Influence of tied-ridge with biochar amendment on runoff, sediment losses, and alfalfa yield in northwestern China

PeerJ

article

Erastus Mak-Mensah¹  Faisal Eudes Sam²  Itoba Ongagna Ipaka Safnat Kaito³  Wucheng Zhao¹  Dengkui Zhang¹  Xujiao Zhou¹  Xiaoyun Wang¹  Xiaole Zhao¹  Qi Wang¹ 

[1] College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province;College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Gansu Key Laboratory of Viticulture and Enology, Lanzhou, Gansu Province;College of Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province

关键词: Ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting;    Tied ridging;    Runoff;    Sediment;    Biochar;    Alfalfa fodder yield;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.11889

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundLoss of organic matter and mineral nutrients to soil erosion in rain-fed agriculture is a serious problem globally, especially in China’s Loess Plateau. As a result, increasing rainwater usage efficiency by tied-ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting with biochar is expected to improve agricultural productivity. Nonetheless, with limited knowledge on tied-ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting with biochar, small-scale farmers face the challenge of adoption, thus, the rationale for this study.Materials and methodsA field experiment was conducted to determine the influence of open-ridging (OR) and tied-ridging (TR) with bio-degradable film on ridges and biochar in furrows on runoff, sediment losses, soil moisture, fodder yield, and water use efficiency (WUE) on sloped land, using flat planting (FP) without ridges and furrows as control, during alfalfa-growing year (2020).ResultsFP. Conclusively, water use efficiency was significantly higher (p = 0.01) in biochar plots compared to no-biochar plots.ConclusionWhen crop production is threatened by soil erosion and drought, mulched tied-ridge with biochar is beneficial to crop growth in rain-fed agriculture, according to this research. Smallholder farmers should be trained on applying this technique for water-saving to mitigate runoff, soil erosion, sediment losses, and improve food security in semiarid areas.

【 授权许可】

CC BY