IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agiwat/v248y2021ics037837742100041x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Combined effects of biomaterial amendments and rainwater harvesting on soil moisture, structure and apple roots in a rainfed apple orchard on the Loess Plateau, China

Author

Listed:
  • Zhang, Binbin
  • Hu, Yajin
  • Hill, Robert Lee
  • Wu, Shufang
  • Song, Xiaolin

Abstract

Adequate soil moisture and good soil structure are critical to sustainable productivity of rain-fed apple (Malus pumila Mill) orchards on China’s Loess Plateau. Droughts, poor soil structure, low soil fertility, and a lack of synchronization between plant water demand and rainfall results in low rainfall use efficiency in gentle slope orchards of this area. This study combined soil biomaterial amendment and rainwater harvesting (BARH), and evaluated the effect of BARH on soil moisture content (SMC), soil water storage (SWS), soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil structure, and apple roots in a field experiment in rainfed apple orchard on the Loess Plateau from 2016 to 2018. Three treatments: (1) the BARH treatment, combination of biomaterial amendment and rainwater harvesting (2) the RH treatment, rainwater harvesting measure only and (3) the control (CK) treatment, which is the local traditional practice. Compared with the CK treatment, the BARH and RH treatment significantly (P < 0.05) improved SMC by 31.08% and 18.83%, respectively, and SWS by 102.19 mm and 35.30 mm, respectively, within 0–300 cm during the apple growing season (from April to October) over three years. There were notable and significant increases in SMC in the 0–160 cm soil layer. SWC in the autumn improved due to heavy rainfall and lower water consumption by the apple trees. This alleviated the critical water requirements of early spring apple trees for the following year, and therefore, less rainfall was required. The BARH treatment had a soil bulk density (BD) that was 3.52% lower (P < 0.05) within 0–60 cm soil depth, 83.93% higher saturated soil conductivity (Ksat), and 4.9% higher sand-size soil macroaggregates (0.02–2 mm) within 0–40 cm soil depth, compared to the CK treatment over three years. 70% of the root systems were concentrated in the 0–160 cm soil layer in all treatments which was highly correlated with SMC. Root dry weight density (RWD) under BARH and RH treatments increased by 33.35% and 7.52% within 0–300 cm of the soil in comparison to the CK treatment, respectively. Likewise, the root length density (RLD) under BARH and RH treatments increased by 52.16% and 21.34% within the 0–300 cm soil layer compared to the CK treatment, respectively. Therefore, the combination of biomaterial amendment and rainwater harvesting is an effective cultivation measure for sustainable development of rainfed apple orchards on the Loess Plateau.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Binbin & Hu, Yajin & Hill, Robert Lee & Wu, Shufang & Song, Xiaolin, 2021. "Combined effects of biomaterial amendments and rainwater harvesting on soil moisture, structure and apple roots in a rainfed apple orchard on the Loess Plateau, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:248:y:2021:i:c:s037837742100041x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2021.106776
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037837742100041X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agwat.2021.106776?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Meng, Wei & Sun, Xihuan & Ma, Juanjuan & Guo, Xianghong & Lei, Tao & Li, Ruofan, 2019. "Measurement and simulation of the water storage pit irrigation trees evapotranspiration in the Loess Plateau," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    2. Tadros, Maher J. & Al-Mefleh, Naji K. & Othman, Yahia A. & Al-Assaf, Amani, 2021. "Water harvesting techniques for improving soil water content, and morpho-physiology of pistachio trees under rainfed conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    3. Fang, Heng & Li, Yuannong & Gu, Xiaobo & Li, Yupeng & Chen, Pengpeng, 2021. "Can ridge-furrow with film and straw mulching improve wheat-maize system productivity and maintain soil fertility on the Loess Plateau of China?," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    4. Li, Yue & Chen, Hao & Feng, Hao & Dong, Qin’ge & Wu, Wenjie & Zou, Yufeng & Chau, Henry Wai & Siddique, Kadambot H.M., 2020. "Influence of straw incorporation on soil water utilization and summer maize productivity: A five-year field study on the Loess Plateau of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    5. Hu, Yajin & Ma, Penghui & Duan, Chenxiao & Wu, Shufang & Feng, Hao & Zou, Yufeng, 2020. "Black plastic film combined with straw mulching delays senescence and increases summer maize yield in northwest China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    6. Wang, Xiquan & Nie, Jiangwen & Wang, Peixin & Zhao, Jie & Yang, Yadong & Wang, Shang & Zeng, Zhaohai & Zang, Huadong, 2021. "Does the replacement of chemical fertilizer nitrogen by manure benefit water use efficiency of winter wheat – summer maize systems?," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    7. Gai, Xiapu & Liu, Hongbin & Liu, Jian & Zhai, Limei & Yang, Bo & Wu, Shuxia & Ren, Tianzhi & Lei, Qiuliang & Wang, Hongyuan, 2018. "Long-term benefits of combining chemical fertilizer and manure applications on crop yields and soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 384-392.
