IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agiwat/v262y2022ics0378377421007071.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimizing the ridge–furrow ratio and nitrogen application rate can increase the grain yield and water use efficiency of rain-fed spring maize in the Loess Plateau region of China

Author

Listed:
  • Zhang, Guangxin
  • Dai, Rongcheng
  • Ma, Wenzhuo
  • Fan, Hengzhi
  • Meng, Wenhui
  • Han, Juan
  • Liao, Yuncheng

Abstract

Providing a suitable water environment and nitrogen (N) supply are essential for improving the crop productivity, especially in rain-fed areas affected by drought and nutrient deficiencies. The ridge–furrow mulching system (RFMS) is an efficient planting pattern in the rain-fed area of the Loess Plateau in China. Changing the ridge–furrow ratio in RFMS often modifies the hydrothermal environments. Few previous studies have investigated the combined effect of changing the ridge–furrow ratio and N application rate. Thus, we conducted a field experiment from 2020 to 2021 in the Loess Plateau region of China with two planting patterns (flat planting without film mulching and RFMS with three ridge–furrow ratios of 40:70 cm, 55:55 cm, and 70:40 cm) and three nitrogen application rates (N1, 180 kg ha–1; N2, 240 kg ha–1; and N3, 300 kg ha–1). We analyzed the effects of different N application rates and planting patterns on the soil hydrothermal environment, growth and development, grain yield, and water use efficiency (WUE) of spring maize. The results showed that the soil hydrothermal environment improved as the ridge–furrow ratio increased, but increasing the N application rate risked aggravating the soil water consumption. Compared with FP, the warming effect of RFPM accelerated senescence and shortened growth period (1–4 days) of spring maize under N1, and the negative effect could be effectively alleviated with the increase of N application rate. Increasing the ridge–furrow ratio and N application rate increased the photosynthetic capacity, leaf area, and accumulated dry matter. Compared with FP, RF40–70, RF55–55, and RF70–40 significantly increased the grain yield by 12.96%, 20.28%, and 28.98%, and significantly increased WUE by 16.01%, 22.35%, and 31.83%, respectively. Grain yield and WUE also increased with the increase of N application rate. Regression analysis further showed that, under RFMS at 70:40 cm, the highest spring maize grain yield and WUE were achieved with N application rates of 274.14 kg ha–1 and 268.56 kg ha–1, respectively. Therefore, we suggested that RFMS at 70:40 cm and N application at 268.56–274.14 kg ha–1 are most suitable for rain-fed spring maize production in the Loess Plateau region.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Guangxin & Dai, Rongcheng & Ma, Wenzhuo & Fan, Hengzhi & Meng, Wenhui & Han, Juan & Liao, Yuncheng, 2022. "Optimizing the ridge–furrow ratio and nitrogen application rate can increase the grain yield and water use efficiency of rain-fed spring maize in the Loess Plateau region of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:262:y:2022:i:c:s0378377421007071
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2021.107430
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377421007071
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agwat.2021.107430?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. Zhang, Guangxin & Mo, Fei & Shah, Farooq & Meng, Wenhui & Liao, Yuncheng & Han, Juan, 2021. "Ridge-furrow configuration significantly improves soil water availability, crop water use efficiency, and grain yield in dryland agroecosystems of the Loess Plateau," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    2. Zhang, Xudong & Kamran, Muhammad & Li, Fangjian & Xue, Xuanke & Jia, Zhikuan & Han, Qingfang, 2020. "Optimizing fertilization under ridge-furrow rainfall harvesting system to improve foxtail millet yield and water use in a semiarid region, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    3. Li, Xiao-Yan & Gong, Jia-Dong, 2002. "Effects of different ridge:furrow ratios and supplemental irrigation on crop production in ridge and furrow rainfall harvesting system with mulches," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 54(3), pages 243-254, April.
    4. Mo, Fei & Wang, Jian-Yong & Ren, Hong-Xu & Sun, Guo-Jun & Kavagi, Levis & Zhou, Hong & Nguluu, Simon N. & Gicheru, Patrick & Cheruiyot, Kiprotich W. & Xiong, You-Cai, 2018. "Environmental and economic benefits of micro–field rain–harvesting farming system at maize (Zea mays L.) field scale in semiarid east African Plateau," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 102-112.
    5. Qiang, Shengcai & Zhang, Yan & Fan, Junliang & Zhang, Fucang & Xiang, Youzheng & Yan, Shicheng & Wu, You, 2019. "Maize yield, rainwater and nitrogen use efficiency as affected by maize genotypes and nitrogen rates on the Loess Plateau of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 996-1003.
