Effects of ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting on soil moisture, temperature, and alfalfa fodder yield in a semi-arid region of China

doi:10.11686/cyxb2018787

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this study was to explore the suitability of the ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting system for the sustainable production of a perennial legume (alfalfa) in a semi-arid region of China. A field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different ridge mulching materials (manually compacted soil, MCS; biodegradable film, BF; and plastic film, PF) and different furrow-to-ridge ratios (60∶30, 60∶45, and 60∶60) on soil moisture, temperature, alfalfa forage yield, and water use efficiency (WUE) in a completely randomized arrangement. Traditional flat planting (TFP) served as the control. Soil water storage at 0-3.0 m depth decreased as the alfalfa growth period progressed and the stand age increased over the consecutive alfalfa cultivation for 4-5 years. The treatments were ranked, from the highest soil water storage to the lowest soil water storage, as follows: PF>BF>MCS>TFP. The soil water storage increased with ridge width increasing. Soil desiccation in the surface layer (0-1.2 m) occurred in all treatments and aggravated as the alfalfa growth period progressed and the stand age increased, especially in TFP. The soil temperature on ridge tops differed significantly among treatments, but that at furrow bottoms did not. The soil temperature at ridge tops increased with ridge width increasing. Over the 2-year period, the average topsoil temperature on ridge tops increased by 0.68, 0.99, 1.49, 2.49, 3.05, 3.44, 3.44, 4.03 and 4.29 ℃ for MCS₃₀, MCS₄₅, MCS₆₀, BF₃₀, BF₄₅, BF₆₀, PF₃₀, PF₄₅, and PF₆₀ (where subscripts 30, 45, and 60 refer to ridge widths in cm), respectively, compared with that for TFP. Ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting increased soil moisture and temperature, which promoted alfalfa growth, development, and yield. Over the 2-year period, in MCS₃₀, MCS₄₅, MCS₆₀, BF₃₀, BF₄₅, BF₆₀, PF₃₀, PF₄₅, and PF₆₀, the average annual forage yield increased by 7.77%, 7.30%, 2.11%, 32.23%, 29.95%, 22.47%, 40.88%, 38.44%, and 28.37%, respectively, and the average WUE increased by 17.94, 26.16, 29.57, 17.35, 19.47, 17.85, 20.99, 22.66, and 20.63 kg·ha^-1·mm^-1, respectively, compared with those in TFP. Further research is needed to investigate the soil desiccation mechanism in the alfalfa root zone in ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting system.

Key words: alfalfa, ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting, soil moisture, soil temperature, fodder yield, water use efficiency

ZHOU Xu-jiao, WANG Qi, ZHANG Deng-kui, YIN Xin-wei, LI Xiao-ling, LIU Qing-lin, JIA Sheng-hai. Effects of ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting on soil moisture, temperature, and alfalfa fodder yield in a semi-arid region of China[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2019, 28(11): 60-74.

