Effects of long-term biodegradable film mulching on yield and water productivity of maize in North China Plain

Xiudi Shangguan; Xin Wang; Meng Yuan; Mingliang Gao; Zhendong Liu; Ming Li; Rui Zong; Chitao Sun; Mingming Zhang; Quanqi Li

Agricultural Water Management (Nov 2024)

Effects of long-term biodegradable film mulching on yield and water productivity of maize in North China Plain

Xiudi Shangguan,
Xin Wang,
Meng Yuan,
Mingliang Gao,
Zhendong Liu,
Ming Li,
Rui Zong,
Chitao Sun,
Mingming Zhang,
Quanqi Li

Affiliations

Xiudi Shangguan: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water-saving Technology and Equipment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Xin Wang: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water-saving Technology and Equipment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Meng Yuan: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water-saving Technology and Equipment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Mingliang Gao: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water-saving Technology and Equipment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Zhendong Liu: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water-saving Technology and Equipment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Ming Li: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water-saving Technology and Equipment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Rui Zong: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water-saving Technology and Equipment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; Corresponding authors at: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China.
Chitao Sun: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water-saving Technology and Equipment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Mingming Zhang: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water-saving Technology and Equipment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Quanqi Li: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water-saving Technology and Equipment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; Corresponding authors at: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 304
p. 109094

Abstract

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Biodegradable films are considered ideal alternatives to polyethylene films because of their advantages in increasing crop yield and controlling soil pollution. However, the influences of biodegradable film mulching on soil physicochemical environments and water productivity after long-term mulching remain poorly understood. Therefore, a field experiment after long-term mulching (since 2016) was conducted to explore the effects of black biodegradable film (BB), transparent biodegradable film (TB), and traditional polyethylene film (PE) on soil physicochemical environments, aboveground biomass accumulation, grain yield, evapotranspiration, and water productivity (WP) of maize in the 2021 and 2022 in the North China Plain. The results showed that polyethylene films and biodegradable films had a similar ability to preserve soil moisture, promote maize growth, reduce evapotranspiration, and increase WP. Moreover, the performances of BB were more equivalent to PE, and there was no significant difference on WP and yield under BB and PE. Compared with traditional flat planting without mulching (CK), BB and PE significantly increased yield (9.5 % and 12.7 % in 2021; 5.25 % and 6.37 % in 2022) and WP (11.54 % and 21.47 % in 2021; 24.28 % and 23.42 % in 2022). Film mulching treatments increased the soil organic carbon sequestration rate, and the content of soil organic carbon, microbial activity, and urease activity in the 0–20 cm soil layer compared with CK. According to structural equation modeling, the increasing soil water storage because of films mulching positively influenced yield by enhancing enzyme activities which were related to soil nutrients. Over all, these results showed that black biodegradable film is an ideal replacement for polyethylene films under long-term mulching conditions because of its comparable agronomic performance and influence on soil physicochemical environments in the North China Plain.

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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