Adopting plastic film mulching system in the food-energy-water-carbon nexus to the sustainable dryland agriculture

Li Zhang; Huihui Wei; Meilan Zhang; Yang Yang; Yalan Huang; Ning Chai; Xulong Zhang; Kaiping Zhang; Feng-Min Li; Shiqian Guo; Feng Zhang

Agricultural Water Management (Dec 2024)

Adopting plastic film mulching system in the food-energy-water-carbon nexus to the sustainable dryland agriculture

Li Zhang,
Huihui Wei,
Meilan Zhang,
Yang Yang,
Yalan Huang,
Ning Chai,
Xulong Zhang,
Kaiping Zhang,
Feng-Min Li,
Shiqian Guo,
Feng Zhang

Affiliations

Li Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation and Physiology, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; Research Institute of Rice Industrial Engineering Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Huihui Wei: State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
Meilan Zhang: General Station of Gansu Cultivated Land Quality Construction and Protection, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
Yang Yang: State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
Yalan Huang: State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
Ning Chai: State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
Xulong Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management; College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Kaiping Zhang: School of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
Feng-Min Li: State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
Shiqian Guo: General Station of Gansu Cultivated Land Quality Construction and Protection, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China; Corresponding author.
Feng Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China; Correspondence to: State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, School of Ecology, Lanzhou University, No.222, Tianshui South Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 306
p. 109183

Abstract

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Agricultural production development and ecological environmental protection are the main challenges facing dryland agriculture in the Loess Plateau. Over the past four decades, this region has transitioned from a state of food shortage and ecological deterioration to a new phase with plentiful food supply and improved ecological environment. However, it remains unclear how this system navigates resource and environmental constraints, balancing economic growth and ecological preservation. Here we conducted integrated and systematic analysis by combining process-based biogeochemical model, statistical yearbook data, and rural social surveys with the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The yield, economic benefits, carbon footprint (CF), and energy balance of maize, winter wheat, and potato within the plastic film mulching (PFM) cropping system surpassed those of conventional tillage, while the water footprint (WF) was lower. Among them, soil N2O was the primary source of direct greenhouse gas (GHG), while mineral fertilizer (40–71 % and 52−73 %) and agricultural diesel (13−18 % and 17−18 %) were the main contributors to indirect GHG and energy inputs. Moreover, the food-energy-water-carbon (FEWC) nexus of maize being harmonized during 1980–2019 (0.50–1.00), and those of winter wheat and potato being harmonized after 2000 (0.51–0.98 and 0.54–0.97, respectively). The maize also was more profitable than winter wheat and potato. The changing rates of yield, agricultural net profit (ANP), WF, and CF of major crops in the Loess Plateau exhibited consistent increase over time, albeit with regional differentiation characteristics. These results highlight that PFM system achieved high economic benefits and low environmental costs, and it contributed to establishing resource-efficient, production-effective, and eco-friendly dryland agriculture in China and the world.

Published in Agricultural Water Management

ISSN: 1873-2283 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Agriculture (General); Social Sciences: Industries. Land use. Labor: Special industries and trades: Agricultural industries
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/agricultural-water-management

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