Field Crops Research最新文献

{"title":"Synergistic regulation of chalkiness reduction in ratoon season rice by ABA and ascorbic acid: A physiological perspective","authors":"Hailong Xu ,&nbsp;Bianhong Zhang ,&nbsp;Xin Wu ,&nbsp;Yijiang Hu ,&nbsp;Americ Allison ,&nbsp;Bin Qin ,&nbsp;Jinying Li ,&nbsp;Chaojie Lan ,&nbsp;Jingnan Zou ,&nbsp;Yazhou Liu ,&nbsp;Anqi Li ,&nbsp;Qingyang Zhang ,&nbsp;Chunlin Guo ,&nbsp;Zhixing Zhang ,&nbsp;Wenxiong Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110360","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110360","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Grain chalkiness affects rice quality, and the chalkiness reduction improves grain appearance and processing quality. Ratoon season rice (RSR), is characterized by intrinsically reduced chalkiness and superior grain quality parameters. However, the physiological pathways governing these traits remain largely uncharacterized. Using three genotypes (YY1540, HHZ, M1YZZ), we compared grain-filling traits, endogenous hormone dynamics, and metabolomic profiles among main crop (MC), single-season mid-late rice (LR) heading simultaneously with RSR, and RSR.The results showed that the chalkiness degree of inferior spikelets (IS) in RSR significantly reduced by 38.09–40.24 % compared to MC and LR, respectively, whereas the head rice percentage increased by 2.50–2.86 %. Grain filling of IS began earlier in RSR, and peak filling occurred 7.99 and 6.64 days earlier than in MC and LR.Hormonal measurements indicated that ABA content in RSR grains was significantly higher at the grain-filling peak, with ABA levels of IS elevated by 17.61–22.03 % relative to MC and LR. Metabolomic analysis identified significant enrichment of antioxidant-related metabolites such as ascorbic acid (ASA), <span>D</span>-galactose, and malic acid in IS of RSR. Exogenous ABA enhanced ASA-GSH (reduced glutathione) cycling and activities of antioxidant enzymes, and reduced chalkiness by 9.32 %-20.04 % in IS of MC and LR. ASA application improved endosperm structure，increased starch synthesis-related enzyme activities, and reduced chalkiness by 16.35 %-17.42 %. In summary, elevated ABA in RSR promotes ASA accumulation and antioxidant defenses, which mitigates oxidative damage, improves starch deposition, and reduces the chalkiness of RSR. This study reveals a key ABA-ASA regulatory mechanism that contributes to grain quality formation in RSR.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110360"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimizing nitrogen fertilization modulates root-soil interactions to enhance yield and quality of tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) cultivated in sandy soil","authors":"Xu Zheng ,&nbsp;Wenjing Zhao ,&nbsp;Luhua Li ,&nbsp;Jianguo Liu ,&nbsp;Jiaping Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110354","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110354","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Context&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Nitrogen-efficient fertilization on marginal sandy lands is crucial for enhancing agricultural productivity in degraded soils while promoting global food and oil security. However, the relationships between nitrogen (N) regimes, root–soil interactions, and tuber quality remain poorly understood.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study aims to elucidate how N fertilization modulates root adaptive strategies, soil nutrient availability, and extracellular enzyme activity, thereby influencing tuber yield and quality in tiger nut (&lt;em&gt;Cyperus esculentus&lt;/em&gt; L.) grown on sandy farmland.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The experiment was conducted in sandy farmland with five nitrogen (N) application treatments: no nitrogen (N0), 100 (N100), 200 (N200), 300 (N300) and 400 (N400) kg N ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;. We systematically investigated: root functional traits, soil properties (total nitrogen, inorganic nitrogen, and organic matter), extracellular enzyme (&lt;em&gt;β&lt;/em&gt;-glucosidase (&lt;em&gt;β&lt;/em&gt;G), &lt;em&gt;β&lt;/em&gt;-&lt;span&gt;D&lt;/span&gt;-cellobiosidase (CBH), &lt;em&gt;β&lt;/em&gt;-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG), &lt;em&gt;β&lt;/em&gt;-1,4-xylosidase (XYL), &lt;span&gt;L&lt;/span&gt;-leucine aminopeptidase (LAP)) and tuber parameters (yield, crude fat, protein and starch). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyze the relationships between soil properties and plant performance.