Long-term integrated water-saving agricultural practices enhance soil health and sustain cotton yield on saline-alkali reclaimed lands

IF 6.5 1区农林科学 Q1 AGRONOMY

Agricultural Water Management Pub Date : 2025-09-12 DOI:10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109800

Pengcheng Luo , Rui Chen , Tehseen Javed , Jihong Zhang , Pengpeng Chen , Juanjuan Yang , Jinzhu Zhang , Yue Wen , Wenhao Li , Qinggang Liu , Deyi Li , Zhenhua Wang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Reclamation and management of saline wastelands are crucial for enhancing soil quality and agricultural productivity. Integrated water-saving agricultural practices (IWAP) have shown positive effects on saline-alkali soil improvement. However, the long-term yield response mechanisms, particularly the causal relationships between integrated practices, holistic soil health (physical, chemical, and biological), and microbial drivers, remain poorly understood. This study compared fields reclaimed for 12, 17, 20, 22, and 27 years with adjacent uncultivated saline-alkaline wasteland as the control, focusing on the cumulative effects of IWAP. Soil physical, chemical, and biological properties were assessed alongside soil health scores (Cornell Soil Health Assessment, PCA) and seed cotton yield for the 2023 season. The results showed that after reclamation, the soil salt content (SSC) in the 0–20 cm layer decreased by 82.07 %93.19 %, and total carbon (TC), nitrogen (TN), and phosphorus (TP) content increased significantly. In the 20–60 cm layer, salinity decreased by 63.13 %89.19 %, and TC, TN, and TP also increased. Soil health scores (SHS) increased by 202.66 %322.11 % in the 0–20 cm layer and 155.09 %277.48 % in the 20–60 cm layer, with the topsoil showing greater improvement. Soil aggregate stability followed a "decrease-then-increase" trend, reaching the lowest values at 12 years and gradually recovering there-after. PLS-SEM analysis revealed that IWAP directly impacted WSA_> 0.25, SSC, and soil organic carbon (SOC), driving improvements in SHS and seed cotton yield. Key soil attributes such as WSA_>0.25, SOC, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and phosphorus (MBP) played pivotal roles in enhancing soil health and boosting yield. However, inefficient salt leaching and fluctuating microbial activity in the subsoil indicate areas for improvement in current practices. These findings not only decipher the mechanisms behind yield enhancement on reclaimed lands but also provide a robust scientific for optimizing management strategies to advance sustainable agroecosystems in saline-alkaline regions globally.

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长期综合节水农业实践可促进盐碱地土壤健康，维持棉花产量

盐碱地的开垦和管理对提高土壤质量和农业生产力至关重要。综合节水农业实践（IWAP）对盐碱地的改良效果显著。然而，长期产量响应机制，特别是综合做法、整体土壤健康（物理、化学和生物）和微生物驱动因素之间的因果关系，仍然知之甚少。以复垦12年、17年、20年、22年和27年的盐碱地为对照，重点研究了人工增效措施的累积效应。土壤物理、化学和生物特性以及土壤健康评分（康奈尔土壤健康评估，PCA）和2023年的棉籽产量进行了评估。结果表明：垦殖后，0 ~ 20 cm层土壤盐分含量（SSC）降低82.07 %93.19 %，总碳（TC）、氮（TN）、磷（TP）含量显著增加；在20 ~ 60 cm层，盐度降低了63.13 %89.19 %，TC、TN和TP也增加了。土壤健康评分（SHS）在0 ~ 20 cm层提高了202.66 %322.11 %，在20 ~ 60 cm层提高了155.09 %277.48 %，表土改善幅度较大。土壤团聚体稳定性表现出“先降低后增加”的趋势，在12年时达到最低值，此后逐渐恢复。PLS-SEM分析表明，IWAP直接影响了WSA>； 0.25、SSC和土壤有机碳（SOC），推动了SHS和籽棉产量的提高。wsa0.25、SOC、微生物量碳（MBC）和磷（MBP）等关键土壤属性在土壤健康和增产中起着关键作用。然而，低效的盐浸出和底土中波动的微生物活动表明，目前的做法有待改进。这些发现不仅揭示了开垦土地增产的机制，而且为优化管理策略以促进全球盐碱地农业生态系统的可持续发展提供了强有力的科学依据。

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来源期刊

Agricultural Water Management 农林科学-农艺学

CiteScore

12.10

自引率

14.90%

发文量

648

审稿时长

4.9 months

期刊介绍： Agricultural Water Management publishes papers of international significance relating to the science, economics, and policy of agricultural water management. In all cases, manuscripts must address implications and provide insight regarding agricultural water management.