Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-c4f8m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T00:43:46.688Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Grain yield and water-use efficiency of summer maize in response to mulching with different plastic films in the North China Plain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 March 2021

Rui Zong ,
Huifang Han  and
Quanqi Li Open the ORCID record for Quanqi Li [Opens in a new window]
Rui Zong
Affiliation:
College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong271018, P. R. China
Huifang Han
Affiliation:
College of Agronomy, State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong271018, P. R. China
Quanqi Li*
Affiliation:
College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong271018, P. R. China
*
*Corresponding author. Email: quanqili@sdau.edu.cn
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Plastic film (PF) mulching is widely applied in agriculture to improve water-use efficiency (WUE) and crop production. However, without efficient recovery, the residual plastic fragments in arable land threaten soil health and food security. Degradable films are generally considered as alternatives to conventional PF to mitigate PF pollution. A 2-year field experiment was conducted in 2016 and 2017 to evaluate the effects of various film mulching treatments (conventional PF mulching, transparent degradable film (TDF) mulching, and black degradable film (BDF) mulching, and no mulching) on soil water availability and summer maize yield in the North China Plain (NCP). Soil moisture, soil water storage, water use, and grain yield were recorded. Below 20 cm depth, soil moisture and soil water storage were higher in film mulching than in no mulching. Conventional PF mulching yielded the best water conservation, especially from sowing to jointing. TDF and BDF were similar in their regulation of soil moisture. Comparing to no mulching, conventional PF and degradable transparent film significantly reduced maize grain yield by 15.4 and 8.0% (average over 2 years), and reduced WUE by 9.4 and 7.8% (average 2 years), respectively. The observed reduction of grain yield in transparent film mulching might be caused by excessive soil temperature, especially at vegetative stages, which potentially accelerates crop senescence. Black film mulching reduced the soil cumulative temperature and prevent crops from being overheated. As consequence, grain yield and WUE of summer maize under BDF covering were significantly increased by 11.1 and 15.6%, respectively, over the 2 years. Therefore, we suggest that BDF can be used to replace conventional plastics to improve crop yield and control environmental pollution in the NCP.

Keywords

Degradable filmswater storageevapotranspirationyield losssoil health
Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 57 , Issue 1 , February 2021 , pp. 33 - 44
Check for updates
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ali, S., Jan, A., Zhang, P., Khan, M.N., Cai, T. and Wei, T. (2016). Effects of ridge-covering mulches on soil water storage and maize production under simulated rainfall in semiarid regions of China. Agricultural Water Management 178, 1–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ammala, A., Bateman, S., Dean, K., Petinakis, E., Sangwan, P. and Wong, S. (2011). An overview of degradable and biodegradable polyolefins. Progress in Polymer Science 36, 1015–1049.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bu, L.D., Liu, J.L., Zhu, L., Luo, S.S., Che, X.P., Li, S.Q. and Hill, R.L. (2013a). The effects of mulching on maize growth, yield and water use in a semi-arid region. Agricultural Water Management 123, 71–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bu, L.D., Zhu, L., Liu, J.L., Luo, S.S., Chen, X.P. and Li, S.Q. (2013b). Source-sink capacity responsible for higher maize yield with removal of plastic film. Agronomy Journal 105, 591–598.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, Y., Wu, C., Zhang, H., Lin, Q., Hong, Y. and Luo, Y. (2013). Empirical estimation of pollution load and contamination levels of phthalate esters in agricultural soils from plastic film mulching in China. Environmental Earth Sciences 70, 239–247.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Costa, R., Saraiva, A., Carvalho, L. and Duarte, E. (2014). The use of biodegradable mulch films on strawberry crop in Portugal. Scientia Horticulturae 173, 65–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cuello, J.P., Hwang, H.Y., Gutierrez, J., Sang, Y.K. and Kim, P.J. (2015). Impact of plastic film mulching on increasing greenhouse gas emissions in temperate upland soil during maize cultivation. Applied Soil Ecology 91, 48–57.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dang, J., Liang, W., Wang, G., Shi, P. and Wu, D. (2016). A preliminary study of the effects of plastic film-mulched raised beds on soil temperature and crop performance of early-sown short-season spring maize (Zea mays L.) in the North China Plain. The Crop Journal 4, 331–337.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dong, H.G., Liu, T., Han, Z.Q., Sun, Q.M. and Li, R. (2015). Determining time limits of continuous film mulching and examining residual effects on cotton yield and soil properties. Journal of Environmental Biology 36, 677–684.Google Scholar
