Straw return increases crop production by improving soil organic carbon sequestration and soil aggregation in a long-term wheat-cotton cropping system

Straw return is a promising strategy for managing soil organic carbon(SOC)and improving yield stability.However,the optimal straw return strategy for sustainable crop production in the wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)-cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)cropping system remains uncertain.The objective of this study was to quantify the long-term(10 years)impact of carbon(C)input on SOC sequestration,soil aggregation and crop yields in a wheat-cotton cropping system in the Yangtze River Valley,China.Five treatments were arranged with a single-factor randomized design as follows:no straw return(Control),return of wheat straw only(Wt),return of cotton straw only(Ct),return of 50%wheat and 50%cotton straw(Wh-Ch)and return of 100%wheat and 100%cotton straw(Wt-Ct).In comparison to the Control,the SOC content increased by 8.4 to 20.2%under straw return.A significant linear positive correlation between SOC sequestration and C input(1.42-7.19 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(−1))(P<0.05)was detected.The percentages of aggregates of sizes>2 and 1-2 mm at the 0-20 cm soil depth were also significantly elevated under straw return,with the greatest increase of the aggregate stability in the Wt-Ct treatment(28.1%).The average wheat yields increased by 12.4-36.0%and cotton yields increased by 29.4-73.7%,and significantly linear positive correlations were also detected between C input and the yields of wheat and cotton.The average sustainable yield index(SYI)reached a maximum value of 0.69 when the C input was 7.08 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(−1),which was close to the maximum value(SYI of 0.69,C input of 7.19 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(-1))in the Wt-Ct treatment.Overall,the return of both wheat and cotton straw was the best strategy for improving SOC sequestration,soil aggregation,yields and their sustainability in the wheat-cotton rotation system.

Effects of Sowing Rate on Marginal Superiority and Yield of Wheat in Wheat-cotton Intercropping System

In the wheat-cotton intercropping system, total 6 sowing rates （187.5, 225.0, 262.5, 300.0, 337.5 and 375.0 kg/hm2） were arranged, and the effects of sowing rate on marginal superiority and yield of wheat were investigated. The re- sults showed that the effect of sowing rate on inner-line wheat was greater than that on side-line wheat; with the increased sowing rate, the marginal superiority of panicle number was reduced in overall, and the difference in panicle number be- tween inner and side lines was decreased from 9.0×10^5/hm2 （sowing rate of 187.5 kg/hm2） to 7.8×10^5/hm2 （sowing rate of 375.0 kg/hm2）; the marginal superiority of grains per spike was increased first and then reduced, and the largest difference in grains per spike between the inner and side lines reached 4.6 under the sowing rate of 300.0 kg/hm2; the marginal superiority of 1 000-grain weight and yield was gradually increased, and the largest difference in 1 000-grain weight between the inner and side lines reached 3.9 g under the sowing rate of 337.5 kg/hm2, and in yield reached 3 136.5 kg/hm2under the sowing rate of 375.0 kg/hm2. The effects of sowing rate on the three yield factors of intercropped wheat ranked as panicle number 〉 grains per spike 〉 1 000-grain weight. The appropriate sowing rate of wheat was 225.0-262.0 kg/hm2 in the wheat-cotton intercropping system.

Analysis on Marginal Superiority and Yield of Different Wheat Varieties in Wheat-cotton Intercropping System

In wheat-cotton intercropping system,the spike number per unit area,grains per spike,thousand-grain weight and yield of side line and inner line were investigated in six wheat varieties to study the marginal superiority and select suitable wheat varieties intercropped with cotton.The results showed that Xingmai No.4had obvious marginal superiority with the yield of 6 919.0 kg/hm2,so it was the suitable variety for wheat-cotton intercropping system.

Effects of N,P and K Amounts on Yield Traits of Wheat in Wheat-cotton Intercropping System

[Objective] This study was conducted to investigate the demands for N, P and K by wheat in wheat cotton intercropping system in high-fertility field of Hebei Province. [Method] The experiment adopted randomized block arrangement. Five treatments （0, 75, 150, 225 and 300 kg/hm2） were designed for N, P and K. Wheat tillering, ear number, yield and yield components were investigated. [Result] Wheat yield increased significantly with the application of N fertilizer. The number of ears per unit area, number of grains per ear, 1 000-grain weight and yield were im- proved with N increasing. P fertilizer improved wheat yield at a certain degree, but K had no effect on wheat yield. ]Conclusion] The optimum fertilization for wheat-cot- ton intercropping system was N at 225-300 kg/hm2 and P2Os at 150 kg/hm2; and there is no need to apply K.