Continuous ridges with film mulching improve soil water content, root growth, seed yield and water use efficiency of winter oilseed rape

Precipitation is the major factor limiting crop growth in the semi-arid Loess Plateau region of China. Ridge-and-furrow rainfall harvesting systems (RFRHS) with mulches are used to increase water availability to crops, thereby improving and stabilising agricultural production in the semi-arid region of China. We conducted a field experiment from 2007 to 2010 in the Weibei Highlands of China, to determine the influence of RFRHS with different mulching patterns on soil water content, temperature, water-use efficiency, and maize yield (Zea mays L.). Ridges were covered with standard plastic film in all RFRHS treatments, while different furrow treatments were mulched with standard plastic film (PP), biodegradable film (PB), maize straw (PS), or liquid film (PL), or left uncovered (P). A conventional flat treatment without mulching was used as the control. In the early stage of maize growth, the topsoil temperature (5–20 cm) under PP and PB was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than under the control, whereas the soil temperature under PS was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than under the control. Treatments PP, PB, and PS also significantly improved soil water content during early growth stages. There was no significant difference in soil water content between PS and the control during middle and late growth stages. However, the soil water content in the deep soil layers with PP and PB was less than that of the control. Soil temperature and soil water content of PL and P were slightly higher than the control during the whole growing season. Higher maize yield and water-use efficiency was found with PP, PB, and PS. Compared with the control, the 4-year average maize yield with PP, PB, and PS was significantly (P < 0.05) increased, by 35, 35, and 34%, while the average water-use efficiency increased by 30, 31, and 29%, respectively. Net income was highest with PS, followed by PB, where the 4-year average net income increased by 2779 and 2752 Chinese yuan (CNY) ha–1, respectively, compared with the control. Soil water and temperature conditions were improved, while the maize yield and net income were increased, when ridges were covered with standard plastic film and the furrows were mulched with either biodegradable film or straw. Therefore, these two treatments are considered most efficient for maize production in the drought-prone, semi-humid region of the Loess Plateau, China.

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Surface soil water content dominates the difference between ecosystem and canopy water use efficiency in a sparse vineyard

Agricultural Water Management ◽

10.1016/j.agwat.2019.105817 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 226 ◽

pp. 105817

Author(s):

Lei Gao ◽

Peng Zhao ◽

Shaozhong Kang ◽

Sien Li ◽

Ling Tong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Content ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Water Use ◽

Surface Soil ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

The Difference ◽

Canopy Water

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Planting pattern and irrigation effects on water status of winter wheat

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859615001197 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 154 (8) ◽

pp. 1362-1377 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

G. Y. WANG ◽

X. B. ZHOU ◽

Y. H. CHEN

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Content ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Water Use ◽

Leaf Water ◽

Planting Pattern ◽

Relative Water ◽

Leaf Relative Water Content ◽

Use Efficiency

SUMMARYThe effects of planting pattern and irrigation on the soil water content, stomatal conductance, leaf relative water content, leaf water potential and leaf water use efficiency of winter wheat were investigated in North China during the 2008/09 and 2009/10 growing seasons. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design that consisted of three planting patterns: (i) a uniform row spacing of 25 cm, and alternating wide–narrow row spacing of 40 and 20 cm tested as (ii) flat and (iii) furrow–ridge seedbeds. In addition, irrigation treatments of 90, 135 and 180 mm were used. The planting pattern, irrigation treatments and interactions between them significantly affected soil water content, stomatal conductance, leaf relative water content, leaf water potential and leaf water use efficiency. The soil water content, stomatal conductance, leaf relative water content, leaf water potential, grains/spike, thousand grain weight, leaf water use efficiency and yield were highest in the furrow–ridge seedbed planting pattern and increased with increasing irrigation (except for the leaf water use efficiency). The leaf water use efficiency in the 135 mm irrigation treatment was significantly greater than in the other treatments. In addition, soil water content, stomatal conductance, leaf relative water content, leaf water potential, grains/spike and thousand grain weight were positively correlated with leaf water use efficiency and yield of winter wheat. The interaction between the furrow–ridge seedbed planting pattern and 135 mm irrigation increased soil water content, leaf water indices, grains/spike, thousand grain weight, leaf water use efficiency and yield. These results indicated that a beneficial response occurred for wheat yield. The furrow–ridge seedbed planting pattern combined with 135 mm of irrigation improved the soil and leaf water status and could increase wheat yield while using less water.

