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20 resultsShowing papers similar to The field mulching could improve sustainability of spring maize production on the Loess Plateau
ClearOptimized Farmland Mulching Improves Rainfed Maize Productivity by Regulating Soil Temperature and Phenology on the Loess Plateau in China
A field experiment on the Loess Plateau found that combining plastic film mulch with straw mulch regulated soil temperature and extended the grain-filling period of rainfed maize, preventing premature senescence and improving yields. The study highlights a trade-off in dryland agriculture: plastic mulch conserves moisture but overheats soil, while novel double-mulching patterns can mitigate the temperature problem while still relying on plastic film.
Effects of Mulching on Maize Yield and Evapotranspiration in the Heihe River Basin, Northwest China
This study examined how plastic film mulching affects maize yield and water use in northwest China's Heihe River Basin, finding that mulching increases yields and reduces evaporation. However, widespread plastic mulch use is also a major source of microplastic pollution in agricultural soils.
Effects of different mulch materials on the photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and soil water use efficiency of wheat in Loess tableland
Not relevant to microplastics — this agricultural study compares different mulching materials (including plastic film) on wheat yield and water use efficiency in the Loess Plateau of China, with no focus on microplastic pollution from plastic mulch.
Consequences of 33 Years of Plastic Film Mulching and Nitrogen Fertilization on Maize Growth and Soil Quality
Researchers found that after 33 years of continuous plastic film mulching, residual microplastics in soil persisted even after mulching stopped, though soil moisture and crop yields were still influenced by the legacy effects of long-term mulch use and nitrogen fertilization.
Effect of Plastic Membrane and Geotextile Cloth Mulching on Soil Moisture and Spring Maize Growth in the Loess–Hilly Region of Yan’an, China
Researchers conducted a one-year field monitoring experiment in the loess-hilly region of Yan'an, China, comparing plastic membrane mulching, geotextile cloth mulching, and bare soil on soil moisture and spring maize growth. The study found that plastic membrane and geotextile mulching treatments influenced soil moisture dynamics and crop development differently compared to unprotected soil.
Improvement of crop and soil management practices through mulching for enhancement of soil fertility and environmental sustainability: A review
This review examined mulching practices in agriculture as a strategy for improving soil fertility, water retention, and crop yields, while also noting that plastic mulch films generate persistent microplastic contamination in agricultural soils. The authors discussed biodegradable mulch alternatives and best management practices for reducing plastic residues.
Effects of Future Climate Change on Spring Maize Yield and Water Use Efficiency under Film Mulching with Different Materials in the LOESS Plateau Region of China
Researchers used the DNDC biogeochemical model to evaluate effects of future climate change (2021-2100) on spring maize yield and water use efficiency under polyethylene film mulching and biodegradable film mulching in China's Loess Plateau, finding that biodegradable films can maintain yields while reducing plastic pollution under projected warming and increased rainfall.
Plastic film mulching and microplastics impact soil nitrogen processes
This review examines how plastic film mulching practices introduce microplastic contamination into farmland soils and how accumulated microplastics alter soil nitrogen cycling processes — including nitrification, denitrification, and nitrogen fixation — with implications for crop growth and long-term agricultural sustainability.
Modeling Spring Maize Grain Filling under Film Mulching and Nitrogen Application in a Cold and Arid Environment
Researchers modeled maize grain-filling under different plastic mulch film and nitrogen fertilizer treatments, finding that degradable plastic film performed similarly to conventional plastic mulch. The comparison of degradable versus conventional agricultural plastic films is relevant to microplastic contamination of soils, as conventional mulch films are a major source of agricultural microplastics.
Plastic mulching in agriculture. Trading short-term agronomic benefits for long-term soil degradation?
This study examined plastic mulch use in agriculture, arguing that short-term crop benefits come with long-term costs as mulch fragments accumulate in soil as microplastics and disrupt soil structure, biology, and water dynamics.
