Agricultural Water Management最新文献

{"title":"Which factors and how they determine nitrogen runoff loss in rice agroecosystems across China","authors":"Junjia Qi ,&nbsp;Yi Wang ,&nbsp;Ying Zhao ,&nbsp;Zhenghui Lv ,&nbsp;Shengjie Kan ,&nbsp;Yuchen Lv ,&nbsp;Yong Li","doi":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109778","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109778","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Clarifying the characteristics and mechanisms of nitrogen (N) runoff loss in rice cropping systems is crucial for optimizing agricultural N management strategies and controlling non-point source pollution in China. However, the key factors and how they determine N runoff loss in rice cropping systems, remain unclear at a national scale. This study collected 560 data sets from 86 published papers, using the Random Forest Ranking and Piecewise Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to determine key factors and their linkage to N runoff loss in the Chinese rice cropping systems. The results showed that the average N runoff loss was 9.52 kg N ha⁻¹ season⁻¹ in the Chinese rice cropping systems, and the average N runoff loss was significantly higher in the paddy rice system (PRS) compared to the paddy rice-upland rotation system (PRURS) (10.40 vs. 8.60 kg N ha⁻¹ season⁻¹). The Random Forest Ranking determined that precipitation, N fertilization rate, and total soil N (TSN) were identified as key influencing factors for N runoff loss, while soil elemental stoichiometric ratios (e.g., C:N:P) were negatively correlated with N runoff loss, and the later factors highlighted the importance of paddy soil biogeochemical cycling in regulating N runoff loss in the Chinese rice cropping systems. Soil C:N:P and soil nutrient properties were more influential in the PRS, whereas N fertilization rate and precipitation were more critical in the PRURS. The Piecewise SEM suggested that the pathway effects of the composite variables of fertilization rate, soil nutrient properties, and soil C:N:P on N runoff loss were ranked as follows: Fertilization (0.52) &gt; Soil nutrient properties (0.29) &gt; Soil C:N:P (-0.14), in the Chinese rice cropping systems. The pathway effects of the three composite variables were ranked as Fertilization (0.52) &gt; Soil nutrient properties (0.38) &gt; Soil C:N:P ratio (−0.19) in the PRS, and Fertilization (0.52) &gt; Soil nutrient properties (0.13) &gt; Soil C:N:P ratio (−0.10) in the PRURS. This indicate that soil nutrient properties and the soil C:N:P ratio exert stronger effects on N runoff loss in the PRS than in the PRURS. These results provide deeper insights for mitigating N runoff loss and improving N use efficiency, and they highlight the critical role of soil elemental stoichiometry in regulating N migration and transformation within paddy water in rice cropping systems in China.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7634,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Water Management","volume":"319 ","pages":"Article 109778"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145094087","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":"Climate change and irrigation management shape crop resilience in UAE arid agriculture: APSIM model-driven assessment","authors":"Achraf Mamassi ,&nbsp;Nhamo Nhamo ,&nbsp;Sridhar Gummadi ,&nbsp;Khalil Ammar ,&nbsp;Mohamed Ahmed Hamdan Al Dhanhani ,&nbsp;Hamed Abdullah Al Hashmi ,&nbsp;Hamza Bouras ,&nbsp;Francesco Accatino ,&nbsp;Rashyd Zaaboul","doi":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109819","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109819","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change has intensified challenges to food security, compelling the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government to allocate significant resources and advanced technologies for assessing cropping systems performances across country. Crop modeling has emerged as cutting-edge tools for analyzing crop management and assessing water-soil resources usage and sustainability. This study applied a process-based crop model to evaluate performances of three annual crops—wheat, maize, and potato— under integrated climate change projections and irrigation management strategies within the UAE’s arid agroecosystems. APSIM-model was used to simulate crop eco-physiological responses, and assess their vulnerability–resilience profiles under combined climate-water stressors. Model calibration-validation processes were conducted using dataset encompassing crop phenological and productivity state variables. Time-series simulations were then performed under baseline-historical and future-projected period (1988–2100) defined by four Shared-Socioeconomic-Pathways (SSPs: 2.6–4.5–7.0–8.5). Results show that APSIM-model was successfully calibrated, and model validation further confirmed its robust accuracy in simulating crops development and yield prediction under the UAE’s agro-environmental conditions. Rising temperatures and water stress under medium–high emission scenarios (4.5–7.0–8.5) emerged as critical