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Our results revealed divergent root adaptation strategies across nitrogen (N) gradients. Under N0, tiger nut plants prioritized resource allocation toward thinner, elongated roots, significantly increasing specific root length (24.24 % – 372.63 %) and area (35.73 % – 385.22 %). Conversely, nitrogen-sufficient regimes (N300–N400) promoted denser root architectures, with root area and length densities increasing by 18.27 % – 57.42 %. This morphological shift coincided with significant soil enrichment; N300–N400 levels elevated soil inorganic nitrogen, total nitrogen, and organic matter, while stimulating &lt;em&gt;β&lt;/em&gt;G and NAG activities. However, soil pH and CBH declined, and XYL activity peaked specifically at N300. Consequently, tuber yield reached a maximum at N300 before plateauing at N400. High nitrogen levels further improved quality by boosting crude protein (35.41 % – 42.47 %) and oil content (10.37 %–11.56 %), despite a concurrent reduction in starch content.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusions&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study demonstrates the synergy between root morphological plasticity and soil biochemical health in boosting tiger nut productivity. Strategic nitrogen management stimulates adaptive root architecture and enhances soil enzymatic activity and nutrient availability in nutrient‑poor environments. A critical threshold of 300 kg N ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; was identified, providing a framework to transform marginal sandy soils into productive, high‑quality systems. These findings offer a sustainable pathway for cultivating clima","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110354"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146000557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Organic fertilizer application improved the growth characteristics and enhanced sustainable production of wheat-maize crops under saline water irrigation","authors":"Changkuan Zhu ,&nbsp;Chunlian Zheng ,&nbsp;Caiyun Cao ,&nbsp;Dan Liu ,&nbsp;Hongkai Dang ,&nbsp;Huimin Yuan ,&nbsp;Anqi Zhang ,&nbsp;Junpeng Zhang ,&nbsp;Chitao Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110350","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110350","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context or problem</h3><div>Saline water irrigation alleviates freshwater scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions but causes salt stress. However, the mitigating effects and regulatory mechanisms of organic fertilizer on salt stress remain unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Objective or research question</h3><div>This study aimed to clarify the growth and development responses of wheat and maize under saline water irrigation combined with organic fertilizer application, and to reveal the distinct mechanisms affecting these two crops.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The four electrical conductivity (EC) levels of irrigation water (1.3 dS·m⁻¹, T1; 3.4 dS·m⁻¹, T2; 7.1 dS·m⁻¹, T3; 10.6 dS·m⁻¹, T4) and two fertilization types of organic fertilizer application (F1) and no organic fertilizer application (F0) were set up in the experiment. During the 2022–2024 growing periods, plant height (PH), leaf area index (LAI), dry matter accumulation (DMA), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), chlorophyll relative content (SPAD), and yield of winter wheat and summer maize were measured.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The results showed that winter wheat exhibited significant reductions in PH, LAI, DMA, Pn, Tr, and SPAD under T4 compared with T1. In contrast, summer maize showed significant decreases in growth and physiological indicators under both T3 and T4, demonstrating its greater sensitivity to saline water irrigation. F1 effectively mitigated the adverse effects of saline water irrigation on wheat and maize growth, enhancing the productivity of wheat-maize system. Especially under T3 and T4 treatments, the F1 led to an increase of 9.36 % and 12.75 % in the average annual yield of wheat, and by 9.03 % and 8.44 % for maize, respectively. Furthermore, organic fertilizer application elevated the EC thresholds of irrigation water for 5 % and 10 % yield reductions in the wheat-maize system under saline irrigation. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) indicated that organic fertilizer enhanced yield through crop-specific pathways. For winter wheat, organic fertilizer enhanced yield through the combined improvement of growth indicators as well as photosynthetic performance. Whereas summer maize primarily regulated its growth through photosynthesis to promote yield, with no significant direct impact of organic fertilizer on growth indicators.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>In summary, organic fertilizer application mitigated the negative effects of saline water irrigation and boosted productivity in both types of crops through different pathways.