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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2021, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (12): 59-70.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2020432

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Analysis of soil fertility and crop yield characteristics following long-term straw return to the field in a Hexi Oasis irrigated area

Ke-sheng WU1,2(), Zong-xian CHE1,2(), Xing-guo BAO1,2, Jiu-dong ZHANG1,2, Bing-lin LU1,2, Xin-qiang YANG1,2, Rui-ju YANG1,2   

  1. 1.Institute of Soil and Fertilizer and Water-saving Agriculture,Gansu Academy of Agriculture Science,Lanzhou 730070,China
    2.Gansu Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Agri-Environment and Arable Land Conservation,Ministry of Agriculture,Lanzhou 730070,China
  • Received:2020-09-27 Revised:2020-11-11 Online:2021-11-11 Published:2021-11-11
  • Contact: Zong-xian CHE

Abstract:

This paper reports a long-term (1988-2018) study of the effects of straw return, with and without fertilizer application, on productivity and soil nutrient status in a desert soil in the Hexi oasis irrigation area. The research was conducted to provide scientific data to inform management decisions on straw return and resource utilization. Data on soil fertility, crop yield, crop stability and sustainability were collected. Soil fertility data included total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium and pH in the 0-20 cm soil horizon. Treatments included straw return with phosphorus fertilizer, straw return with nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers; nitrogen and phosphorus and no fertilization. The effects of long-term straw return on evolution of soil nutrient status and crop yield in a wheat-maize inter-cropping system were studied. It was found that content of the soil and crop tissues, respectively, for organic matter increased by 73.3% and 25.8%, total nitrogen increased by 50.6% and 21.7%, total phosphorus increased by 22.5% and 3.8%, and total potassium content increased by 19.9% and 38.2%, compared with the initial value at the start of the experiment. Compared with CK, soil organic matter increased by 55.3% and 20.0%, total nitrogen increased by 28.8% and 15.9%, total phosphorus increased by 50.2% and 13.4% and total potassium increased by 23.5% and 0.2%. After nine successive years of straw return, the wheat yield decreased by 5.8% on average, but increased by 65.9% from the 10th year. The yield of maize decreased by 8.2% in 13 years, and then increased by 22.0% compared with CK. Long-term application of straw or straw N and P fertilizer resulted in better soil fertility than single application of chemical fertilizer, which can significantly increase soil organic matter content and soil fertility. Combined application of straw and nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer greatly improved crop yield, stability and sustainability.

Key words: long-term straw return, Hexi Oasis irrigation area, desert soil irrigation, desert soil fertility building, stability and sustainability of crop yield