IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agiwat/v294y2024ics0378377424000568.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Diversified crop rotations improve crop water use and subsequent cereal crop yield through soil moisture compensation

Author

Listed:
  • Wang, Bo
  • Wang, Guiyan
  • van Dam, Jos
  • Yang, Xiaolin
  • Ritsema, Coen
  • Siddique, Kadambot H.M.
  • Du, Taisheng
  • Kang, Shaozhong

Abstract

The water-intensive conventional winter wheat–summer maize (WM) double cropping system in the North China Plain (NCP) has significantly decreased the groundwater table. To address this issue, we undertook a two-year field experiment to explore the potential and mechanisms of water-saving and yield increase of five newly designed diversified crop rotations incorporating spring crops (sweet potato, soybean, peanut, spring maize, and millet) into cereal crops compared with the conventional WM (as control). The results revealed that the five diversified crop rotations significantly decreased annual actual crop evapotranspiration by 7–12% and net groundwater use by 21–31% compared to the conventional WM. Sweet potato and peanut-based rotations significantly enhanced annual average equivalent yields up to 32% and economic benefit (+50%, +7%) while improving water productivity by 24–68% compared to WM. Shallow-rooted crops (sweet potato, soybean, peanut, and millet), when used as the preceding crop, improved soil water storage in the 0–180 cm soil layer at the start of the succeeding wheat planting season by 3–9% compared to the conventional WM. These shallow-rooted crops mainly concentrated their root systems in the 0–120 cm soil water, particularly the top 80 cm, complementing the deeper root systems of wheat, which extended down to 180 cm. Consequently, this optimal soil water use regime in diversified crop rotations increased the leaf area index and aboveground biomass of the succeeding wheat and maize crops, increasing total grain yields by 4–11%. Thus, introducing shallowed-root annual crops as preceding crops to the current WM rotation is beneficial for decreasing irrigation inputs, enhancing overall crop productivity, and mitigating groundwater table decline in the NCP.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Bo & Wang, Guiyan & van Dam, Jos & Yang, Xiaolin & Ritsema, Coen & Siddique, Kadambot H.M. & Du, Taisheng & Kang, Shaozhong, 2024. "Diversified crop rotations improve crop water use and subsequent cereal crop yield through soil moisture compensation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:294:y:2024:i:c:s0378377424000568
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2024.108721
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377424000568
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agwat.2024.108721?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, 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).
    2. Sun, Qinping & Kröbel, Roland & Müller, Torsten & Römheld, Volker & Cui, Zhenling & Zhang, Fusuo & Chen, Xinping, 2011. "Optimization of yield and water-use of different cropping systems for sustainable groundwater use in North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(5), pages 808-814, March.
    3. Krupinsky, J.M. & Tanaka, D.L. & Merrill, S.D. & Liebig, M.A. & Hanson, J.D., 2006. "Crop sequence effects of 10 crops in the northern Great Plains," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 88(2-3), pages 227-254, June.
    4. Wang, Shiquan & Xiong, Jinran & Yang, Boyuan & Yang, Xiaolin & Du, Taisheng & Steenhuis, Tammo S. & Siddique, Kadambot H.M. & Kang, Shaozhong, 2023. "Diversified crop rotations reduce groundwater use and enhance system resilience," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    5. Huanhuan Peng & Jinran Xiong & Jiayi Zhang & Linghui Zhu & Guiyan Wang & Steven Pacenka & Xiaolin Yang, 2023. "Water Requirements and Comprehensive Benefit Evaluation of Diversified Crop Rotations in the Huang-Huai Plain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, June.
    6. Donald L. Tanaka & Mark A. Liebig & Joseph M. Krupinsky & Stephen D. Merrill, 2010. "Crop Sequence Influences on Sustainable Spring Wheat Production in the Northern Great Plains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 2(12), pages 1-15, November.
    7. Sun, Hongyong & Zhang, Xiying & Liu, Xiujing & Liu, Xiuwei & Shao, Liwei & Chen, Suying & Wang, Jintao & Dong, Xinliang, 2019. "Impact of different cropping systems and irrigation schedules on evapotranspiration, grain yield and groundwater level in the North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 202-209.
    8. Araya, A. & Kisekka, Isaya & Gowda, Prasanna H. & Prasad, P.V. Vara, 2017. "Evaluation of water-limited cropping systems in a semi-arid climate using DSSAT-CSM," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 86-98.
    9. Timothy M. Bowles & Shady S. Atallah & Eleanor E. Campbell & Amélie C. M. Gaudin & William R. Wieder & A. Stuart Grandy, 2018. "Addressing agricultural nitrogen losses in a changing climate," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(8), pages 399-408, August.
    10. Wang, Bo & van Dam, Jos & Yang, Xiaolin & Ritsema, Coen & Du, Taisheng & Kang, Shaozhong, 2023. "Reducing water productivity gap by optimizing irrigation regime for winter wheat-summer maize system in the North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    11. Suchul Kang & Elfatih A. B. Eltahir, 2018. "North China Plain threatened by deadly heatwaves due to climate change and irrigation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Yan, Zongzheng & Zhang, Xiying & Rashid, Muhammad Adil & Li, Hongjun & Jing, Haichun & Hochman, Zvi, 2020. "Assessment of the sustainability of different cropping systems under three irrigation strategies in the North China Plain under climate change," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    2. Huanhuan Peng & Jinran Xiong & Jiayi Zhang & Linghui Zhu & Guiyan Wang & Steven Pacenka & Xiaolin Yang, 2023. "Water Requirements and Comprehensive Benefit Evaluation of Diversified Crop Rotations in the Huang-Huai Plain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, June.
