Please wait a minute...
Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2017, Vol. 16 Issue (08): 1708-1719    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(16)61589-7
Crop Science Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Straw return and appropriate tillage method improve grain yield and nitrogen efficiency of winter wheat
CHEN Jin*, ZHENG Meng-jing*, PANG Dang-wei, YIN Yan-ping, HAN Ming-ming, LI Yan-xia, LUO Yong-li, XU Xu, LI Yong, WANG Zhen-lin
Agronomy College, Shandong Agricultural University/State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Tai’an 271018, P.R.China
Download:  PDF in ScienceDirect  
Export:  BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)      
Abstract     Straw return is an important management tool for tackling and promoting soil nutrient conservation and improving crop yield in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, China. Although the incorporation of maize straw with deep plowing and rotary tillage practices are widespread in the region, only few studies have focused on rotation tillage. To determine the effects of maize straw return on the nitrogen (N) efficiency and grain yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), we conducted experiments in this region for 3 years. Five treatments were tested: (i) rotary tillage without straw return (RT); (ii) deep plowing tillage without straw return (DT); (iii) rotary tillage with total straw return (RS); (iv) deep plowing tillage with total straw return (DS); (v) rotary tillage of 2 years and deep plowing tillage in the 3rd year with total straw return (TS). Treatments with straw return increased kernels no. ear–1, thousand-kernel weight (TKW), grain yields, ratio of dry matter accumulation post-anthesis, and nitrogen (N) efficiency whereas reduced the ears no. ha–1 in the 2011–2012 and 2012–2013 growing seasons. Compared with the rotary tillage, deep plowing tillage significantly increased the grain yield, yield components, total dry matter accumulation, and N efficiency in 2013–2014. RS had significantly higher straw N distribution, soil inorganic nitrogen content, and soil enzymes activities in the 0–10 cm soil layer compared with the DS and TS. However, significantly lower values were observed in the 10–20 and 20–30 cm soil layers. TS obtained approximately equal grain yield as DS, and it also reduced the resource costs. Therefore, we conclude that TS is the most economical method for increasing grain yield and N efficiency of winter wheat in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain.
Keywords:  grain yield        N efficiency       straw return        tillage method        winter wheat  
Received: 22 August 2016   Accepted:
CLC Number: 

null

 
Fund: 

The research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFD0300400), the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, 2015CB150404), the Special Fund for Agroscientific Research in Public Interest of China (201203100), the National Key Technologies R&D Program of China during the 12th Five-year Plan period (2012BAD04B05), the Project of Shandong Province Higher Educational Science and Technology, China (J14LF12), the Shandong Province Mount Tai Industrial Talents Program, China, and the Shandong Province Key Agricultural Project for Application Technology Innovation, China.

Corresponding Authors:  Correspondence LI Yong, E-mail: woooowo@126.com; WANG Zhen-lin, E-mail: zlwang@sdau.edu.cn   

Cite this article: 

CHEN Jin, ZHENG Meng-jing, PANG Dang-wei, YIN Yan-ping, HAN Ming-ming, LI Yan-xia, LUO Yong-li, XU Xu, LI Yong, WANG Zhen-lin. 2017. Straw return and appropriate tillage method improve grain yield and nitrogen efficiency of winter wheat. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 16(08): 1708-1719.

Aulakh M S, Khera T S, Doran J W, Kuldip S, Bijay S. 2000. Yields and nitrogen dynamics in a rice-wheat system using green manure and inorganic fertilizer. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 64, 1867–1876.

Cao Y C, Han Y, Tang H Y, Wang X, Sun D L, Sun Y F, Sun X L. 2015. Testing of proficiency for measurement of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes. Acta Pedologica Sinica, 52, 212–218. (in Chinese)

Chen J, Tang Y H, Yin Y P, Pang D W, Cui Z Y, Zheng M J, Peng D L, Yang W B, Yang D Q, Li Y X, Wang Z L, Li Y. 2015. Effects of straw returning plus nitrogen fertilizer on nitrogen utilization and grain yield in winter wheat. Acta Agronomic Sinica, 41, 160–167. (in Chinese)

Chen X J, Zhang J W, Yang B A, Zhang F Y, Chen Z J, Hu Y G. 2016. Relationships among carbon isotope discrimination, grain yield and photosynthetic traits of flag leaves in winter wheat. Agricultural Research in Arid Areas, 34, 166–172. (in Chinese)

Chen X P, Cui Z L, Fan M S, Vitousek P, Zhao M, Ma W Q, Wang Z L, Zhang W J, Yan X Y, Yang J C, Deng X P, Gao Q, Zhang Q, Guo S W, Ren J, Li S Q, Ye Y L, Wang Z H, Huang J L, Tang Q Y, et al. 2014. Producing more grain with lower environmental costs. Nature, 514, 486–489.