    8. Maneepitak, Sumana & Ullah, Hayat & Paothong, Kritkamol & Kachenchart, Boonlue & Datta, Avishek & Shrestha, Rajendra P., 2019. "Effect of water and rice straw management practices on yield and water productivity of irrigated lowland rice in the Central Plain of Thailand," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 89-97.
    9. Guo, Fu-Xing & Wang, Yan-Ping & Hou, Ting-Ting & Zhang, Lin-Sen & Mu, Yan & Wu, Fu-yong, 2021. "Variation of soil moisture and fine roots distribution adopts rainwater collection, infiltration promoting and soil anti-seepage system (RCIP-SA) in hilly apple orchard on the Loess Plateau of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    10. Su, Ziyou & Zhang, Jinsong & Wu, Wenliang & Cai, Dianxiong & Lv, Junjie & Jiang, Guanghui & Huang, Jian & Gao, Jun & Hartmann, Roger & Gabriels, Donald, 2007. "Effects of conservation tillage practices on winter wheat water-use efficiency and crop yield on the Loess Plateau, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 87(3), pages 307-314, February.
    11. Tubeileh, Ashraf & Bruggeman, Adriana & Turkelboom, Francis, 2016. "Water-harvesting designs for fruit tree production in dry environments," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 190-197.
    12. Tadayonnejad, M. & Mosaddeghi, M.R. & Dashtaki, Sh. Ghorbani, 2017. "Changing soil hydraulic properties and water repellency in a pomegranate orchard irrigated with saline water by applying polyacrylamide," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 12-20.
    13. Grum, Berhane & Assefa, Dereje & Hessel, Rudi & Woldearegay, Kifle & Ritsema, Coen J. & Aregawi, Berihun & Geissen, Violette, 2017. "Improving on-site water availability by combining in-situ water harvesting techniques in semi-arid Northern Ethiopia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 153-162.
    14. Song, Xiaolin & Wu, Pute & Gao, Xiaodong & Yao, Jie & Zou, Yufeng & Zhao, Xining & Siddique, Kadambot H.M. & Hu, Wei, 2020. "Rainwater collection and infiltration (RWCI) systems promote deep soil water and organic carbon restoration in water-limited sloping orchards," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    15. Song, Xiaolin & Gao, Xiaodong & Zhao, Xining & Wu, Pute & Dyck, Miles, 2017. "Spatial distribution of soil moisture and fine roots in rain-fed apple orchards employing a Rainwater Collection and Infiltration (RWCI) system on the Loess Plateau of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 170-177.
    16. Wu, Yang & Jia, Zhikuan & Ren, Xiaolong & Zhang, Yan & Chen, Xin & Bing, Haoyang & Zhang, Peng, 2015. "Effects of ridge and furrow rainwater harvesting system combined with irrigation on improving water use efficiency of maize (Zea mays L.) in semi-humid area of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 1-9.
    17. Hu, Yajin & Ma, Penghui & Zhang, Binbin & Hill, Robert L. & Wu, Shufang & Dong, Qin’ge & Chen, Guangjie, 2019. "Exploring optimal soil mulching for the wheat-maize cropping system in sub-humid drought-prone regions in China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 59-71.
    18. Zhang, Yan & Ma, Qian & Liu, Donghua & Sun, Lefeng & Ren, Xiaolong & Ali, Shahzad & Zhang, Peng & Jia, Zhikuan, 2018. "Effects of different fertilizer strategies on soil water utilization and maize yield in the ridge and furrow rainfall harvesting system in semiarid regions of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 414-421.
    19. Rojas-Valencia, M.N. & Velásquez, M.T. Orta de & Franco, Víctor, 2011. "Urban agriculture, using sustainable practices that involve the reuse of wastewater and solid waste," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(9), pages 1388-1394, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yang, Yi & Li, Bingbing & Shi, Peijun & Li, Zhi, 2023. "Assessing spatiotemporally varied ecohydrological effects of apple orchards based on regional-scale estimation of tree distribution and ages," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 287(C).