</div></div><div><h3>Implications or significance</h3><div>The research provided a scientific basis for sustainable grain production under saline water irrigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110350"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146000558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A modeling framework for spatial optimization of cropping structure to promote food supply–demand balance and environmental sustainability","authors":"Xiaoliang Li ,&nbsp;Kening Wu ,&nbsp;Weimin Cai ,&nbsp;Bailin Zhang ,&nbsp;Yanan Liu ,&nbsp;Xiao Li","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.110320","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.110320","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Context&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Imbalances in cropping structure and disordered spatial distribution pose potential threats to environmental carrying capacity, food security, economic returns, and land-use efficiency. However, systematic approaches to optimizing both cropping structures and their spatial allocation remain limited. Previous studies have primarily focused on quantitative optimization while neglecting critical constraints, thereby introducing biases and limiting spatial applicability.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study aims to diagnose the problems in current cropping structures and develop an integrated optimization framework that simultaneously accounts for both quantitative and spatial dimensions, thereby promoting food supply–demand balance and environmental sustainability.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;We employed a life cycle assessment model to evaluate the water and carbon footprints of rice, wheat, and maize, and applied a food supply–demand balance model to identify cropping structures that meet healthy dietary requirements. A multi-objective optimization model combined with an integer linear programming approach was then used to optimize both the quantity and spatial allocation of cropping structures under dietary demand and planetary boundary constraints.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Between 2018 and 2023, the sown areas of rice, wheat, and maize remained relatively stable, whereas double-cropping areas declined and single-cropping areas expanded. Compared with the diet-oriented cropping structure in 2023, the current structure resulted in 12.18 % higher carbon footprint and 8.78 % higher water footprint, though still 19.28 % and 28.08 % lower than the planetary boundaries of carbon and blue water use, respectively. Under three optimization scenarios, net economic benefits increased by up to 37.23 %, while water and carbon footprints were reduced by 8.87 % and 16.43 %, respectively. The optimized spatial configuration was dominated by single-cropping maize and wheat–maize rotations, with cropland suitability improved by at least 9.52 %. Nevertheless, notable discrepancies remain between the current and optimized patterns, highlighting the urgent need for policy support and adjustment.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusions&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Although the current structure has not exceeded planetary boundaries, it exhibits a significant mismatch between supply and demand. Optimized cropping structures can simultaneously enhance economic benefits and ensure environmental sustainability while maintaining dietary balance. Compared with current conditions, the optimized spatial allocation further improves overall cropland suitability.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Implications&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study proposes an integrated pathway for the quantitative and spatial optimization of cropping structures in the context of healthy dietary demand and environmental sustainability, providing a methodological framework and practical reference ","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110320"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145902399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustainable intensification of maize through improved nutrient and plant density management in a water-sensitive lake basin agroecosystem","authors":"Feiyu Ying ,&nbsp;Zhibing Lv ,&nbsp;Yuewen Huo ,&nbsp;Cong Chen ,&nbsp;Zhengxiong Zhao ,&nbsp;Xiaokang Hu ,&nbsp;Prakash Lakshmanan ,&nbsp;Hans Lambers ,&nbsp;Fusuo Zhang ,&nbsp;Wen-Feng Cong","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110326","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110326","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Achieving high maize yield while minimizing environmental impacts remains a major challenge for global food security and ecological sustainability, particularly in water-protection areas where nutrient losses pose risks to water quality.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study aimed to systematically assess the effects of nutrient management and planting density on maize yield, nutrient accumulation, allocation and remobilization, as well as nutrient runoff and environmental footprints, to identify sustainable agronomic approaches for enhancing maize productivity while reducing environmental impacts in water-protection areas.