Chen X P, Cui Z L, Vitousek P, Cassman K G, Matson P A, Bai J S, Meng Q F, Hou P, Yue S C, Römheld V. 2011. Integrated soil-crop system management for food security. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 108, 6399–6404.

Dai X L, Zhou X H, Jia D Y, Xiao L L, Kong H B, He M R. 2013. Managing the seeding rate to improve nitrogen-use efficiency of winter wheat. Field Crops Research, 154, 100–109.

Duan H P, Niu Y Z, Bian X M. 2012. Effects of tillage mode and straw return on soil organic carbon and rice yield in direct seeding rice field. Bulletin of Soil and Water Conservation, 32, 23–27.

Duan Y H, Xu M G, Gao S D, Yang X Y, Huang S M, Liu H B, Wang H R. 2014. Nitrogen use efficiency in a wheat-corn cropping system from 15 years of manure and fertilizer applications. Field Crops Research, 157, 47–56.

Gao Y J, Zhu P L, Huang D M, Wang Z M, Li S X. 2000. Long-term impact of different soil management on organic matter and total nitrogen in rice-based cropping system. Soil and Environmental Sciences, 9, 27–30.

Guan D H, Mahdi M, Zhang Y S, Duan L S, Tan W M, Zhang M C, Li Z H. 2014. Tillage practices affect biomass and grain yield through regulating root growth, root-bleeding sap and nutrients uptake in summer maize. Field Crops Research, 157, 89–97.

He Y T, Zhang W J, Xu M G, Tong X G, Sun F X, Wang J Z, Huang S M, Zhu P. 2015. Long-term combined chemical and manure fertilizations increase soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in aggregate fractions at three typical cropland soils in China. Science of the Total Environment, 532, 635–644.

Hou X Q, Li R, Jia Z K, Han Q F, Yang B P. 2012. Effects of rotational tillage practices on soil properties, winter wheat yields and water-use efficiency in semi-arid areas of north-west China. Field Crops Research, 129, 7–13.

IAEA (International Atomic Engergy Agency). 2003. Management of crop residues for sustainable crop production. In: IAEATECDOC–1354. Soil and Water Management & Crop Production Section. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria. pp. 207–220.

Izumic Y, Yoshida T, Iijima M. 2009. Effects of subsoiling to the non-tilled field of wheat-soybean rotation on the root system development, water uptake, and yield. Plant Production Science, 12, 327–335.

Jiang X, He D X, Ren H Z, Liu Q R, Hu M. 2012. Effects of different patterns of rotational tillage on soil bulk density in wheat field and wheat root development. Journal of Triticeae Crops, 32, 711–715. (in Chinese)

Jin L B, Cui H Y, Li B, Zhang J W, Dong S T, Liu P. 2012. Effects of integrated agronomic management practices on yield and nitrogen efficiency of summer maize in North China. Field Crops Research, 134, 30–35.

Kaewpradit W, Toomsan B, Cadisch G, Vityakon P, Limpinuntana V, Saenjan P, Jogloy S, Paanothai A. 2009. Mixing groundnut residues and rice straw to improve rice yield and N use efficiency. Field Crops Research, 110, 130–138.

Karami A, Homee M, Afalinia S, Ruhipour H, Basirat S. 2012. Organic resource management: Impacts on soil aggregate stability and other soil physico-chemical properties. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 148, 22–28.

Kong F L, Chen F, Zhang H L, Huang G H. 2010. Effects of rotational tillage on soil physical properties and winter wheat yield. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 26, 150–155. (in Chinese)

Kong L A. 2014. Maize residues, soil quality, and wheat growth in China. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 34, 405–416.

Li C F, Yue L X, Kou Z K, Zhang Z S, Wang J P. 2012. Short-term effects of conservation management practices on soil labile organic carbon fractions under a rape-rice rotation in central China. Soil Tillage Research, 119, 31–37.