    3. Ren, Pinpin & Huang, Feng & Li, Baoguo, 2022. "Spatiotemporal patterns of water consumption and irrigation requirements of wheat-maize in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, China and options of their reduction," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    4. Yang, Xiaolin & Jin, Xinnan & Chu, Qingquan & Pacenka, Steven & Steenhuis, Tammo S., 2021. "Impact of climate variation from 1965 to 2016 on cotton water requirements in North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    5. Wang, Bo & van Dam, Jos & Yang, Xiaolin & Ritsema, Coen & Du, Taisheng & Kang, Shaozhong, 2023. "Reducing water productivity gap by optimizing irrigation regime for winter wheat-summer maize system in the North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    6. Zhao, Jie & Zhang, Xuepeng & Yang, Yadong & Zang, Huadong & Yan, Peng & Meki, Manyowa N. & Doro, Luca & Sui, Peng & Jeong, Jaehak & Zeng, Zhaohai, 2021. "Alternative cropping systems for groundwater irrigation sustainability in the North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    7. Yang, Lei & Fang, Xiangyang & Zhou, Jie & Zhao, Jie & Hou, Xiqing & Yang, Yadong & Zang, Huadong & Zeng, Zhaohai, 2024. "Optimal irrigation for wheat-maize rotation depending on precipitation in the North China Plain: Evidence from a four-year experiment," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    8. Giovani Preza-Fontes & Junming Wang & Muhammad Umar & Meilan Qi & Kamaljit Banger & Cameron Pittelkow & Emerson Nafziger, 2021. "Development of an Online Tool for Tracking Soil Nitrogen to Improve the Environmental Performance of Maize Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-14, May.
    9. Xiao, Dengpan & Shen, Yanjun & Qi, Yongqing & Moiwo, Juana P. & Min, Leilei & Zhang, Yucui & Guo, Ying & Pei, Hongwei, 2017. "Impact of alternative cropping systems on groundwater use and grain yields in the North China Plain Region," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 109-117.
    10. Rathore, Vijay Singh & Nathawat, Narayan Singh & Bhardwaj, Seema & Yadav, Bhagirath Mal & Santra, Priyabrata & Kumar, Mahesh & Shekhawat, Ravindra Singh & Reager, Madan Lal & Yadav, Shish Ram & Lal, B, 2022. "Alternative cropping systems and optimized management practices for saving groundwater and enhancing economic and environmental sustainability," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    11. 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).
    12. Liu, Yansui & Zhou, Yang, 2021. "Reflections on China's food security and land use policy under rapid urbanization," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    13. Xiaolin Yang & Jinran Xiong & Taisheng Du & Xiaotang Ju & Yantai Gan & Sien Li & Longlong Xia & Yanjun Shen & Steven Pacenka & Tammo S. Steenhuis & Kadambot H. M. Siddique & Shaozhong Kang & Klaus But, 2024. "Diversifying crop rotation increases food production, reduces net greenhouse gas emissions and improves soil health," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    14. Liu, Mengyu & Zhou, Xiong & Huang, Guohe & Li, Yongping, 2024. "The increasing water stress projected for China could shift the agriculture and manufacturing industry geographically," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 124431, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    15. Xiao, Xuechen & Zang, Hecang & Liu, Yang & Zhang, Zhen & Liu, Ying & Ejaz, Irsa & Du, Chenghang & Wang, Zhimin & Sun, Zhencai & Zhang, Yinghua, 2023. "Promoting winter wheat sustainable intensification by higher nitrogen distribution in top second to fourth leaves under water-restricted condition in North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    16. Espoir Mukengere Bagula & Jackson-Gilbert Mwanjalolo Majaliwa & Twaha Ali Basamba & Jean-Gomez Mubalama Mondo & Bernard Vanlauwe & Geofrey Gabiri & John-Baptist Tumuhairwe & Gustave Nachigera Mushagal, 2022. "Water Use Efficiency of Maize ( Zea mays L.) Crop under Selected Soil and Water Conservation Practices along the Slope Gradient in Ruzizi Watershed, Eastern D.R. Congo," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-20, October.
    17. Nicholas Stern & Joseph Stiglitz & Charlotte Taylor, 2022. "The economics of immense risk, urgent action and radical change: towards new approaches to the economics of climate change," Journal of Economic Methodology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(3), pages 181-216, July.
    18. Araya, A. & Gowda, P.H. & Golden, B. & Foster, A.J. & Aguilar, J. & Currie, R. & Ciampitti, I.A. & Prasad, P.V.V., 2019. "Economic value and water productivity of major irrigated crops in the Ogallala aquifer region," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 55-63.
    19. Luo, Jianmei & Shen, Yanjun & Qi, Yongqing & Zhang, Yucui & Xiao, Dengpan, 2018. "Evaluating water conservation effects due to cropping system optimization on the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei plain, China," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 32-41.
    20. Tang, Jianzhao & Xiao, Dengpan & Wang, Jing & Fang, Quanxiao & Zhang, Jun & Bai, Huizi, 2021. "Optimizing water and nitrogen managements for potato production in the agro-pastoral ecotone in North China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 253(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:294:y:2024:i:c:s0378377424000568. 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.