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Water Use Efficiency of Soybean under Water Stress in Different Eroded Soils

Water ◽

10.3390/w12020373 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 373

Author(s):

Shuang Li ◽

Yun Xie ◽

Gang Liu ◽

Jing Wang ◽

Honghong Lin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Stress ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Content ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Water Use ◽

Waterlogging Stress ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Water Response

Soil erosion could change the effective storage of soil moisture and affected crop water use efficiency (WUE). To quantitative study differences in the WUE of soybean and the crop’s response to water stress for soils with different degrees of erosion in northeastern China, three erosion degrees—(1) lightly, (2) moderately and (3) severely—eroded black undisturbed soils and four years (from 2013 to 2016) of soybean pot experiments were used to control soil water content (100%, 80%, 60%, and 40% field capacity (FC)) and observe the crop growth processes. To study the relationships between erosion–water use–productivity, the following results were achieved: (1) the optimal water content was 80% FC for lightly eroded soil (L) and 100% FC for both moderately (M) and severely (S) eroded soil. Yield (Y) was best in M with the value of 3.12 t ha−1, which was 4.6% and 85.5% higher than L and S, respectively. Under the conditions of adequate water supply, there was no significant change in Land M, but the values were significantly different for the S ( p < 0.05). (2) Y and biomass (B) were sensitive to water stress except in the branching stage. (3) The values of WUEY and WUEB for the three eroded soils were the best at 80% FC. The stress coefficient (SF) values of the three eroded soils were not significantly different. In the flowering and pod formation stage, the SF reached the maximum under waterlogging stress. While the water shortage stress reached the maximum in the seed filling stage, the soil water content decreased by 10%, and the WUEB decreased by 15%, which was 2.5 times more powerful than the waterlogging stress. This study indicated the change in soybean growth with respect to the water response caused by soil erosion, and provided a scientific basis and data for the reasonable utilization of black soil with different erosion intensities. The results also provided important parameters for the growth of simulated crops.

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Rooting depth of wheat in the Victorian Mallee

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea9900817 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 30 (6) ◽

pp. 817 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

M Incerti ◽

GJ O'Leary

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Content ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Water Use ◽

Rooting Depth ◽

Crop Water ◽

Crop Water Use ◽

Total Soil ◽

Use Efficiency

In 1986 and 1987 wheat was sown in an experiment at the Mallee Research Station, Walpeup, at 2 times of sowing and with 3 rates of applied nitrogen. Soil cores were taken and trenches excavated to 1.5 m to measure wheat root growth and depth of rooting. Wheat roots penetrated to a maximum depth of 104 cm in crops sown in May, the optimum time of sowing for maximum yield, while delayed sowing reduced total root biomass and limited rooting depth to 73-83 cm. The application of nitrogen fertiliser did not affect either the rooting depth or growth and yield. Significant changes in total soil water content between sowing and harvest only occurred in 1987 with the early and late sown crops reducing the total soil water content by 47 and 99 mm respectively. In 1986, above average rainfall during the growing season caused the early sown crop to accumulate more water below 50 cm than the late sown crop. While total water use was increased only in 1986 with early sowing, crop water use efficiency and yield was greater in both years. The addition of nitrogen had no effect on crop water use or water use efficiency. A survey of wheat crops carried out in 1988 on 10 Mallee farms also found that shallow rooting is widespead. The field experiment and survey data show that, irrespective of sowing time, roots did not penetrate as far down the profile as might be expected, given reported rooting depths commonly in excess of 200 cm on similarly textured soils. This was shown to be associated with high soil pH and salt content. Poor rooting depth of wheat in this environment will restrict the use of stored water and accordingly, calls the practice of fallowing into question.

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