Ecological and economic benefits of planting winter rapeseed (Brassica rapa L.) in the wind erosion area of northern China

Abstract

Winter and early spring wind soil erosion have considerable impacts on ecosystems, human well-being and agricultural production in the low precipitation zones of northern China. Little is known about the impact of growing winter rapeseed on ecological cropping systems and the associated economic benefits in the wind erosion area. To explore the winter rapeseed cover effect, we conducted a field experiment in which we covered the soil with winter rapeseed, winter wheat and wheat stubble at different plant density levels and used the spring bare ground as the control (CK). The effects of wind erosion, the “winter rapeseed + ” multiple cropping system, and the economic benefits were compared. There was a large difference in the dry matter, the maximum water absorption, the maximum water storage, the soil evaporation and total wind erosion, the amount of sediment transported in the stratum and the wind erosion modulus. Among them, the mean wind erosion modulus of spring sowing bare land was as high as 490.9 kg·hm−2·h−1, which was 7 and 13 times that of winter wheat and winter rapeseed, respectively. As the wind speed increased from 14 to 22 m·s−1, from a small density to a large density, the mean wind erosion modulus decreased from 68 to 17 kg·hm−2·h−1 for winter rapeseed, and 150 to 31 kg·hm−2·h−1 for winter wheat. Total wind-erosion of sediment transport of CK was 18.6 g·m−2 min−1, which was 16 and 31 times the mean value of winter wheat and winter rapeseed, respectively. “Winter rapeseed + ” replanting peanuts, potatoes, rice, seed melons and other crops generally increased the production value by 5–74% compared with wheat and corn intercropping, which was 98–255% higher than the traditional wheat single crop. Our results suggested that the suitable area for planting winter rapeseed in northern China was approximately 3.3 × 106 hm2, and in terms of the best economic and ecological effects, the appropriate density was 5 × 105 plants·hm−2 in northern China. Our results indicated that Chinese winter rapeseed was the best choice for preventing wind erosion and improving ecological and economic benefits in winter and spring in northern China; additionally, winter rapeseed has important impacts on agricultural sustainability in semi-arid and arid climates.

Optimized split nitrogen fertilizer increase photosynthesis, grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency and water use efficiency under water-saving irrigation

“…The North China Plain (NCP) is a major wheat producing area in China which accounts for 25% of the country’s total farm land and contributes 71% of the total wheat production 1 , 2 . However, the rainfall in this region is insufficient to meet winter wheat requirements, as only 100–180 mm of precipitation falls during the winter wheat growing season, which is approximately 30% of the annual precipitation 3 , 4 .…”

Volunteer rapeseed infestation and management in corn

“…The area under cover crops was nearly 4 million hectares in 2012, which increased approximately 50% and reached more than 6 million hectares in 2017 (Wallander et al., 2021). The reasons for the increased popularity of cover crops are the numerous benefits associated with them, including suppression of weeds, improvement in soil physical and chemical properties, enhanced nutrient status of soil, increased soil organic matter, reduction in soil erosion, and increased yield of successively planted cash crops (Haruna et al., 2020; Lawson et al., 2015; Ma et al., 2019; Sharma et al., 2018). Cover crops do not provide full‐season weed control; however, they can assist in reducing dependency on herbicides and can diversify weed management options (Reddy et al., 2003; Teasdale, 1996).…”

Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of the Ascorbate Peroxidase (APX) Gene Family of Winter Rapeseed (Brassica rapa L.) Under Abiotic Stress

“…Overwintering has been the main factor limiting the development of B. rapa production. In most regions in China north of 35 °north latitude, extreme winter temperatures are below −20 °C, cumulative negative air temperature is less than −500 °C•a, and winter rainfall is below 30 mm (Sun et al, 2016;Ma et al, 2019b). Unfavourable factors such as severe cold and dry winters in northern China, which make it difficult for crops other than winter wheat to overwinter (Cai and Jiang, 2011).…”