Li S K, Wang K R, Feng J K, Xie R Z, Gao S J. 2006. Factors affecting seeding emergence in winter wheat under different tillage patterns with maize stalk mulching returned to the field. Acta Agronomic Sinica, 32, 463–465. (in Chinese)

Liang T F, Xu S H, Liu K Q, Wang D J, Liang H, Dong D F, Wei S Q, Mo R X, Zeng K, Jiang L G. 2009. Influence of tillage patterns on incorporated straw nitrogen release and nitrogen utilization of rice. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 42, 3564–3570. (in Chinese)

Liu D Y. 2009. Physiological and ecological mechanism of stable and high yield of broadcasted rice in paddy field with high standing-stubbles under no-tillage condition. Ph D thesis, Sichuan Agricultural University, China. (in Chinese)

Liu S, Yan C R, He W Q, Chen B Q, Zhang Y Q, Liu Q, Liu E K. 2015. Effects of different tillage practices on soil water-stable aggregation and organic carbon distribution in dryland farming in Northern China. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 35, 65–69.

Liu X H, Gao W S, Zhu W S. 2001. Mechanism and Technology Mode of Straw Returning into Field. China Agriculture Press, Beijing. pp. 14–15. (in Chinese)

Lou Y L, Xu M G, Wang W, Sun XL, Zhao K. 2011. Return rate of straw residue affects soil organic C sequestration by chemical fertilization. Soil Tillage Research, 113, 70–73.

Man J G, Shi Y, Yu Z W, Zhang Y L. 2015. Dry matter production, photosynthesis of flag leaves and water use in winter wheat are affected by supplemental irrigation in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China. PLOS ONE, 10, e0137274.

NBSC (National Bureau of Statistics of China). 2013. China Statistical Yearbook. China Statistics Press, Beijing.

p. 453. (in Chinese)

Nie L P, Guo L W, Niu H Y, Wei J, Li Z J. 2015. Effects of rotational tillage on tilth soil structure and crop yield and quality in maize-wheat cropping system. Acta Agronomic Sinica, 41, 468–478. (in Chinese)

Pan G X, Zhou P, Li Z P, Smith P, Li L Q, Qiu D S, Zhang X H, Xu X B, Shen S Y, Chen X M. 2009. Combined inorganic/organic fertilization enhances N efficiency and increases rice productivity through organic carbon accumulation in a rice paddy from the Tai Lake region, China. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 131, 274–280.

Pang D W, Chen J, Tang Y H, Yin Y P, Yang D Q, Cui Z Y, Zheng M J, Li Y, Wang Z L. 2016. Effect of returning methods of maize straw and N treatments on soil physicochemical property and yield of winter wheat. Acta Agronomic Sinica, 42, 1689–1699. (in Chinese)

Ponnamperuma F N. 1984. Straw as a source of nutrients for wetland rice. In: Organic Matter and Rice. International Rice Research Institute, Los Banos, Philippines. pp. 117–136.

Powlson D S, Glendining M J, Coleman K, Whitmore A P. 2011. Implications for soil properties of removing cereal straw: Results from long-term studies. Agronomy Journal, 103, 279–287.

Shi Y, Yu Z W, Man J G, Ma S Y, Gao, Z Q, Zhang Y L. 2016. Tillage practice affect dry matter accumulation and grain yield in winter wheat in the North China Plain. Soil & Tillage Research, 160, 73–81.

Snyder C S, Bruulsema T W, Jensen T L. 2007. Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Cropping Systems and the Influence of Fertilizer Management: A Literature Review. International Plant Nutrition Institute, Norcross, GA.

Tang Y, Wu X, Li C, Wu C, Ma X, Huang G. 2013. Long-term effect of year-round tillage patterns on yield and grain quality of wheat. Plant Production Science, 16, 365–373.

Tian S Z, Ning T Y, Wang Y, Li H J, Zhong W L, Li Z J. 2010. Effects of different tillage methods and straw-returning on soil organic carbon content in a winter wheat field. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 21, 373–378. (in Chinese)

Tian S Z, Ning T Y, Zhao H X, Wang B W, Li N, Han H F, Li Z J, Chi S Y. 2012. Response of CH4 and N2O emissions and wheat yields to tillage method changes in the North China Plain. PLOS ONE, 7, e51206.

Vaclav S, Radek V, Jana C, Helena K, Pavel R. 2013. Winter wheat yield and quality related to tillage practice: Input level and environmental conditions. Soil & Tillage Research, 132, 77–85.

Vanlauwe B, Kihira J, Chivenge P, Pypers P, Coe R, Six J. 2011. Agronomic use efficiency of N fertilizer in maize-based systems in sub-Saharan Africa within the context of integrated soil fertility management. Plant and Soil, 339, 35–50.

Wang X B, Cai D X, Hoogmoed W B, Oenema O, Perdok U D. 2006. Potential effect of conservation tillage on sustainable land use: A review of global longterm studies. Pedosphere, 16, 587–595

Wang X B, Wu H J, Dai K, Zhang D C, Feng Z H, Zhao Q S, Wu X P, Jin K, Cai D X, Oenema O, Hoogmoed W B. 2012. Tillage and crop residue effects on rainfed wheat and maize production in northern China. Field Crops Research, 132, 106–116.