Fan, Y., Ding, R., Kang, S., Hao, X., Du, T. and Tong, L. (2017). Plastic mulch decreases available energy and evapotranspiration and improves yield and water use efficiency in an irrigated maize cropland. Agricultural Water Management 179, 122–131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gao, H., Yan, C., Liu, Q., Ding, W., Chen, B. and Li, Z. (2019). Effects of plastic mulching and plastic residue on agricultural production: a meta-analysis. Science of the Total Environment 651, 484–492.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gao, Y., Xie, Y., Jiang, H., Wu, B. and Niu, J. (2014). Soil water status and root distribution across the rooting zone in maize with plastic film mulching. Field Crop Research 156, 40–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gao, Z., Feng, H.Y., Liang, X.G., Zhan, L., Lin, S., Zhao, X., Shen, S., Zhou, L.L. and Zhou, S.L. (2018). Limits to maize productivity in the North China Plain: a comparison analysis for spring and summer maize. Field Crops Research 228, 39–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gu, X.B., Cai, H.J., Fang, H., Li, Y.P., Chen, P.P. and Li, Y.N. (2020). Effects of degradable film mulching on crop yield and water use efficiency in China: a meta-analysis. Soil & Tillage Research 202, 104676.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gu, X.B., Li, Y.N. and Du, Y.D. (2017). Biodegradable film mulching improves soil temperature, moisture and seed yield of winter oilseed rape (Brassicanapus L.). Soil & Tillage Research 171, 42–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
He, H.J., Wang, Z.H., Guo, L., Zheng, X.R., Zhang, J.Z., Li, W.H. and Fan, B.H. (2018). Distribution characteristics of residual film over a cotton field under long-term film mulching and drip irrigation in an oasis agroecosystem. Soil & Tillage Research 180, 194–203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jenni, S., Brault, D. and Stewart, K.A. (2004). Degradable mulch as an alternative for weed control in lettuce produced on organic soils. Acta Horticulturae 638, 111–118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ji, S. and Unger, P.W. (2001). Soil water accumulation under different precipitation, potential evaporation, and straw mulch conditions. Soil Science Society of American Journal 65, 442–448.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jiang, X.J., Liu, W., Wang, E., Zhou, T. and Xin, P. (2017). Residual plastic mulch fragments effects on soil physical properties and water flow behavior in the Minqin oasis, Northwestern China. Soil & Tillage Research 166, 100–107.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kang, S.Z., Hao, X.M., Du, T.S., Tong, L., Su, X.L., Lu, H.N., Li, X.L., Huo, Z.L., Li, S.E. and Ding, R.S. (2017). Improving agricultural water productivity to ensure food security in China under changing environment: From research to practice. Agricultural Water Management 179, 5–17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kang, S.Z., Zhang, L., Liang, Y.L., Hu, X.T., Cai, H.J. and Gu, B.J. (2002). Effects of limited irrigation on yield and water use efficiency of winter wheat in the Loess Plateau of China. Agricultural Water Management 55, 203–216.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kendy, E., Zhang, Y., Liu, C., Wang, J. and Steenhuis, T. (2004). Groundwater recharge from irrigated cropland in the North China Plain: case study of Luancheng county, Hebei Province, 1949–2000. Hydrological Processes 18, 2289–2302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lan, Y.C., Shen, L.X. and Li, R.F. (2013). Effects of different film mulching on soil temperature and moisture. Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin 29, 120–126. (in Chinese with English abstract).Google Scholar