    2. Lijian Zheng & Juanjuan Ma & Xihuan Sun & Xianghong Guo, 2022. "Improving Leaf Photosynthetic Performance of Apple through a Novel Root-Zone Irrigation in the Loess Plateau," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Duan, Chenxiao & Li, Jiabei & Zhang, Binbin & Wu, Shufang & Fan, Junliang & Feng, Hao & He, Jianqiang & Siddique, Kadambot H.M., 2023. "Effect of bio-organic fertilizer derived from agricultural waste resources on soil properties and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield in semi-humid drought-prone regions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    4. Thongsouk Sompouviset & Yanting Ma & Eakkarin Sukkaew & Zhaoxia Zheng & Ai Zhang & Wei Zheng & Ziyan Li & Bingnian Zhai, 2023. "The Effects of Plastic Mulching Combined with Different Fertilizer Applications on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Intensity, and Apple Yield in Northwestern China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-23, June.
    5. Duan, Chenxiao & Chen, Jifei & Li, Jiabei & Su, Shunshun & Lei, Qi & Feng, Hao & Wu, Shufang & Zhang, Tibin & Siddique, Kadambot H.M. & Zou, Yufeng, 2022. "Biomaterial amendments combined with ridge–furrow mulching improve soil hydrothermal characteristics and wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) growth in the Qaidam Basin of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    6. Zhang, Binbin & Su, Shunshun & Duan, Chenxiao & Feng, Hao & Chau, Henry Wai & He, Jianqiang & Li, Yi & Hill, Robert Lee & Wu, Shufang & Zou, Yufeng, 2022. "Effects of partial organic fertilizer replacement combined with rainwater collection system on soil water, nitrate-nitrogen and apple yield of rainfed apple orchard in the Loess Plateau of China: A 3-," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    7. Zhang, Binbin & Yan, Sihui & Li, Bin & Wu, Shufang & Feng, Hao & Gao, Xiaodong & Song, Xiaolin & Siddique, Kadambot H.M., 2023. "Combining organic and chemical fertilizer plus water-saving system reduces environmental impacts and improves apple yield in rainfed apple orchards," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhang, Binbin & Su, Shunshun & Duan, Chenxiao & Feng, Hao & Chau, Henry Wai & He, Jianqiang & Li, Yi & Hill, Robert Lee & Wu, Shufang & Zou, Yufeng, 2022. "Effects of partial organic fertilizer replacement combined with rainwater collection system on soil water, nitrate-nitrogen and apple yield of rainfed apple orchard in the Loess Plateau of China: A 3-," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    2. Duan, Chenxiao & Chen, Jifei & Li, Jiabei & Su, Shunshun & Lei, Qi & Feng, Hao & Wu, Shufang & Zhang, Tibin & Siddique, Kadambot H.M. & Zou, Yufeng, 2022. "Biomaterial amendments combined with ridge–furrow mulching improve soil hydrothermal characteristics and wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) growth in the Qaidam Basin of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    3. Zhang, Binbin & Yan, Sihui & Li, Bin & Wu, Shufang & Feng, Hao & Gao, Xiaodong & Song, Xiaolin & Siddique, Kadambot H.M., 2023. "Combining organic and chemical fertilizer plus water-saving system reduces environmental impacts and improves apple yield in rainfed apple orchards," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    4. Liao, Zhenqi & Zhang, Chen & Yu, Shuolei & Lai, Zhenlin & Wang, Haidong & Zhang, Fucang & Li, Zhijun & Wu, Peng & Fan, Junliang, 2023. "Ridge-furrow planting with black film mulching increases rainfed summer maize production by improving resources utilization on the Loess Plateau of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    5. Zhao, Xiao & Gu, Xiaobo & Yang, Zhichao & Li, Yuannong & Zhang, Li & Zhou, Jiaming, 2022. "Effects of soil preparation and mulching practices together with different urea applications on the water and nitrogen use of winter wheat in semi-humid and drought-prone areas," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    6. Zhang, Xiaoyuan & Wang, Ke & Duan, Cuihua & Li, Gaoliang & Zhen, Qing & Zheng, Jiyong, 2023. "Evaporation effect of infiltration hole and its comparison with mulching," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    7. Jovanovic, N. & Pereira, L.S. & Paredes, P. & Pôças, I. & Cantore, V. & Todorovic, M., 2020. "A review of strategies, methods and technologies to reduce non-beneficial consumptive water use on farms considering the FAO56 methods," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    8. He, Gang & Wang, Zhaohui & Li, Fucui & Dai, Jian & Li, Qiang & Xue, Cheng & Cao, Hanbing & Wang, Sen & Malhi, Sukhdev S., 2016. "Soil water storage and winter wheat productivity affected by soil surface management and precipitation in dryland of the Loess Plateau, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 1-9.