abiotic stressors, reducing wheat-yields up to half and maize-yields up to 75 %, and driving premature wheat and potato crop failure, particularly during the last two decades of the century. Leveraging APSIM-model for irrigation recommendations proved effective in ensuring maize efficient water-use, whereas it helps supporting appropriate potato scheduling across high-emissions scenarios. Findings highlighted the importance of investing in stress-tolerant crops and adapted varieties (e.g., C4 crops), alongside implementing UAE-specific soil–water management and climate-smart practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7634,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Water Management","volume":"319 ","pages":"Article 109819"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145099468","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":"Effects of straw mulching on sediment particle distribution and soil erosion control","authors":"Jinjin Zhu ,&nbsp;Xiaoan Chen ,&nbsp;Bingchen Wu ,&nbsp;Faxing Shen ,&nbsp;Yuanhai Cai","doi":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109815","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109815","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil erosion poses a global threat to agricultural sustainability, particularly in vulnerable regions such as the sloping croplands of southern China’s red loam region. The study evaluates the efficacy of straw mulching versus conventional tillage (T) in mitigating erosion and regulating sediment sorting during the peanut growing season. Through simulated rainfall experiments using a FULLJET nozzle simulator (intensity: 90 mm/h; duration: 90 min; uniformity &gt;0.85) in controlled soil troughs (2 m × 1 m, 10° slope), straw mulching delayed runoff initiation by 0.14–4.63 min, reduced total runoff by 5.69–12.02 times, and decreased sediment yield by 5.58–18.87 times compared to T. These benefits were most pronounced during the sowing and emergence stages, where straw mulching enhanced surface roughness and soil infiltration, curbing early-stage erosion. Sediment under straw mulching shifted to silt-dominated compositions (51–97 %), with agglomerated particles reducing coarse particle loss (&gt;0.05 mm) by 40–60 %. straw mulching also altered sediment transport dynamics, increasing fine particle enrichment while stabilizing soil structure. These findings demonstrate that straw mulching not only effectively controls erosion but also optimizes sediment sorting, offering a practical strategy to safeguard soil productivity and water quality in vulnerable agroecosystems. The study underscores the viability of straw mulching as a low-cost, scalable solution for smallholder farmers, aligning ecological benefits with sustainable land management goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7634,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Water Management","volume":"319 ","pages":"Article 109815"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145099467","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":"Deep soil depletion and edge compensation: Insights into optimized strategies for addressing water imbalance in arid-region plantations","authors":"Xingting Liu ,&nbsp;Weiwei Wang ,&nbsp;Wantong Wang ,&nbsp;Xuancheng Liu ,&nbsp;Mengyang Li ,&nbsp;ChangChun Shi ,&nbsp;Fei Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109799","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109799","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, the contradiction between vegetation restoration and the sustainability of soil water resources in arid regions has become increasingly prominent. Numerous studies have provided evidence that changes in land use significantly impact soil moisture; however, they often overlook the interconnections between different ecological landscape units. This study focuses on the <em>Pinus sylvestris</em>. artificial forest in the Mu Us Sandy Land, analyzing the spatial distribution characteristics of soil moisture profiles from 0 to 500 cm, and revealing the moisture dynamics and driving mechanisms within the forest and at the forest edge. The results indicate that the planting of <em>P. sylvestris</em> leads to a significant reduction in soil water storage (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), with notable depletion of soil moisture observed in 25-year-old <em>P. sylvestris</em> stands. Although soil moisture partially recovers as the trees mature, deep soil moisture remains continuously deficient, reflecting a long-term imbalance between vegetation water consumption and replenishment. Additionally, internal water competition is induced within 25- to 35-year-old stands, manifested by the absorption of moisture from the 100–300 cm soil layer of grassland at the forest edge by lateral roots of <em>P. sylvestris</em>, with an extent reaching up to 11 m. In the soil moisture profile from within the forest to the edge (19 m distance), a significant positive correlation is observed between root biomass and soil moisture (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), although