Straw mulching for enhanced water use efficiency and economic returns from soybean fields in the Loess Plateau China

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 12; no. 1; p. 17111
• Main Authors: Li, Feng, Zhang, Guohong, Chen, Juan, Song, Yali, Geng, Zhiguang, Li, Kefu, Siddique, Kadambot H. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 12.10.2022; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 704/158/2456; 704/172; Agricultural economics; Agriculture; Arid zones; China; Conservation practices; Crop production; Crop yield; Economics; Edible Grain - chemistry; Efficiency; Glycine max; Grain; Humanities and Social Sciences; Moisture content; Mulching; multidisciplinary; Plastics; Polyethylene; Polyethylene films; Polyethylenes; Ridges; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Soil; Soil temperature; Soil water; Soybeans; Straw; Sustainable agriculture; Water - analysis; Water conservation; Water consumption; Water depth; Water shortages; Water use; Water use efficiency; Zea mays; China; Loess Plateau

Water shortages threaten agricultural sustainability in the semi-arid areas of the Loess Plateau. Judicious mulching management can improve water conservation practices to alleviate this issue while increasing crop productivity. We investigated the effect of straw strip mulching and film mulching on...