treatments significantly affect the microbial communities in soils, whereas only RS and RSB significantly affect the variation of antibiotic resistome. Procrustes analysis confirmed the association of microbial communities and ARGs. Network analysis further revealed that the reduction in Actinobacteria was the main reason for the general decrease of ARGs relative abundance during soil incorporation, whereas Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were responsible for temporary promotion of ARGs in RS and RSB at the early stage. Finally, scientifically setting up the usage of rice straw and optimizing the preparation process of biochar are suggested for the synchronous control of the risk of antibiotics and ARGs during soil incorporation.

No-tillage with straw mulching and re-using old film boost crop yields and mitigate soil N2O emissions in wheat-maize intercropping at arid irrigated regions

Water shortage and heavy greenhouse gas emissions are threatening agricultural sustainability with food security severely, and becoming a major issue in arid areas. It is unclear whether improved farming systems on strip-intercropping integrated with no-tillage with straw returning and re-using old film practices can be developed to reduce soil nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions and boost crop yields for tackling those issues. A four-year field experiment for wheat-maize intercropping was carried on straw residue and film management of northwestern China in 2014–2017 and aimed to comprehensively assess crop yields and soil N 2 O emissions. The results showed that NTSMF (no-tillage with straw mulching and re-using old film), NTSSF (no-tillage with straw standing and re-using old film), and CTSF (conventional tillage with straw incorporation and mulching new film every year) treatments increased grain yields by 15.1%, 13.7%, and 12.8% respectively, compared to CTF (conventional tillage with no straw returning and mulching new film every year, the control treatment). NTSMF, NTSSF, and CTSF treatments had greater water use efficiency by 15.7%, 13.1%, and 14.2% than CTF, respectively. On the contrary, NTSMF and NTSSF treatments had lower soil N 2 O emissions (NE) by 23.9% and 20.4% than CTF, and lower by 19.8% and 16.0% than CTSF, respectively. No-tillage practice used more soil moisture and produced more grain yields but emitted less N 2 O than conventional tillage, NTSMF and NTSSF treatments reduced soil N 2 O emission per volume of evapotranspiration (WUE NE ) by 23.6% and 20.9%, and reduced soil N 2 O emission intensity (NEI) by 33.9% and 30.0% in comparison to CTF. The better effect on the reduction of NE, WUE NE , and SEI was found in NTSMF, and the three indicators were successively decreased by 5.3%, 4.4%, and 6.9% over NTSSF in 2016–2017. NTSMF reduced NE and boosted GY was attributed to increased synchronicity of water demand and reduced adverse effects of soil temperature variations of both intercrops’ strips. Our study concluded that grain yields were enhanced and soil N 2 O emissions were reduced by NTSMF treatment, and NTSMF treatment is a practical cropping production system for environmentally clean in an arid irrigated region. • The improved treatment on NTSMF with straw mulching in wheat strips and re-using old film in maize strips. • The improved treatment reduced soil N 2 O emissions (NE) and boosted grain yields (GY). • NTSMF reduced NE and boosted GY was attributed to increased synchronicity of water demand and reduced adverse effects of soil temperature variations. • NTSMF treatment is a practical cropping system for environmentally clean in arid irrigated areas.

Effects of Eco-Friendly Product Application and Sustainable Agricultural Management Practices on Soil Properties and Phytosanitary Condition of Winter Wheat Crops

Despite the eco-political difficulties that accompany the application of principles of the European Green Deal policy on agriculture in the current world crisis, the need of their implementation seems to be absolutely necessary. The practices recommended within the sustainable agriculture strategy include replacing traditional fertilizers and pesticides with eco-friendly preparations and optimizing the management of biomass produced on farms. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of eco-friendly preparations application combined with straw incorporation on the chemical and microbiological soil parameters and plant sanitary status of winter wheat. The soil analyses included the determination of total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) content; mineral nitrogen (MN), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg) content, and the pH value. The number of soil bacteria (B), actinobacteria (A), fungi (F), and the total number of microorganisms (TNM) were also analyzed. The application of Effective Microorganisms resulted in an increase in TOC and TN concentration. The influence of biostimulator Asahi was diversified. The beneficial effect of straw on TOC, TN, and K content and microbial growth was also observed. Despite a number of limitations, the potential benefits of application of eco-friendly preparations provide ample reasons to continue experiments with their use.

Straw incorporation interacting with earthworms mitigates N2O emissions from upland soil in a rice-wheat rotation system

Intensive attentions have been paid to the positive effects on nitrous oxide (N2O) production under straw return or the presence of earthworms. Straw return as a sustainable practice can promote earthworm growth, how the interactions between straw and earthworms affect N2O production is still not well known. A split-plot field experiment (straw return as main plot and earthworm addition as subplot) was performed to quantify the interactive effects of straw and earthworm on N2O emissions from a wheat field and to determine the underlying mechanisms from nitrification and denitrification processes. The results showed that straw return significantly increased N2O emissions by 41.0 % under no earthworm addition but decreased it by 19.0 % under earthworm addition compared with straw removal (P < 0.05). The significant interaction between straw and earthworm benefits the mitigation of N2O emissions. Random forest model showed that denitrification and nitrification were dominant processes to affect N2O emissions at the jointing and booting growth stages of wheat, respectively. The interaction between straw and earthworm significantly decreased the abundances of N2O-producing bacterial genes such as nirS and nirK at the jointing stages, and AOB at the booting stages. The contrasting mechanisms in regulating N2O emissions at different growth stages should be considered in nitrogen recycling models to accurately predict available N and N2O dynamics. Our findings suggest that N2O emissions under straw return can be weakened with the increasing earthworm populations under the scenario of widely used conservation practices (e.g., straw return and no-till) due to significant interaction between straw and earthworms.