this correlation gradually weakens with increasing distance from the forest edge. These findings suggest that the depletion of soil moisture within the forest encourages trees at the edge to extend their lateral roots to access additional water resources. Therefore, it is recommended that future forest management incorporate ecological nurturing measures centered on density regulation and spatial optimization. This study provides a scientific basis for promoting sustainable water resource management in <em>P. sylvestris</em> forests through thinning, and holds significant practical implications for vegetation restoration in arid regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7634,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Water Management","volume":"319 ","pages":"Article 109799"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145044976","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":"Optimized integrated soil-crop system management enhances crop yield while reducing water resource consumption","authors":"Bingshuo Wang ,&nbsp;Ningning Yu ,&nbsp;Alam Sher ,&nbsp;Dong Cui ,&nbsp;Songlin Yang ,&nbsp;Jisheng Si ,&nbsp;Baizhao Ren ,&nbsp;Jiwang Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109792","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109792","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Freshwater resources depletion and unreasonable nitrogen fertilizers application has been China’s major constraint for both the sustainability of agricultural production and socioeconomic development. Based on the long-term integrated soil-crop system management (ISSM, since 2009), this study optimized irrigation method to investigate water utilization and nitrogen utilization of optimizing ISSM and explore whether it can increase maize production while reducing water resource consumption. To accomplish these objectives, six treatments (CK, traditional cultivation practices; OPT1, redesign of cropping systems and nutrient treatments; O-OPT1, based on OPT1, optimizing irrigation method; HY, treatment to explore local yield potential; OPT2, optimized combination of cropping systems and nutrient treatments; and O-OPT2, based on OPT2, optimizing irrigation method) were conducted in 2022–2023. Results showed that the HY demonstrated the highest yield under the border irrigation method and increasing maize production by 49.8–50.7 %, compared to CK. However, the O-OPT2 with its optimized irrigation method and nutrient treatments used less water and fertilizer, with no significant difference in yield between O-OPT2 and HY, and increased the proportion of water allocation in late growth period compared to HY. The water footprint (WF) of O-OPT2 was decreased by 35.5–36.5 % and 36.9–37.8 % compared to CK and HY, respectively. Moreover, O-OPT2 mitigated soil evaporation by 7.8–10.8 % and reduced crop evapotranspiration (ET_c) by 13.1–13.3 %, ultimately, both water use efficiency (WUE) and nitrogen use efficiency were significantly improved by 11.5–13.4 % and 132.5–136.4 %, respectively, compared to HY. In conclusion, the optimized ISSM can produce more grains at a lower water resource consumption.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7634,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Water Management","volume":"319 ","pages":"Article 109792"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145044975","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":"Impact of soil heterogeneity on evapotranspiration and irrigation modeling using POLARIS and SSURGO-based soil hydraulic properties","authors":"Ramesh Dhungel ,&nbsp;Ray G. Anderson ,&nbsp;Andrew N. French ,&nbsp;Todd H. Skaggs ,&nbsp;Gregory E. Wang ,&nbsp;Nan Li ,&nbsp;Elia Scudiero","doi":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109806","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109806","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate maps of soil hydraulic properties are needed to enable precise, site-specific modeling of crop water use. Most available maps (e.g., the USDA-NRCS Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO)) have significant uncertainties that may limit their usefulness for implementing site-specific irrigation (I_rri). Recently, a probabilistic, high-resolution (30 m) soil property map of the contiguous United States (POLARIS) was developed. In this study, we compare the use of POLARIS and SSURGO for parameterizing a water and energy-balance model of simulated I_rri and simulated evapotranspiration (ET_s). The Backwards Averaged Iterative Two Source Energy Balance Solution (BAITSSS) model was applied to a major irrigated agricultural region (Yuma Valley of Arizona and the adjacent Bard region of California, ∼ 110 km²). The BAITSSS simulation covered a lettuce growing cycle between September and December 2019 (78 days) utilizing Landsat-based vegetation indices, North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS) weather variables, and Parameter-elevation Relationships on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) precipitation data. SSURGO-based soil hydraulic