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A two-year field experiment was conducted in the Erhai Lake Basin, a water-protection area in Southwest China. Four treatments were established: (1) no fertilizer (CK); (2) farmer’s practice (FP, high NPK inputs with low planting density); and (3) two optimized treatments: T1 with a recommended NPK rate combined with higher planting density, and T2 with the same planting density as T1 but 30 kg N ha⁻¹ less N, while keeping P and K constant.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Compared with FP, maize yield increased by 16.7–17.2 % under T1 and 6.2–16.0 % under T2, primarily due to increases in harvested ear number and thousand-kernel weight. T1 also enhanced pre- and post-silking N and P accumulation, with total aboveground N and P accumulation increasing by 4.9–21.4 % and 15.6–20.7 %, respectively. Improved remobilization of N and P from senescing leaves to the grain further contributed to yield gains. Nutrient losses were significantly reduced under optimized treatments: total N runoff decreased by 25.4–53.4 % (T1) and 31.0–59.3 % (T2), mainly through reductions in NO₃^-–N, NH₄⁺–N, and dissolved N (DON); total P runoff decreased by 24.3–38.9 % (T1) and 25.5–26.6 % (T2), largely due to lower total dissolved P (TDP). In addition, T1 reduced the N surplus by 52.1–84.8 % and achieved a negative P surplus under high soil P conditions. The N and P footprints declined by 57.3–87.4 % and 57.4–98.3 %, respectively.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Optimizing nutrient management in conjunction with increased planting density synergistically improved maize yield, enhanced aboveground N and P accumulation and remobilization, and substantially reduced nutrient runoff, surpluses, and environmental footprints. These results demonstrate a practical “win–win” pathway for simultaneously achieving high productivity and environmental protection.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>This study provides new insights into reconciling crop yield goals with environmental sustainability in water-sensitive agroecosystems. The findings offer a scalable framework for sustainable intensification of maize production that supports both food security and water resource protection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110326"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trade-offs and synergies in agroecosystem services with organic and integrated nutrient management in South Asian agri-food systems: Evidence from a meta-analysis","authors":"Dinesh Chand Meena ,&nbsp;Pratap Singh Birthal ,&nbsp;Kiran Kumara TM ,&nbsp;Anjani Kumar ,&nbsp;Vijay Singh Meena","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110325","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110325","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>The widespread and indiscriminate use of agrochemicals, coupled with unsustainable farming practices, has degraded soil health, polluted water resources, reduced biodiversity, and jeopardized environmental and human health in South Asia. Addressing these challenges requires climate-smart and sustainable nutrient management strategies that can enhance both crop productivity and agroecosystem services.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to evaluate the trade-offs and synergies in agroecosystem services resulting from organic nutrient management using farmyard manure (FYM) and integrated nutrient management (INM), combining FYM with chemical fertilizers, compared to conventional chemical fertilizer practices across South Asian agri-food systems.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A meta-analysis was conducted using 869 pair-wise observations extracted from 260 field-based studies conducted exclusively in South Asia. Studies were selected through systematic screening using the PRISMA protocol and classified by climate zone, soil type, and duration. The impact of FYM and INM treatments was assessed relative to chemical (NPK) fertilizer controls across five ecosystem services: crop yield, carbon sequestration, soil fertility, greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions, and water use. The natural log response ratio was used as the effect size metric.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The application of FYM alone resulted in a 4.71 % average reduction in crop yield compared to chemical fertilizers, but improved carbon sequestration (24.53 %), nutrient availability nitrogen (6.93 %), phosphorus (4.36 %), and potassium (2.49 %), and reduced water use (7.10 %). INM led to a 21.17 % increase in crop yield and significantly improved carbon sequestration and nutrient availability compared to chemical fertilizers. About 75 % of INM-related observations showed a synergistic improvement in yield and non-marketed ecosystem services, reflecting <em>win–win</em> outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>While FYM alone may not always match the yield performance of chemical fertilizers, it contributes to long-term soil health and water use efficiency. INM offers a balanced approach that enhances both productivity and environmental sustainability in diverse agro-climatic zones of South Asia.