Li, F.M., Wang, J., Xu, J.Z. and Xu, H.L. (2004a). Productivity and soil response to plastic film mulching durations for spring wheat on entisols in the semiarid Loess Plateau of China. Soil & Tillage Research 78, 9–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, F.M., Wang, P., Wang, J. and Xu, J.Z. (2004b). Effects of irrigation before sowing and plastic film mulching on yield and water uptake of spring wheat in semiarid loess plateau of China. Agricultural Water Management 67, 77–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, H.J., Kuang, N.K., Gou, Q.S., Ma, Y.Z. and Li, Q.Q. (2020). Effects of different film mulches on photosynthetic characteristics and yield of summer maize (Zea mays L.) in the North China Plain. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science 67, 179–190.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, R., Hou, X., Jia, Z. and Han, Q. (2016). Mulching materials improve soil properties and maize growth in the Northwestern Loess Plateau, China. Soil Research 54, 708–718.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, X., Peng, Z., Shi, H., Yan, J. and Wang, Z. (2015). Effects of different degradable films mulching on soil water potential, temperature and sunflower growth. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Machinery 46, 97–103. (in Chinese with English abstract).Google Scholar
Li, Y.S., Wu, L.H., Zhao, L.M., Lu, X.H., Fan, Q.L. and Zhang, F.S. (2007). Influence of continuous plastic film mulching on yield, water use efficiency and soil properties of rice fields under non-flooding condition. Soil & Tillage Research 93, 370–378.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, C.A., Li, F.R., Zhou, L.M., Feng, Q., Li, X. and Pan, C.C. (2013). Effects of water management with plastic film in a semi-arid agricultural system on available soil carbon fractions. European Journal of Soil Biology 57, 9–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, E.K., He, W.Q. and Yan, C.R. (2014). ‘White revolution’ to ‘white pollution’—agricultural plastic film mulch in China. Environmental Research Letters 9, 091001.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, Q., Chen, Y., Liu, Y., Wen, X. and Liao, Y. (2016). Coupling effects of plastic film mulching and urea types on water use efficiency and grain yield of maize in the Loess Plateau, China. Soil & Tillage Research 157, 1–10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Locher, J., Ombódi, A., Kassai, T. and Dimény, J. (2005). Influence of coloured mulches on soil temperature and yield of sweet pepper. European Journal of Horticultural Science 70, 135–141.Google Scholar
Moreno, M.M. and Moreno, A. (2008). Effect of different biodegradable and polyethylene mulches on soil properties and production in a tomato crop. Scientia Horticulturae 116, 256–263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ngouajio, M., Auras, R., Fernandez, R.T., Rubino, M., Counts, J.W.J. and Kijchavengkul, T. (2008). Field performance of aliphatic-aromatic copolyester biodegradable mulch films in a fresh market tomato production system. Hort Technology 18, 605–610.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Niu, J.Y., Gan, Y.T., Zhang, J.W. and Yang, Q.F. (1998). Postanthesis dry matter accumulation and redistribution in spring wheat mulched with plastic film. Crop Science 38, 1562–1568.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ordóñez, R.A., Savin, R., Cossani, C.M. and Slafer, G.A. (2015). Yield response to heat stress as affected by nitrogen availability in maize. Field Crops Research 183, 184–203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ren, X., Chen, X., Cai, T., Wei, T., Wu, Y. and Ali, S. (2017). Effects of ridge-furrow system combined with different degradable mulching materials on soil water conservation and crop production in semi-humid areas of China. Frontiers in Plant Science 8, 1–10.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Saglam, M., Sintim, H.Y., Bary, A.I., Miles, C.A., Ghimire, S. and Lnglis, D.A. (2017). Modeling the effect of biodegradable paper and plastic mulch on soil moisture dynamics. Agricultural Water Management 193, 240–250.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sander, M. (2019). Biodegradation of polymeric mulch films in agricultural soils: concepts, knowledge gaps, and future research directions. Environmental Science & Technology 53, 2304−2315.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Song, L.B., Jin, J.M. and He, J.Q. (2019). Effects of severe water stress on maize growth processes in the field. Sustainability 11, 5086.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sintim, H.Y. and Flury, M. (2017). Is biodegradable plastic mulch the solution to agriculture’s plastic problem? Environmental Science & Technology 51, 1068–1069.