References

[1] Yang J P, Ding Y J, Chen R S, et al. Fluctuations of the semi-arid zone in China, and consequences for society. Climate Change, 2005, 72(1/2): 171-188.
[2] Wang Q, Song X Y, Li F C, et al. Optimum ridge-furrow ratio and suitable ridge-mulching material for alfalfa production in rainwater harvesting in semi-arid regions of China. Field Crops Research, 2015, 180(8): 186-196.
[3] Xia L Z, Liu G H, Ma L, et al. The effects of contour hedges and reduced tillage with ridge furrow cultivation on nitrogen and phosphorus losses from sloping arable land. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 2014, 14(3): 462-470.
[4] Mo F, Zhou H, Wang J Y, et al. Development and application of micro-field rain-harvesting technologies. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 2013, 29(8): 1-17.
莫非, 周宏, 王建永, 等. 田间微集雨技术研究及应用. 农业工程学报, 2013, 29(8): 1-17.
[5] Wang Q, Zhang E H, Li F M, et al. Optimum ratio of ridge to furrow for planting potato in micro-water harvesting system in semiarid areas. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 2005, 21(2): 38-41.
王琦, 张恩和, 李凤民, 等. 半干旱地区沟垄微型集雨种植马铃薯最优沟垄比的确定. 农业工程学报, 2005, 21(2): 38-41.
[6] Zhang G P, Cheng W L, Lü J F, et al. Effect of different film colors on soil water, temperature and potato yield. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage, 2016, 35(7): 66-71.
张国平, 程万莉, 吕军峰, 等. 不同膜色对旱地土壤水热效应及马铃薯产量的影响. 灌溉排水学报, 2016, 35(7): 66-71.
[7] Cao H, Wu S F, Feng H, et al. Effects of different colors of plastic film on soil water heat conditions and winter wheat growth. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage, 2015, 34(4): 5-9.
曹寒, 吴淑芳, 冯浩, 等. 不同颜色地膜对土壤水热和冬小麦生长的影响. 灌溉排水学报, 2015, 34(4): 5-9.
[8] Zhou H, Shi Y J, Hu Y, et al. Distribution characteristics of organic carbon fraction in soil aggregates of grassland with different alfalfa growing ages. Soil and Fertilizer Sciences in China, 2017, (1): 1-6.
周恒, 时永杰, 胡宇, 等. 不同生长年限紫花苜蓿草地土壤团聚体有机碳分布特征. 中国土壤与肥料, 2017, (1): 1-6.
[9] Sun H R, Wu R X, Li P H, et al. Rooting depth of alfalfa. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2008, 16(3): 307-312.
孙洪仁, 武瑞鑫, 李品红, 等. 紫花苜蓿根系入土深度. 草地学报, 2008, 16(3): 307-312.
[10] Li W R, Zhang S Q, Ding S Y, et al. Root morphological variation and water use in alfalfa under drought stress. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2010, 30(19): 5140-5150.
李文娆, 张岁岐, 丁圣彦, 等. 干旱胁迫下紫花苜蓿根系形态变化及与水分利用的关系. 生态学报, 2010, 30(19): 5140-5150.
[11] Feng M, Yu C, Lin L G,et al. Effects of water and nitrogen fertilizer on biomass distribution and water use efficiency of alfalfa(Medicago sativa) in Hexi Corridor. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 2016, 24(12): 1623-1632.
冯萌, 于成, 林丽果, 等. 灌溉和施氮对河西走廊紫花苜蓿生物量分配与水分利用效率的影响. 中国生态农业学报, 2016, 24(12): 1623-1632.
[12] Kayad A G, Al-Gaadi K A, Elkamil T, et al. Assessing the spatial variability of alfalfa yield using satellite imagery and ground-based data. PLoS One, 2016, 11(6): e0157166.
[13] Li D M, Zhang S P, Geng X L, et al. Production performance and nutritional value of 12 alfalfa cultivators in a semi-arid zone. Pratacultural Science, 2018, 35(6): 1472-1479.
李德明, 张少平, 耿小丽, 等. 12个紫花苜蓿品种在半干旱地区的生产性能及营养价值. 草业科学, 2018, 35(6): 1472-1479.
[14] Wang Z Q, Liu B Y, Lu B J.A study on water restoration of dry soil layers in the semi-arid area of Loess Plateau. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2003, 23(9): 1944-1950.
王志强, 刘宝元, 路炳军. 黄土高原半干旱区土壤干层水分恢复研究. 生态学报, 2003, 23(9): 1944-1950.
[15] Wang Y L, Hou Q, Yun W L, et al. Research on the drought index of potato based on precipitation anomaly in Inner Mongolia. Agricultural Research in the Arid Areas, 2018, 36(3): 224-229.
王永利, 侯琼, 云文丽, 等. 基于降水距平的内蒙古地区马铃薯干旱指标研究. 干旱地区农业研究, 2018, 36(3): 224-229.
[16] Li B Z, Zhou G S.Advance in the study on drought index. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2014, 34(5): 1043-1052.
李柏贞, 周广胜. 干旱指标研究进展. 生态学报, 2014, 34(5): 1043-1052.
[17] Yan Y H, Zheng J Y, Zhang X C, et al. Impact of biochar addition into typical soils on field capacity in Loess Plateau. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2013, 27(4): 120-124, 190.
颜永毫, 郑纪勇, 张兴昌, 等. 生物炭添加对黄土高原典型土壤田间持水量的影响. 水土保持学报, 2013, 27(4): 120-124, 190.
[18] Shi J A, Liu Y H, Jia Z K.Relationship between the aboveground dry matter accumulation of alfalfa and the effective accumulated temperature in the first cutting. Pratacultural Science, 2009, 26(8): 81-86.
史纪安, 刘玉华, 贾志宽. 紫花苜蓿第1茬地上部干物质生长过程与有效积温的关系. 草业科学, 2009, 26(8): 81-86.
[19] Amina·Maituerdi, Zhang M, Yu G R, et al. Variation of growing season and accumulated temperature for temperature mixed forest in Changbai Mountains during 1990-2010. Desert and Oasis Meteorology, 2013, 7(5): 44-50.