Wei T, Zhang P, Wang K, Ding R X, Yang B P, Nie J F, Jia Z K, Han Q F. 2015. Effects of wheat straw incorporation on the availability of soil nutrients and enzyme activities in semiarid areas. PLOS ONE, 10, e0120994.

Xu G W, Tan G L, Wang Z Q, Liu L J, Yang J C. 2009. Effects of wheat-residue application and site-specific nitrogen management on grain yield and quality and nitrogen use efficiency in direct-seeding rice. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 42, 2736–2746. (in Chinese)

Xu Y Z, Nie L X, Buresh J R, Huang J L, Cui K H, Xu B, Gong W H, Peng S B. 2010. Agronomic performance of late-season rice under different tillage, straw, and nitrogen management. Field Crops Research, 115, 79–84.

Yang J C, Han X G, Huang J H, Pan Q M. 2003. The dynamics of soil organic matter in cropland responding to agricultural practices. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 23, 787–796. (in Chinese)

Yu Z W. 2003. Crop Cultivation. China Agriculture Press, Beijing. pp. 44–46. (in Chinese).

Zhang F S, Chen X P, Vitousek P. 2013. Chinese agriculture: An experiment for the world. Nature, 497, 22–35.

Zhang F S, Wang J Q, Zhang W F, Cui Z L, Ma W Q, Chen X P, Jiang R F. 2008. Nitrogen use efficiences of major cereal crops in China and measures for improvement. Acta Pedologica Sinica, 45, 915–924. (in Chinese)

Zhang P, Chen X L, Wei T, Yang Z, Jia Z K, Yang B P, Han Q F, Ren X L. 2016. Effects of straw incorporation on the soil nutrient contents, enzyme activities, and crop yield in a semiarid region of China. Soil Tillage Research, 160, 65–72.

Zhang P, Wei T, Jia Z K, Han Q F, Ren X L. 2014. Soil aggregate and crop yield changes with different rates of straw incorporation in semi-arid areas of northwest China. Geoderma, 230–231, 41–49.

Zhang P, Wei T, Li Y L, Wang K, Jia Z K, Han Q F, Ren X L. 2015. Effects of straw incorporation on the stratification of the soil organic C, total N and C:N ratio in a semiarid region of China. Soil Tillage Research, 153, 28–35.

Zhang Y X, Yang J L, Liu W, Li L, Gao Y J, Xiao L L, Mao N, Tian L G. 2009. Effects of nitrogen rate on nitrogen uptake and utilization of winter wheat and residual nitrate in soil under straw mulch. Agricultural Research in the Arid Areas, 2, 189–193. (in Chinese)

Zhao P, Chen F. 2008. Effects of straw mulching plus nitrogen fertilizer on nitrogen efficiency and grain yield in winter wheat. Acta Agronomic Sinica, 34, 1014–1018. (in Chinese)

Zhao S C, Li K J, Zhou W, Qiu S J, Huang S W, He P. 2016. Changes in soil microbial community, enzyme activities and organic matter fractions under long-term straw return in north-central China. Agriculture, Ecosystem and Environment, 216, 82–88.

Zhao Y L, Guo H B, Xue Z W, Mu X Y, Li C H. 2014. Effects of tillage and straw returning on biomass and water use efficiency in a winter and summer maize rotation system. Acta Agronomic Sinica, 40, 1797–1807. (in Chinese)