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sun, H., Shen, Y., Qiang, Y., Flerchinger, G.N., Zhang, Y., Liu, C. and Zhang, X.Y. (2010). Effect of precipitation change on water balance and WUE of the winter wheat–summer maize rotation in the North China Plain. Agricultural Water Management 97, 1139–1145.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tan, D.C., Guo, L.L., Liu, J.M. and Fan, Y.L. (2020). Response of dry matter translocation and grain yield of summer maize to biodegradable film in the North China Plain. International Agrophysics 34, 87–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomas, J.E., Ou, L.T., Allen, L.H., Vu, J.C. and Dickson, D.W. (2009). Nematode, fungi, and weed control using Telone C35 and colored plastic mulches. Crop Protection 28, 338–342.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, F.X., Feng, S.Y., Hou, X.Y., Kang, S.Z. and Han, J.J. (2009). Potato growth with and without plastic mulch in two typical regions of northern China. Field Crops Research 110, 123–129.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, Z.H., Wu, Q., Fan, B.H., Zheng, X.R., Zhang, J.Z., Li, W.H. and Guo, L. (2019a). Effects of mulching biodegradable films under drip irrigation on soil hydrothermal conditions and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) yield. Agricultural Water Management 213, 477–485.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, Z.H., Wu, Q., Fan, B.H., Zhang, J.Z., Li, W.H., Zheng, X.R., Lin, H. and Guo, L. (2019b). Testing biodegradable films as alternatives to plastic films in enhancing cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) yield under mulched drip irrigation. Soil & Tillage Research 192, 196–205.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wienhold, B.J., Vigil, M.F., Hendrickson, J.R. and Derner, J.D. (2018). Vulnerability of crops and croplands in the US Northern Plains to predicted climate change. Climatic Change 146, 219–230.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wortman, S.E., Kadoma, I. and Crandall, M.D. (2015). Assessing the potential for spunbond, nonwoven biodegradable fabric as mulches for tomato and bell pepper crops. Scientia Horticulturae 193, 209–217.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wu, Y., Du, T., Ding, R., Yuan, Y., Li, S. and Tong, L. (2017). An isotope method to quantify soil evaporation and evaluate water vapor movement under plastic film mulch. Agricultural Water Management 184, 59–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yan, C., He, W. and Turner, N.C. (2014). Plastic-film mulch in Chinese agriculture: importance and problems. World Agriculture 4, 32–36.Google Scholar
Yang, B., Blackwell, P.S. and Nicholson, D.F. (1996). A numerical model of heat and water movement in furrow-sown water repellent sandy soils. Water Resources Research 32, 3051–3061.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yunusa, I.A.M., Zerihun, A. and Gibberd, M.R. (2018). Analysis of the nexus between population, water resources and Global Food Security highlights significance of governance and research investments and policy priorities. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 98, 5764–5775.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zhang, S., Li, P. and Yang, X. (2011). Effects of tillage and plastic mulch on soil water, growth and yield of spring-sown maize. Soil & Tillage Research 112, 92–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhang, Y., Liu, M., Dannenmann, M., Tao, Y., Yao, Z., Jing, R., Zheng, X.H., Butterbach-Bahl, K. and Lin, S. (2017). Benefit of using biodegradable film on rice grain yield and N use efficiency in ground cover rice production system. Field Crops Research 201, 52–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhao, X., Li, F.D., Ai, Z.P., Li, J., and Gu, C. (2018). Stable isotope evidences for identifying crop water uptake in a typical winter wheat-summer maize rotation field in the North China Plain. Science of the Total Environment 618, 121–131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhou, X.B., Chen, Y.H. and Ouyang, Z. (2011). Effects of row spacing on soil water and water consumption of winter wheat under irrigated and rainfed conditions. Plant Soil and Environment 57, 115–121.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zou, X., Niu, W., Liu, J., Li, Y., Liang, B., Guo, L. and Guan, Y. (2017). Effects of residual mulch film on the growth and fruit quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Water Air and Soil Pollution 228, 71. doi: 10.1007/s11270-017-3255-2.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Zong et al. supplementary material

Zong et al. supplementary material

Download Zong et al. supplementary material(File)
File 408.7 KB