阿米娜·麦图尔迪, 张弥, 于贵瑞, 等. 1990-2010年长白山温带针阔叶混交林生长季及积温的变化. 沙漠与绿洲气象, 2013, 7(5): 44-50.
[20] Ren X, Wang Q, Zhang E H, et al. Effects of mulching materials and furrow-to-ridge ratios on oat grain/hay yield and water use efficiency under rainwater harvesting cultivation. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 2014, 22(8): 945-954.
任祥, 王琦, 张恩和, 等. 覆盖材料和沟垄比对燕麦产量和水分利用效率的影响. 中国生态农业学报, 2014, 22(8): 945-954.
[21] Wang Q, Ren X, Song X Y, et al. The optimum ridge-furrow ratio and suitable ridge-covering material in rainwater harvesting for oats production in semiarid regions of China. Field Crops Research, 2015, 172: 106-118.
[22] Ali S, Jan A, Zhang P, et al. Effects of ridge-covering mulches on soil water storage and maize production under simulated rainfall in semiarid regions of China. Agricultural Water Management, 2016, 178: 1-11.
[23] Wan S M, Jia Z K, Han Q F, et al. Dry soil layer forming and soil moisture restoration of alfalfa grassland in the semi-humid region of the Loess Plateau. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2008, 28(3): 1045-1051.
万素梅, 贾志宽, 韩清芳, 等. 黄土高原半湿润区苜蓿草地土壤干层形成及水分恢复. 生态学报, 2008, 28(3): 1045-1051.
[24] Li Y S.Fluctuation of yield on high-yield field and desiccation of the soil on dryland. Acta Pedologica Sinica, 2001, 38(3): 353-356.
李玉山. 旱作高产田产量波动性和土壤干燥化. 土壤学报, 2001, 38(3): 353-356.
[25] Zhou H, Zhang H J, Mo F, et al. Ecological process of water transformation in furrow and ridge mulching system in oat field under extreme drought scenario. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2014, 34(7): 1757-1771.
周宏, 张恒嘉, 莫非, 等. 极端干旱条件下燕麦垄沟覆盖系统水生态过程. 生态学报, 2014, 34(7): 1757-1771.
[26] Huang M B, Yang X M, Li Y S.Hydro-ecological effect of the soil dry layer as affected by use in the Loess Plateau, Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 2003, 11(3): 119-122.
黄明斌, 杨新民, 李玉山. 黄土高原生物利用型土壤干层的水文生态效应研究. 中国生态农业学报, 2003, 11(3): 119-122.
[27] Liu P S, Jia Z K, Li J, et al. Moisture dynamics of soil dry layer and water restoring effects of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) grain crop rotation on soil dry layer in alfalfa farmlands in mountainous region of Southern Ningxia. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2008, 28(1): 183-191.
刘沛松, 贾志宽, 李军, 等. 宁南山区紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)土壤干层水分动态及草粮轮作恢复效应. 生态学报, 2008, 28(1): 183-191.
[28] Luo Z Z, Niu Y N, Li L L, et al. Response of soil physical properties to alfalfa growth years in the Western Loess Plateau. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 2016, 24(11): 1500-1507.
罗珠珠, 牛伊宁, 李玲玲, 等. 黄土高原丘陵沟壑区土壤物理性质对苜蓿种植年限的响应. 中国生态农业学报, 2016, 24(11): 1500-1507.
[29] Zhu W, Li X, Li H J, et al. Soil moisture and temperature for plateau plastic mulching cultivation in drylands of Loess Plateau. Agriculture Research in the Arid Areas, 2016, 34(6): 32-40.
朱伟, 黎晓, 李会杰, 等. 黄土旱塬垄作覆膜栽培土壤水分及温度变化研究. 干旱地区农业研究, 2016, 34(6): 32-40.
[30] Hu G R, Wang Q, Song X Y, et al. Effects of furrow-mulching materials on soil temperature, crop yield and water use efficiency in ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting systems. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 2016, 24(5): 590-599.
胡广荣, 王琦, 宋兴阳, 等. 沟覆盖材料对垄沟集雨种植土壤温度、作物产量和水分利用效率的影响. 中国生态农业学报, 2016, 24(5): 590-599.
[31] Shen L X, Wang P, Zhang L L, et al. Effects of degradable film on soil temperature, moisture and growth of maize. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 2011, 27(6): 25-30.
申丽霞, 王璞, 张丽丽, 等. 可降解地膜对土壤、温度水分及玉米生长发育的影响. 农业工程学报, 2011, 27(6): 25-30.
[32] Hou H Z, Wang J, Zhang X C, et al. Effects of mini-ditch planting with plastic mulching in ridges on soil water content, temperature and potato yield in rain-fed semiarid region. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2015, 41(10): 1582-1590.
侯慧芝, 王娟, 张绪成, 等. 半干旱区全膜覆盖垄上微沟种植对土壤水热及马铃薯产量的影响. 作物学报, 2015, 41(10): 1582-1590.
[33] Li J Y, Wang Y P, Han M Y, et al. Soil moisture dynamics of apple orchards in loess hilly area of Northern Shaanxi Province. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 2017, 25(5): 749-758.
李佳旸, 王延平, 韩明玉, 等. 陕北黄土丘陵区山地苹果园的土壤水分动态研究. 中国生态农业学报, 2017, 25(5): 749-758.
[34] Li C, Wang C, Wen X, et al. Ridge-furrow with plastic film mulching practice improves maize productivity and resource use efficiency under the wheat-maize double-cropping system in dry semi-humid areas. Field Crops Research, 2017, 203: 201-211.
[35] Liu Y H, Shi J A, Jia Z K.Grey connection analysis of alfalfa yield and climate factors. Pratacultural Science, 2009, 26(8): 101-106.
刘玉华, 史纪安, 贾志宽. 气候因子与苜蓿草产量的灰色关联度分析. 草业科学, 2009, 26(8): 101-106.