    6. Li-fang Wang & Juan Chen & Zhou-ping Shangguan, 2015. "Yield Responses of Wheat to Mulching Practices in Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(5), pages 1-15, May.
    7. Bu, Ling-duo & Liu, Jian-liang & Zhu, Lin & Luo, Sha-sha & Chen, Xin-ping & Li, Shi-qing & Lee Hill, Robert & Zhao, Ying, 2013. "The effects of mulching on maize growth, yield and water use in a semi-arid region," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 71-78.
    8. Rosegrant, Mark W. & Cai, Ximing & Cline, Sarah A. & Nakagawa, Naoko, 2002. "The role of rainfed agriculture in the future of global food production," EPTD discussion papers 90, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    9. Duan, Chenxiao & Chen, Guangjie & Hu, Yajin & Wu, Shufang & Feng, Hao & Dong, Qin’ge, 2021. "Alternating wide ridges and narrow furrows with film mulching improves soil hydrothermal conditions and maize water use efficiency in dry sub-humid regions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    10. Yuying Pan & Xuebiao Pan & Tan Zi & Qi Hu & Jing Wang & Guolin Han & Jialin Wang & Zhihua Pan, 2019. "Optimal Ridge–Furrow Ratio for Maximum Drought Resilience of Sunflower in Semi-Arid Region of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-14, July.
    11. Pandey, R. K. & Maranville, J. W. & Chetima, M. M., 2000. "Deficit irrigation and nitrogen effects on maize in a Sahelian environment: II. Shoot growth, nitrogen uptake and water extraction," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 15-27, November.
    12. Liao, Yang & Cao, Hong-Xia & Xue, Wen-Kai & Liu, Xing, 2021. "Effects of the combination of mulching and deficit irrigation on the soil water and heat, growth and productivity of apples," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    13. Liu, Xiaoli & Wang, Yandong & Yan, Xiaoqun & Hou, Huizhi & Liu, Pei & Cai, Tie & Zhang, Peng & Jia, Zhikuan & Ren, Xiaolong & Chen, Xiaoli, 2020. "Appropriate ridge-furrow ratio can enhance crop production and resource use efficiency by improving soil moisture and thermal condition in a semi-arid region," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    14. Pandey, R. K. & Maranville, J. W. & Admou, A., 2000. "Deficit irrigation and nitrogen effects on maize in a Sahelian environment: I. Grain yield and yield components," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 1-13, November.
    15. Liu, Yi & Li, Shiqing & Chen, Fang & Yang, Shenjiao & Chen, Xinping, 2010. "Soil water dynamics and water use efficiency in spring maize (Zea mays L.) fields subjected to different water management practices on the Loess Plateau, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(5), pages 769-775, May.
    16. Lian, Yanhao & Ali, Shahzad & Zhang, Xudong & Wang, Tianlu & Liu, Qi & Jia, Qianmin & Jia, Zhikuan & Han, Qingfang, 2016. "Nutrient and tillage strategies to increase grain yield and water use efficiency in semi-arid areas," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 137-147.
    17. Jose Oteros & Herminia García-Mozo & Roser Botey & Antonio Mestre & Carmen Galán, 2015. "Variations in cereal crop phenology in Spain over the last twenty-six years (1986–2012)," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 130(4), pages 545-558, June.
    18. Luo, Chong-Liang & Zhang, Xiao-Feng & Duan, Hai-Xia & Zhou, Rui & Mo, Fei & Mburu, David M. & Wang, Bao-Zhong & Wang, Wei & Kavagi, Levis & Xiong, You-Cai, 2021. "Responses of rainfed wheat productivity to varying ridge-furrow size and ratio in semiarid eastern African Plateau," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    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. Liu, Pengzhao & Fan, Zhen & Yan, Zinan & Ren, Xiaolong & Zhao, Xining & Zhang, Jianjun & Chen, Xiaoli, 2024. "Evaluation of N nutrition and optimal fertilizer rate for ridge-furrow mulched maize based on critical N dilution curve under different water conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 296(C).
    2. Wang, Yingxin & Guo, Qin & Xu, Yirui & Zhang, Peng & Cai, Tie & Jia, Zhikuan, 2022. "Optimizing urea deep placement to rainfall can maximize crop water-nitrogen productivity and decrease nitrate leaching in winter wheat," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    3. Kun Liu & Zhen Zhang & Yu Shi & Xizhi Wang & Zhenwen Yu, 2024. "Optimizing Ridge–Furrow Ratio to Improve Water Resource Utilization for Wheat in the North China Plain," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, September.
    4. Zhang, Yan & Qiang, Shengcai & Zhang, Guangxin & Sun, Min & Wen, Xiaoxia & Liao, Yuncheng & Gao, Zhiqiang, 2023. "Effects of ridge–furrow supplementary irrigation on water use efficiency and grain yield of winter wheat in Loess Plateau of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    5. Wei Chen & Zhiwei Zhang & Congjian Sun, 2023. "Differences in Carbon Sequestration Ability of Diverse Tartary Buckwheat Genotypes in Barren Soil Caused by Microbial Action," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-16, January.