</div></div><div><h3>Implications</h3><div>These findings highlight the potential of organic and integrated nutrient strategies as climate-smart solutions for enhancing agroecosystem services in South Asian agri-food systems. The study supports informed decision-making by farmers and policymakers to promote integrated nutrient use and reduce over-reliance on chemical inputs, contributing to more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110325"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Responses of soil moisture, leaf physiological characteristics, and canopy radiation interception to irrigation amount during the drought-rewatering process of drip-irrigated cotton under film mulch","authors":"Zhentao Bai ,&nbsp;Bingxue Dong ,&nbsp;Xinwei Deng ,&nbsp;Zhijun Li ,&nbsp;Kechun Wang ,&nbsp;Shawn Carlisle Kefauver ,&nbsp;José Luis Araus ,&nbsp;Muhammad Farooq ,&nbsp;Junliang Fan ,&nbsp;Feihu Yin","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110363","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110363","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Context&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The seed cotton (&lt;em&gt;Gossypium hirsutum&lt;/em&gt; L.) yield is highly dependent on irrigation in arid and semi-arid regions around the world. However, the effects of irrigation amount on soil moisture and leaf photochemical characteristics during the drought-rewatering process, as well as canopy radiation interception and seed cotton yield of drip-irrigated cotton under film mulch remain poorly understood.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The study aimed to investigate how irrigation amounts affect soil moisture distribution, leaf photochemical recovery, and canopy radiation interception following drought‑rewatering in drip‑irrigated cotton under film mulch. We further sought to reveal the multiscale pathways (soil–leaf–canopy) through which irrigation regulates water use and yield formation.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Method&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;A two-season (2023–2024) field experiment was performed in the northern Xinjiang of China, with four irrigation amounts (60 %ET&lt;sub&gt;c&lt;/sub&gt;, 80 %ET&lt;sub&gt;c&lt;/sub&gt;, 100 %ET&lt;sub&gt;c&lt;/sub&gt; and 120 %ET&lt;sub&gt;c&lt;/sub&gt;, where ET&lt;sub&gt;c&lt;/sub&gt; is crop evapotranspiration). Soil moisture and leaf physiology were measured on the 1st day before irrigation, 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th days after irrigation. The photosynthetic pigments, canopy radiation and dry matter accumulation after irrigation as well as the final seed cotton yield were measured.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;During the drought-rewatering process, high irrigation amount (120 %ET&lt;sub&gt;c&lt;/sub&gt;) significantly prolonged the retention time of deep soil moisture (80–100 cm). The narrow rows and wide rows were always the main distribution areas of soil moisture, and bare soil moisture was significantly affected by soil evaporation. The leaf stomatal conductance, actual photochemical quantum effect (φ&lt;sub&gt;PSII&lt;/sub&gt;) and electron transfer rate (ETR) showed a threshold response with increasing irrigation amount. The φ&lt;sub&gt;PSII&lt;/sub&gt; and ETR increased by 20.4 % and 20.6 % under 120 %ET&lt;sub&gt;c&lt;/sub&gt; compared with 60 %ET&lt;sub&gt;c&lt;/sub&gt;, respectively. The leaf temperature and saturated water vapor pressure deficit were significantly reduced. High irrigation increased the upper layer intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR) in narrow rows by 25.9 % in 2023 and 53.5 % in 2024, but decreased it in the lower layer by 78.7 % in 2023 and 90.0 % in 2024. Total IPAR was strongly correlated with seed cotton yield (path coefficient 0.87). The 100 %ET&lt;sub&gt;c&lt;/sub&gt; treatment maintained 90.4 % of the yield potential achieved while saving water under 120 %ET&lt;sub&gt;c&lt;/sub&gt; demonstrating higher water-saving efficiency.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The drought-rewatering process drives cotton yield formation through a soil–leaf–canopy cascade: soil moisture dynamics regulate leaf physiological recovery, which in turn shapes canopy light capture and assimilate partitioning. Moderately increasing irrigation (80 %–100 %ET&lt;sub&gt;c&lt;/sub&gt;) can increase seed cotton yie","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110363"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wheatmaize intercropping with alfalfa increases crop yield, quality, and economic benefits by controlling water and salt dynamics in saline–alkaline lands","authors":"Zhenbo Zhang ,&nbsp;Hongyun Kou ,&nbsp;Jinkai Lü ,&nbsp;Jihao Qin ,&nbsp;Zhen An ,&nbsp;Deheng Zhang ,&nbsp;Shenghao Zhang ,&nbsp;Jincheng Si ,&nbsp;Zhen Liu ,&nbsp;Tangyuan Ning","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110345","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110345","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>In saline<img>alkaline lands (∼10 % of the global arable area), crop productivity is restricted by osmotic stress and ion toxicity. Intercropping systems can mitigate these constraints by optimizing water utilization, redistributing salts, and enhancing soil fertility. However, their potential in coastal saline<img>alkaline ecosystems remains under explored.