properties resulted in approximately a 7 % increase in field-averaged simulated seasonal ET_s and a 25 % increase in field-averaged seasonal simulated I_rri. The POLARIS-based simulations had higher I_rri efficiency and less drawdown of soil moisture prior to harvest. Overall, this study highlights uncertainties introduced by soil parameterization in ET_s and I_rri modeling and their role in agricultural water management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7634,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Water Management","volume":"319 ","pages":"Article 109806"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145044883","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 regional model-based algorithm to simulate root zone soil moisture with multi-source datasets","authors":"Yue Liu ,&nbsp;Zhenxin Bao ,&nbsp;Jianyun Zhang ,&nbsp;Guoqing Wang ,&nbsp;Yanqing Yang ,&nbsp;Xianhong Meng","doi":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109803","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109803","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Spatiotemporal characteristics of root zone soil moisture (RZSM) play a key role in agricultural water management. Reanalysis and satellite products, e.g., ERA5, GLDAS, GLEAM and SMAP provide global-scale RZSM information, but the accuracy of these datasets usually falls short of practical needs in regional agricultural studies. We established a regional model-based algorithm for estimating RZSM, incorporating soil moisture (SM) measurements, as well as climate, topography, soil, vegetation and land use to account for the heterogeneity of the area. Taking the Yellow River basin, which spans multiple wet-dry regions, as the research object to validate the regional model and estimate RZSM information. The results showed that the superposition of predictor variables could progressively improve the performance of the regional model by setting different model input cases. The regional simulations outperformed those by nearby-station model, which was based on the parameter transplantation method, with a 21.2 % increase in the Pearson correlation coefficient (CC) and a 27.6 % decrease in the mean absolute error (MAE). The assimilated RZSM obtained using the regional model, driven by surface SM from reanalysis and satellite products, was closer to the measurements compared to the RZSM datasets provided by ERA5, GLDAS, GLEAM and SMAP, with CC improved by 38.0 %, 8.9 %, 1.5 %, and 3.1 %, and MAE decreased by 19.7 %, 5.5 %, 15.1 %, and 13.2 %, respectively. The ERA5-assimilated dataset exhibited the most significant improvement in accuracy in the study area, particularly in the semi-humid region. Overall, such a simulation scheme is proven to be effective in obtaining high-precision RZSM information at the regional scale and holds great potential for applications in agricultural decision-making and management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7634,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Water Management","volume":"319 ","pages":"Article 109803"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145044882","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":"Modeling farmers' climate change adaptation strategies: An integrated SEM-SD approach in Southwest China","authors":"Jia Zhong ,&nbsp;Dingde Xu ,&nbsp;Ruiyin Chen ,&nbsp;Shaoquan Liu ,&nbsp;Hui Yu ,&nbsp;Lingxue Liu ,&nbsp;Chang Hou","doi":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109812","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109812","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Global climate change, particularly the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, poses significant challenges to agriculture, threatening food security and sustainability. Farmers' adaptive capacity is crucial for maintaining agricultural stability. However, limited research has jointly examined passive adaptation strategies (PAS) and active adaptation strategies (AAS), particularly through an integrated approach. This study addresses this gap by innovatively combining the structural equation model (SEM) and the system dynamics (SD) model to identify key influencing factors and simulate the temporal evolution of farmers' climate change adaptation strategies (CCAS), capturing both causal relationships and dynamic behavioural trends. Based on a 2021 survey of farmers in Sichuan Province, the results revealed that most farmers predominantly relied on PAS, primarily increasing irrigation to cope with climate change. Personal adaptive capacity (PAC), especially technology adoption ability (TAA), farming experience (FE), and meteorological disaster knowledge (MDK) significantly influenced CCAS. Risk perception (RP) and social constraint (SC) strongly promoted PAS adoption, driven by climate risk concerns and social pressure. SD simulations from 2021 to 2031 further revealed that TAA was the most influential factor affecting adaptation behaviour, followed by FE and pressure from neighbours (PN). Moreover, integrated policies involving individuals, communities and the