Zhu L Q, Hu N J, Yang M F, Zhan X H, Zhang Z W. 2014. Effects of different tillage and straw return on soil organic carbon in a rice-wheat rotation system. PLOS ONE, 9, e88900.
[1] WEI Huan-he, GE Jia-lin, ZHANG Xu-bin, ZHU Wang, DENG Fei, REN Wan-jun, CHEN Ying-long, MENG Tian-yao, DAI Qi-gen. Decreased panicle N application alleviates the negative effects of shading on rice grain yield and grain quality[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(7): 2041-2053.
[2] DING Yong-gang, ZHANG Xin-bo, MA Quan, LI Fu-jian, TAO Rong-rong, ZHU Min, Li Chun-yan, ZHU Xin-kai, GUO Wen-shan, DING Jin-feng. Tiller fertility is critical for improving grain yield, photosynthesis and nitrogen efficiency in wheat[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(7): 2054-2066.
[3] LIU Dan, ZHAO De-hui, ZENG Jian-qi, Rabiu Sani SHAWAI, TONG Jing-yang, LI Ming, LI Fa-ji, ZHOU Shuo, HU Wen-li, XIA Xian-chun, TIAN Yu-bing, ZHU Qian, WANG Chun-ping, WANG De-sen, HE Zhong-hu, LIU Jin-dong, ZHANG Yong. Identification of genetic loci for grain yield‑related traits in the wheat population Zhongmai 578/Jimai 22[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(7): 1985-1999.
[4] ZHAO Xiao-dong, QIN Xiao-rui, LI Ting-liang, CAO Han-bing, XIE Ying-he. Effects of planting patterns plastic film mulching on soil temperature, moisture, functional bacteria and yield of winter wheat in the Loess Plateau of China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(5): 1560-1573.
[5] LI Min, ZHU Da-wei, JIANG Ming-jin, LUO De-qiang, JIANG Xue-hai, JI Guang-mei, LI Li-jiang, ZHOU Wei-jia. Dry matter production and panicle characteristics of high yield and good taste indica hybrid rice varieties[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(5): 1338-1350.
[6] WANG Xin-yu, YANG Guo-dong, XU Le, XIANG Hong-shun, YANG Chen, WANG Fei, PENG Shao-bing. Grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of an ultrashort-duration variety grown under different nitrogen and seeding rates in direct-seeded and double-season rice in Central China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(4): 1009-1020.
[7] ZHOU Qun, YUAN Rui, ZHANG Wei-yang, GU Jun-fei, LIU Li-jun, ZHANG Hao, WANG Zhi-qin, YANG Jian-chang. Grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency and physiological performance of indica/japonica hybrid rice in response to various nitrogen rates[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(1): 63-79.
[8] ZHENG Chang, WANG Yue-chao, XU Wen-ba, YANG De-sheng, YANG Guo-dong, YANG Chen, HUANG Jian-liang, PENG Shao-bing. Border effects of the main and ratoon crops in rice ratooning system[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(1): 80-91.
[9] HAN Yu-ling, GUO Dong, MA Wei, GE Jun-zhu, LI Xiang-ling, Ali Noor MEHMOOD, ZHAO Ming, ZHOU Bao-yuan. Strip deep rotary tillage combined with controlled-release urea improves the grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of maize in the North China Plain[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(9): 2559-2576.
[10] DENG Fei, HE Lian-hua, CHEN Duo, ZHANG Chi, TIAN Qing-lan, WU Zhen-yuan, LI Qiu-ping, ZENG Yu-ling, ZHONG Xiao-yuan, CHEN Hong, WANG Li, REN Wan-jun. Growth characteristics and grain yield of machine-transplanted medium indica hybrid rice with high daily yield[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(9): 2547-2558.
[11] XU Chen-chen, ZHANG Ping, WANG Yuan-yuan, LUO Ning, TIAN Bei-jing, LIU Xi-wei, WANG Pu, HUANG Shou-bing. Grain yield and grain moisture associations with leaf, stem and root characteristics in maize[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(7): 1941-1951.
[12] HUANG Jin-wen, WU Jia-yi, CHEN Hong-fei, ZHANG Zhi-xing, FANG Chang-xun, SHAO Cai-hong, LIN Wei-wei, WENG Pei-ying, Muhammad Umar KHAN, LIN Wen-xiong . Optimal management of nitrogen fertilizer in the main rice crop and its carrying-over effect on ratoon rice under mechanized cultivation in Southeast China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(2): 351-364.
[13] Muhammad Amjad BASHIR, ZHAI Li-mei, WANG Hong-yuan, LIU Jian, Qurat-Ul-Ain RAZA, GENG Yu-cong, Abdur REHIM, LIU Hong-bin. Apparent variations in nitrogen runoff and its uptake in paddy rice under straw incorporation[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(11): 3356-3367.
[14] Ebrahim ROOHI, Reza MOHAMMADI, Abdoul Aziz NIANE, Javad VAFABAKHSH, Mozaffar ROUSTAEE, Mohammad Reza JALAL KAMALI, Shahriar SOHRABI, Shahriar FATEHI, Hossain TARIMORADI. Genotype×tillage interaction and the performance of winter bread wheat genotypes in temperate and cold dryland conditions[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(11): 3199-3215.
[15] HUANG Li-ying, Li Xiao-xiao, ZHANG Yun-bo, Shah FAHAD, WANG Fei. dep1 improves rice grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency simultaneously by enhancing nitrogen and dry matter translocation[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(11): 3185-3198.
No Suggested Reading articles found!