    9. Xing Wang & Hailong Sun & Changming Tan & Xiaowen Wang & Min Xia, 2021. "Effects of Film Mulching on Plant Growth and Nutrients in Artificial Soil: A Case Study on High Altitude Slopes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-15, October.
    10. Qiang, Shengcai & Zhang, Yan & Fan, Junliang & Zhang, Fucang & Sun, Min & Gao, Zhiqiang, 2022. "Combined effects of ridge–furrow ratio and urea type on grain yield and water productivity of rainfed winter wheat on the Loess Plateau of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    11. Zhang, Shibo & Zhang, Guixin & Xia, Zhenqing & Wu, Mengke & Bai, Jingxuan & Lu, Haidong, 2022. "Optimizing plastic mulching improves the growth and increases grain yield and water use efficiency of spring maize in dryland of the Loess Plateau in China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    12. Sukamal Sarkar & Milan Skalicky & Akbar Hossain & Marian Brestic & Saikat Saha & Sourav Garai & Krishnendu Ray & Koushik Brahmachari, 2020. "Management of Crop Residues for Improving Input Use Efficiency and Agricultural Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-24, November.
    13. Chen, Zhijun & Li, Yue & Zhang, Xuechen & Xiong, Yunwu & Huang, Quanzhong & Jin, Song & Sun, Shijun & Chi, Daocai & Huang, Guanhua, 2022. "Effects of lignite bioorganic product on sunflower growth, water and nitrogen productivity in saline-sodic farmlands at Northwest China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    14. Ke, Zengming & Liu, Xiaoli & Ma, Lihui & Feng, Zhe & Tu, Wen & Dong, Qin’ge & Jiao, Feng & Wang, Zhanli, 2021. "Rainstorm events increase risk of soil salinization in a loess hilly region of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    15. Wang, Yunqi & Guo, Tongji & Qi, Liuran & Zeng, Huanyu & Liang, Yuexin & Wei, Shikun & Gao, Fuli & Wang, Lixin & Zhang, Rui & Jia, Zhikuan, 2020. "Meta-analysis of ridge-furrow cultivation effects on maize production and water use efficiency," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    16. Fang, Heng & Li, Yuannong & Gu, Xiaobo & Yu, Meng & Chen, Pengpeng & Li, Yupeng & Liu, Fulai, 2022. "Optimizing the impact of film mulching pattern and nitrogen application rate on maize production, gaseous N emissions, and utilization of water and nitrogen in northwest China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    17. Dong, Qin’ge & Yang, Yuchen & Yu, Kun & Feng, Hao, 2018. "Effects of straw mulching and plastic film mulching on improving soil organic carbon and nitrogen fractions, crop yield and water use efficiency in the Loess Plateau, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 201(C), pages 133-143.
    18. Zheng, Jing & Fan, Junliang & Zhou, Minghua & Zhang, Fucang & Liao, Zhenqi & Lai, Zhenlin & Yan, Shicheng & Guo, Jinjin & Li, Zhijun & Xiang, Youzhen, 2022. "Ridge-furrow plastic film mulching enhances grain yield and yield stability of rainfed maize by improving resources capture and use efficiency in a semi-humid drought-prone region," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    19. Chen, Lijun & Liu, Jingze & Guo, Fukang & Jing, Song & Chu, Boyu & Qu, Yuncan & Li, Wen & Zhang, Jiyu, 2024. "The impact of drip irrigation and phosphorus fertilizer on enhancing dimorphic seed production of Lespedeza potaninii in Northwest China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    20. Ali, Shahzad & Jan, Amanullah & Zhang, Peng & Khan, Muhammad Numan & Cai, Tei & Wei, Ting & Ren, Xiaolong & Jia, Qianmin & Han, Qingfang & Jia, Zhikuan, 2016. "Effects of ridge-covering mulches on soil water storage and maize production under simulated rainfall in semiarid regions of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 1-11.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:248:y:2021:i:c:s037837742100041x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agwat .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.