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>We hypothesized that integrating alfalfa, a salt-tolerant forage, into a wheat–maize rotation (W-M||A) would regulate water–salt dynamics more effectively than monocropping (W-M or SA), thereby enhancing productivity and economic returns in saline–alkaline lands.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Field experiments were carried out in 2018 and 2019. Three planting systems, namely the W-M, SA, and W-M||A systems, were compared to assess the dynamic changes of water and salt, the physical and chemical properties of the soil, as well as the crop yield, quality, and economic benefits.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The W-M||A system significantly decreased soil bulk density and evapotranspiration, and increase soil water content while decreased salt accumulation in the 0–100 cm layer. Specifically, in the 0–40 cm layer during the maize filling stage, the system increased the soil water content by 0.59–4.80 % compared with other systems, and it reduced the surface salt content by 11.11–16.75 % compared with the W-M system in the 0–20 cm layer during the wheat heading stage in 2019. The increased water content with reduced salt content are benefit for mitigating osmotic stress and ion toxicity for the crops. In the W-M||A system, the yields of wheat, maize, and alfalfa accounted for 65.40 %–76.09 %, 68.41 %–81.55 %, and 32.43 %–39.61 %, respectively, of the corresponding sole crop. The land equivalent ratio indicated an intercropping advantage at 1.14 in 2018 and 1.04 in 2019, with minimal fluctuations in feed quality. The W-M||A system attained the highest overall profitability, reaching 14,398 RMB/ha in 2018 and 5443 RMB/ha in 2019. This exceeded the profitability of the W-M and SA systems by 32.20–163.05 %. Moreover, it had a relatively high output-to-input ratio of 2.20 in 2018 and 1.67 in 2019.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The W-M||A system effectively alleviates osmotic stress and ion toxicity by stabilizing soil moisture and reducing surface salt accumulation, thereby facilitating synergistic food<img>feed production. The substantial economic and ecological benefits advocate for its scalable adoption in saline<img>alkaline regions.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>The adoption of the W-M||A system in saline<img>alkaline lands can promote the sustainable development of agriculture and animal husbandry, showing remarkable potential for widespread dissemination.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110345"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974739","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergistic optimization of yield, quality, and nitrogen use efficiency in indica rice: Influence of nitrogen management and C-N metabolism linkages","authors":"Hongjin Li ,&nbsp;Tao Li ,&nbsp;Jianghui Yu ,&nbsp;Tianyu Du ,&nbsp;Ping Zhang ,&nbsp;Jingjing Cui ,&nbsp;Zheshu Xu ,&nbsp;Ying Zhu ,&nbsp;Fangfu Xu ,&nbsp;Qun Hu ,&nbsp;Guodong Liu ,&nbsp;Guangyan Li ,&nbsp;Haiyan Wei","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.110324","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.110324","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Context&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Currently, indica rice cultivation faces significant challenges in achieving coordinated enhancement of high yield, superior quality, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Carbon-nitrogen (C-N) metabolic coordination is recognized as a pivotal trait for attaining this goal.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study aims to systematically analyze the dynamic characteristics of C-N metabolism under nitrogen (N) regulation and clarify their mechanistic roles in synergistically improving the yield-quality-NUE relationship.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;In this study, the indica rice cultivar Quanliangyou 851 was used with nine N regulation treatments (78.75–292.5 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;) established through dynamic allocation of basal, tillering, supplementary, and panicle fertilizers. This approach shaped distinct C-N metabolic patterns across the growth cycle.