government were significantly more effective than single-actor efforts, with adaptation strategies accelerating after 2027. These findings highlight the value of integrating SEM and SD to explore the drivers and dynamics of climate adaptation. Enhancing individual adaptive capacity is key to shifting from PAS to AAS, offering theoretical and practical guidance for sustainable water use and climate-resilient agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7634,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Water Management","volume":"319 ","pages":"Article 109812"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145044884","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":"Root zone infiltration irrigation affects plastic root developmental traits of fruit trees and root zone habitat in saline-alkali soil","authors":"Ping Gong ,&nbsp;Yanjie Li ,&nbsp;Hongguang Liu ,&nbsp;Zhijie Li ,&nbsp;Yao Zhang ,&nbsp;Xuyong Yu ,&nbsp;Rui Cai ,&nbsp;Zhenkun Wu ,&nbsp;Jie Wei ,&nbsp;Rui Fang ,&nbsp;Yongfu Wu ,&nbsp;Xinlin He","doi":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109802","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109802","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Studying how fruit tree roots respond in saline-alkali soil to root architecture and habitat is critical for understanding water and nutrient cycling in these ecosystems. Irrigation is a essential farming practice that improves the root zone environment and root structural configurations. Analyzing shifts in root zone conditions induced by root zone infiltration irrigation and trade-offs in root system architecture is important for improving sustainable agricultural production practices. We conducted a two-year field experiment in a pear orchard with saline-alkali soil in the arid Korla region of Xinjiang, China. Different irrigation quotas (375, 525, and 675 mm) and infiltration tube burial depths (20, 30, and 40 cm) were used to investigate the responses of root zone soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, nutrient availability, bacterial community alpha diversity, and root geometric/spatial architecture to root zone infiltration irrigation (RZII). The results found that higher the irrigation quota reduced soil pH and electrical conductivity by 4.1 % and 10.3 %, respectively, and increased available phosphorus by 23.2 % and soil organic matter (SOM) by 20.4 %. Deeper burial depths shortened the irrigation source-to-root zone distance, increased nutrient leaching, and reduced phosphatase activity. Linear mixed-effects models (LMMs) and piecewise structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed the causal relationships between root architecture and habitat factors under RZII. RZII reshaped root development and foraging strategies by increasing the root length, surface area, and fractal dimension and reducing the topological index, thereby lowering root construction costs and enhancing soil resource acquisition. SEM and LMMs indicated that soil nutrients and physicochemical properties are the main factors affecting root architecture, and SOM positively affected geometric and spatial configurations by altering organic matter input. However, bacterial communities in the root zone did not directly affect root architecture. Our findings provide fresh perspectives on how soil habitat factors relate to root architecture trade-offs in saline-alkali orchards, advancing our understanding of fruit tree root adaptation to saline-alkali stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7634,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Water Management","volume":"319 ","pages":"Article 109802"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145044885","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":"Long-term integrated water-saving agricultural practices enhance soil health and sustain cotton yield on saline-alkali reclaimed lands","authors":"Pengcheng Luo ,&nbsp;Rui Chen ,&nbsp;Tehseen Javed ,&nbsp;Jihong Zhang ,&nbsp;Pengpeng Chen ,&nbsp;Juanjuan Yang ,&nbsp;Jinzhu Zhang ,&nbsp;Yue Wen ,&nbsp;Wenhao Li ,&nbsp;Qinggang Liu ,&nbsp;Deyi Li ,&nbsp;Zhenhua Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109800","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109800","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>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 %<img>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 %<img>89.19 %, and TC, TN, and TP also increased. Soil health scores (SHS) increased by 202.66 %<img>322.11 % in the 0–20 cm layer and 155.09 %<img>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_&gt; 0.25, SSC, and soil organic carbon (SOC), driving improvements in SHS and seed cotton yield. Key soil attributes such as WSA_&gt;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.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7634,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Water Management","volume":"319 ","pages":"Article 109800"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145044973","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}