Mitigation of the Ratio of Soil Dissolved Organic Carbon to Available Phosphorus Effectively Improves Crop Productivity under Mulching Measures on the Loess Plateau
This study investigated how different mulching measures affect soil stoichiometric ratios of dissolved organic carbon to available phosphorus in the Loess Plateau, finding that strategic mulching can mitigate nutrient imbalances and support sustainable agriculture in this erosion-prone region.
Agricultural plastic films reshape soil microplastic distribution, nitrogen cycle and ecological risks in facility agriculture
Researchers compared microplastic characteristics in protected agriculture systems and traditional farmland soils in China, finding significantly higher microplastic abundance in mulched farmland and documenting correlations between microplastic presence and altered soil nitrogen cycling and heavy metal distribution.
Enhancing Faba Bean Yields in Alpine Agricultural Regions: The Impact of Plastic Film Mulching and Phosphorus Fertilization on Soil Dynamics
This four-year field experiment found that flat planting without plastic film mulching actually produced better faba bean yields than plastic-mulched treatments in alpine regions, due to enhanced soil nitrogen availability and microbial activity during early growth. The findings challenge the assumption that plastic mulch always improves crop yields and highlight that film mulching contributes to agricultural microplastic contamination.
Combining Straw Mulch with Nitrogen Fertilizer Improves Soil and Plant Physio-Chemical Attributes, Physiology, and Yield of Maize in the Semi-Arid Region of China
Researchers found that combining wheat straw mulching with nitrogen fertilization significantly improved maize yield, soil fertility, and plant physiology compared to nitrogen application alone in semi-arid conditions. The two-year field study showed that full straw mulch plus nitrogen resulted in the greatest improvements in photosynthesis, biomass, and nitrogen use efficiency.
Exploring the Occurrence Characteristics of Microplastics in Typical Maize Farmland Soils With Long-Term Plastic Film Mulching in Northern China
A survey of 225 soil samples from maize farmland with long-term plastic film mulching in northern China found widespread microplastic contamination, with abundance, distribution, and polymer composition reflecting the history of film use and agricultural management practices.
The persistently breaking trade-offs of three-decade plastic film mulching: Microplastic pollution, soil degradation and reduced cotton yield
A study of cotton fields in northwest China with 3-32 years of continuous plastic mulch use found that microplastic abundance in soil increased exponentially with mulching duration, while soil physical properties degraded and cotton root traits and yields declined in heavily mulched plots. The results challenge the assumed economic trade-off of plastic mulching, suggesting decades of cumulative MP pollution eventually costs more in yield than it provides in early-season benefits.
Effects of Different Mulch Types on Farmland Soil Moisture in an Artificial Oasis Area
Not relevant to microplastics — this study compares how different mulch materials (including conventional polyethylene plastic films) affect soil moisture retention in an arid farming region of China, focusing on water management rather than plastic fragmentation or microplastic contamination.
Effects of Film Mulching on Soil Microbial Diversity and Community Structure in the Maize Root Zone under Drip Irrigation in Northwest China
A field study in Northwest China examined how different plastic film mulching practices affected soil microbial diversity and community structure in drip-irrigated maize fields across the growing season.
Exploring Plastic Mulching as a Strategy for Mitigating Drought Stress and Boosting Maize Yield in the Ecuadorian Andes
A two-year field experiment in the Ecuadorian Andes found that plastic mulching increased soil water content by 8-14%, raised soil temperature by 1.26 degrees Celsius, and boosted fresh corn yield by up to 162% compared to conventional plots. While demonstrating agricultural benefits of plastic use, the study highlights a tension between food security and the potential for plastic mulch to become a source of microplastic soil contamination.
Straw Return with Biodegradable Film Mulch: A Synergistic Cultivation Measure with Environmental and Economic Benefits Based on Life Cycle Assessment
Researchers used life cycle assessment to evaluate straw return combined with biodegradable plastic film mulch as a cultivation strategy for Chinese farmland, comparing environmental and economic outcomes against conventional practices. The combination reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved soil health while remaining cost-competitive.