Evaluating the effects of plastic film mulching duration on soil nitrogen dynamic and comprehensive benefit for corn (Zea mays L.) field

Ning Chen; Xianyue Li; Haibin Shi; Jianwen Yan; Yuehong Zhang; Qi Hu

Agricultural Water Management (Aug 2023)

Evaluating the effects of plastic film mulching duration on soil nitrogen dynamic and comprehensive benefit for corn (Zea mays L.) field

Ning Chen,
Xianyue Li,
Haibin Shi,
Jianwen Yan,
Yuehong Zhang,
Qi Hu

Affiliations

Ning Chen: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot 010018, China
Xianyue Li: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot 010018, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Integrated Management of Water Resources and Water Environment in the Inner Mongolia Reaches of the Yellow River, Hohhot 010018, China; Corresponding author at: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot 010018, China.
Haibin Shi: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot 010018, China
Jianwen Yan: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot 010018, China
Yuehong Zhang: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot 010018, China
Qi Hu: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot 010018, China

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 286
p. 108404

Abstract

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Regulating the plastic film mulching duration was a good strategy to decrease plastic residues and to avoid the stress from low soil nitrate concentration (SNC). However, few studies focused on soil nitrogen dynamic under different mulching durations, especially for the impacts of soil nitrogen loss on crop yield and comprehensive benefits have not been revealed. In this study, HYDRUS (2D/3D) model was used to evaluate the differences of SNC and NO3-N leaching (NL) under no mulching (NM), mulching for the seedling stage (PMS), mulching for the elongation stage (PME), mulching for the tasseling stage (PMT), and mulching for the entire corn growth season (PMW). Additionally, a two-year (2019–2020) field experiment was carried out to measure SNC, NL, N2O, and NH3 emissions and to calibrate and validate the model accuracy. The effect of soil nitrogen loss on the comprehensive benefits under different mulching durations was further analyzed using a comprehensive multi-objective model. The results showed that HYDRUS (2D/3D) could well capture SNC dynamic under different mulching treatments, with average the normalized root mean square error of 16.5% in the validation period. There was no apparent difference in SNC, N2O emission, NH3 emission, and NL under different mulching durations in the seedling stage. However, the corresponding difference markedly increased with corn growth and development, especially in 2019. The average SNC (0–20 cm soil depth) under NM was higher by 9.2%, 25.0%, 21.2%, and 19.4% than PMS, PME, PMT, and PMW, respectively. Nitrogen emission (N2O and NH3) showed an increase trend with the shortening of mulching duration, i.e., NM>PMS>PME >PMT >PMW, while an opposite trend was found for NL. In general, PME was found to be the optimal mulching duration with the highest comprehensive evaluation score of 1782.7. Therefore, PME can be recommended to apply in this region to promote the developments of sustainable agriculture.

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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