Han Xiaoqing, Dang Pengfei, Liao Lechen, Song Fangqi, Zhang Miaomiao, Zhang Maoxue, Li Guoqing, Wen Shuyue, Yang Ning, Pan Xiping, Wang Xiaofan, Wang Wen, Qin Xiaoliang, Joseph Charles O, Siddique Kadambot H M
College of Agronomy, Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
Department of Crop Sciences and Beekeeping Technology College of Agricultural Sciences and Food Technology, University of Dar es Salaam, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Mlimani Campus, P.O.Box 35091, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
J Environ Sci (China). 2025 Jan;147:359-369. doi: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.12.001. Epub 2023 Dec 6.
Agricultural practices significantly contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, necessitating cleaner production technologies to reduce environmental pressure and achieve sustainable maize production. Plastic film mulching is commonly used in the Loess Plateau region. Incorporating slow-release fertilizers as a replacement for urea within this practice can reduce nitrogen losses and enhance crop productivity. Combining these techniques represents a novel agricultural approach in semi-arid areas. However, the impact of this integration on soil carbon storage (SOC), carbon footprint (CF), and economic benefits has received limited research attention. Therefore, we conducted an eight-year study (2015-2022) in the semi-arid northwestern region to quantify the effects of four treatments [urea supplied without plastic film mulching (CK-U), slow-release fertilizer supplied without plastic film mulching (CK-S), urea supplied with plastic film mulching (PM-U), and slow-release fertilizer supplied with plastic film mulching (PM-S)] on soil fertility, economic and environmental benefits. The results revealed that nitrogen fertilizer was the primary contributor to total GHG emissions (≥71.97%). Compared to other treatments, PM-S increased average grain yield by 12.01%-37.89%, water use efficiency by 9.19%-23.33%, nitrogen accumulation by 27.07%-66.19%, and net return by 6.21%-29.57%. Furthermore, PM-S decreased CF by 12.87%-44.31% and CF per net return by 14.25%-41.16%. After eight years, PM-S increased SOC (0-40 cm) by 2.46%, while PM-U decreased it by 7.09%. These findings highlight the positive effects of PM-S on surface soil fertility, economic gains, and environmental benefits in spring maize production on the Loess Plateau, underscoring its potential for widespread adoption and application.
农业实践对温室气体（GHG）排放有重大贡献，因此需要采用清洁生产技术来减轻环境压力并实现玉米的可持续生产。黄土高原地区普遍使用地膜覆盖。在此实践中，使用缓释肥料替代尿素可减少氮素损失并提高作物生产力。将这些技术结合起来代表了半干旱地区一种新型的农业方法。然而，这种整合对土壤碳储量（SOC）、碳足迹（CF）和经济效益的影响在研究中受到的关注有限。因此，我们在西北半干旱地区进行了一项为期八年（2015 - 2022年）的研究，以量化四种处理方式[不覆盖地膜施尿素（CK - U）、不覆盖地膜施缓释肥料（CK - S）、覆盖地膜施尿素（PM - U）和覆盖地膜施缓释肥料（PM - S）]对土壤肥力、经济和环境效益的影响。结果表明，氮肥是温室气体总排放量的主要贡献者（≥71.97%）。与其他处理相比，PM - S使平均粮食产量提高了12.01% - 37.89%，水分利用效率提高了9.19% - 23.33%，氮素积累量提高了27.07% - 66.19%，净收益提高了6.21% - 29.57%。此外，PM - S使碳足迹降低了12.87% - 44.31%，每净收益的碳足迹降低了14.25% - 41.16%。八年后，PM - S使0 - 40厘米土层的土壤有机碳增加了2.46%，而PM - U使其减少了7.09%。这些发现突出了PM - S对黄土高原春玉米生产中表层土壤肥力、经济收益和环境效益的积极影响，强调了其广泛采用和应用的潜力。