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Treatments under phased insufficient N supply conditions always exhibited low yield and poor rice appearance quality, treatments with a total N application of 225 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; achieved yield increases (9.50–10.35 × 10&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt; kg ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;) through supplementary or panicle fertilization. Notably, appropriate dosage and application period of nitrogen (N6 treatment, panicle fertilizer applied at the 13th leaf stage) significantly increased the total spikelet number and stem-sheath non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) translocation rate, thereby achieving higher yield and partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPN). Furthermore, its optimization of carbon-dominated assimilate allocation during grain filling mitigated the negative impact of excessive protein accumulation on rice taste value, ultimately demonstrating optimal yield-quality-NUE synergy through balanced carbon-nitrogen metabolism. A comprehensive evaluation of yield-quality-NUE based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model revealed strong correlations between comprehensive evaluation scores and C-N metabolism indicators. Stepwise regression modeling further validated that SPAD decay rate (β=-0.4), the ratio of stem-sheath NSC accumulation (NSCA) to stem-sheath N accumulation (NA) at heading (NSCA/NA) (β= 0.62), and the ratio of LAI to SPAD value at heading stage (LAI/SPAD) (β=1.20) collectively explained 87.1 % of the synergistic variation (R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;=0.871). This demonstrates that efficient C-N metabolic coordination is crucial for synergistic yield-quality-NUE improvement.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The synergistic improvement in yield, quality, and NUE achieved by applying panicle fertilizer at the 13th leaf stage (225 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;) is fundamentally underpinned by the regulated balance of C-N metabolism. This balance optimizes sink strength, assimilate allocation, and nitrogen remobilization. Furthermore, NSCA/NA, LAI/SPAD, and SPAD decay rate are validated as key diagnostic indicators for guiding this precision managem","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110324"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145956485","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mixed cropping of common vetch and hairy vetch enhances system productivity and economic returns in a wheat-based double-cropping system in an arid irrigated region","authors":"Zhilong Fan ,&nbsp;Yunyou Nan ,&nbsp;Wen Yin ,&nbsp;Falong Hu ,&nbsp;Cai Zhao ,&nbsp;Aizhong Yu ,&nbsp;Weidong Cao ,&nbsp;Qiang Chai","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110362","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110362","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>In arid irrigated regions with limited growing seasons, establishing sustainable post-wheat (<em>Triticum aestivum</em> L.) cropping systems is crucial for agricultural intensification and soil conservation.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to evaluate and identify an optimal post-wheat cropping system that enhances biomass production, soil quality, crop performance, and economic returns under arid conditions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A seven-year field experiment (2018–2024) was conducted in northwestern China, comparing seven systems after spring wheat harvest: common vetch (<em>Vicia sativa</em> L.)/hairy vetch (<em>Vicia villosa</em> Roth.) mixture (W-CV×HV), common vetch/rapeseed (<em>Brassica napus</em> L.) mixture (W-CV×R), hairy vetch/rapeseed mixture (W-HV×R), sole common vetch (W-SCV), sole hairy vetch (W-SHV), sole rapeseed (W-SR), and a fallow control (W-W).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The W-CV×HV system demonstrated exceptional performance. It produced the highest biomass, with increases of 14.3–23.9 % over other mixtures, and enhanced crude protein yield by 13.7–44.4 %. This advantage was supported by strong interspecific facilitation (LER=1.18). This system significantly improved subsequent wheat performance, increasing grain yield by 2.7–8.8 % and yield stability by 66.9 % compared to sole legume cropping. After seven years, W-CV×HV most substantially improved soil quality, increasing soil organic matter and total nitrogen while reducing pH, EC, and bulk density. Economically, the system achieved 9.8–14.1 % higher monetary value than other cropping systems.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The legume-legume mixture of common vetch and hairy vetch represents a superior post-wheat cropping system, surpassing traditional fallow and single-species systems in agronomic, ecological, and economic performance.</div></div><div><h3>Implications</h3><div>This system provides a sustainable alternative for integrated agricultural intensification in arid environments, contributing to soil health stabilization, yield resilience, and improved farm profitability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110362"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146048015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}