Long‐term combined subsoiling and straw mulching conserves water and improves agricultural soil properties

Abstract

Subsoiling and straw mulching are two techniques that conserve soil water and improve the sustainability of agricultural production. However, the benefits to soil sustainability of combining subsoiling with straw mulching under intensive rotation between wheat and maize remain uncertain. We conducted a field experiment to determine the long‐term impacts of conventional tillage with straw mulching (CS), and subsoiling with straw mulching (SS), on soil macropore characteristics (>160 μm), soil aggregate characteristics, and soil hydraulic parameters at 0–100 cm depths. Results indicate that SS increased the mean macropore number (66.9%), macroporosity (93.5%), pore circularity (3.5%), field moisture capacity (11.8%), saturated moisture content (21.4%), available soil moisture content (24.1%), and the saturated hydraulic conductivity (39.3%) in the shallowest 50 cm of soil, and total organic carbon content (34.5%) and soil labile organic carbon (20.2%) in the shallowest 30 cm of soil, compared to CS. Compared with CS, SS was more effective at increasing the proportion of aggregates larger than 0.25 mm in the top 20 cm of soil and decreasing the proportion of aggregates smaller than 0.25 mm in the top 30 cm of soil. Correlations between soil organic carbon and various soil physical properties under different practices suggest that SS has larger causative effects on soil physical properties than CS. Therefore, SS is recommended over CS.

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“…Y. Yang et al (2023) conducted a field experiment using the long-term deep tillage method and straw mulching.…”

Straw Returning Proves Advantageous for Regulating Water and Salt Levels, Facilitating Nutrient Accumulation, and Promoting Crop Growth in Coastal Saline Soils

“…The mulch layer also acts as a barrier that retains water, directly inhibiting the evaporation of soil water into the atmosphere. Moreover, the structure created by the straw mulch enhances the soil's ability to absorb rainfall, extending the period of soil-water contact and encouraging more efficient infiltration of rainwater into the soil profile, as opposed to quick runoff [25]. As a result, straw mulching improves the soil water regime by controlling crop evaporation rates and enhancing rainwater infiltration, ultimately supporting better crop growth and increased yields.…”