    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. 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).
    2. Duan, Chenxiao & Chen, Guangjie & Hu, Yajin & Wu, Shufang & Feng, Hao & Dong, Qin’ge, 2021. "Alternating wide ridges and narrow furrows with film mulching improves soil hydrothermal conditions and maize water use efficiency in dry sub-humid regions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    3. Du, Xiangbei & Wei, Zhi & Kong, Lingcong & Zhang, Ligan, 2022. "Optimal bed width for wheat following rice production with raised-bed planting in the Yangtze River Plain of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    4. 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).
    5. Liu, Xiaoli & Wang, Yandong & Zhang, Yuehe & Ren, Xiaolong & Chen, Xiaoli, 2022. "Can rainwater harvesting replace conventional irrigation for winter wheat production in dry semi-humid areas in China?," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    6. He, Zhihao & Gong, Kaiyuan & Zhang, Zhiliang & Dong, Wenbiao & Feng, Hao & Yu, Qiang & He, Jianqiang, 2022. "What is the past, present, and future of scientific research on the Yellow River Basin? —A bibliometric analysis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    7. 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).
    8. 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).
    9. Zhang, Xuemei & Wang, Rui & Liu, Bo & Wang, Youcai & Yang, Linchuan & Zhao, Ji & Xu, Jing & Li, Zhimin & Zhang, Xudong & Han, Qingfang, 2023. "Optimization of ridge–furrow mulching ratio enhances precipitation collection before silking to improve maize yield in a semi–arid region," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    10. Zhang, Shaohui & Wang, Haidong & Sun, Xin & Fan, Junliang & Zhang, Fucang & Zheng, Jing & Li, Yuepeng, 2021. "Effects of farming practices on yield and crop water productivity of wheat, maize and potato in China: A meta-analysis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    11. Ruofan Li & Juanjuan Ma & Xihuan Sun & Xianghong Guo & Lijian Zheng, 2021. "Simulation of Soil Water and Heat Flow under Plastic Mulching and Different Ridge Patterns," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-20, November.
    12. Zhang, Xudong & Li, Zhimin & Siddique, Kadambot H.M. & Shayakhmetova, Altyn & Jia, Zhikuan & Han, Qingfang, 2020. "Increasing maize production and preventing water deficits in semi-arid areas: A study matching fertilization with regional precipitation under mulch planting," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    13. Rockström, Johan & Karlberg, Louise & Wani, Suhas P. & Barron, Jennie & Hatibu, Nuhu & Oweis, Theib & Bruggeman, Adriana & Farahani, Jalali & Qiang, Zhu, 2010. "Managing water in rainfed agriculture--The need for a paradigm shift," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(4), pages 543-550, April.
    14. Muhammad Irfan Ahmad & Adnan Noor Shah & Jianqiang Sun & Youhong Song, 2020. "Comparative Study on Leaf Gas Exchange, Growth, Grain Yield, and Water Use Efficiency under Irrigation Regimes for Two Maize Hybrids," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-16, August.
    15. Zhang, Guangxin & Mo, Fei & Shah, Farooq & Meng, Wenhui & Liao, Yuncheng & Han, Juan, 2021. "Ridge-furrow configuration significantly improves soil water availability, crop water use efficiency, and grain yield in dryland agroecosystems of the Loess Plateau," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    16. 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.
    17. Comas, Louise H. & Trout, Thomas J. & DeJonge, Kendall C. & Zhang, Huihui & Gleason, Sean M., 2019. "Water productivity under strategic growth stage-based deficit irrigation in maize," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 433-440.
    18. Franco-Luesma, Samuel & Álvaro-Fuentes, Jorge & Plaza-Bonilla, Daniel & Arrúe, José Luis & Cantero-Martínez, Carlos & Cavero, José, 2019. "Influence of irrigation time and frequency on greenhouse gas emissions in a solid-set sprinkler-irrigated maize under Mediterranean conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 221(C), pages 303-311.
    19. Wang, Feng & Meng, Haofeng & Xie, Ruizhi & Wang, Keru & Ming, Bo & Hou, Peng & Xue, Jun & Li, Shaokun, 2023. "Optimizing deficit irrigation and regulated deficit irrigation methods increases water productivity in maize," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    20. Zhu, Hongyan & Zheng, Bingyan & Nie, Weibo & Fei, Liangjun & Shan, Yuyang & Li, Ge & Liang, Fei, 2024. "Optimization of maize irrigation strategy in Xinjiang, China by AquaCrop based on a four-year study," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 297(C).

    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:262:y:2022:i:c:s0378377421007071. 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.