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Sustainable Water-Fertilizer Management for Soil Salinization Amendment and Crop Production...
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Sustainable Water-Fertilizer Management for Soil Salinization Amendment and Crop Production in Salt-Affected Agroecosystems

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Agroecology Innovation: Achieving System Resilience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024 | Viewed by 7076

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Rongjiang Yao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 71 East Beijing Road, Nanjing 210008, China
Interests: multiscale monitoring and simulation of soil solute transport; ecological amendment and soil fertility improvement of salt-affected soils; cycling and synergistic regulation of nitrogen in salt-affected agroecosystems
Dr. Xiaobing Chen

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
Interests: coupled processes of soil water, salts and nutrients and their optimal management; agricultural water and nutrient management in salt-prone areas
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil salinization is one of the most frequently cited threats to sustainable soil management and agricultural utilization worldwide. Recently, a significant and sustained increase in soil productivity has become urgently required to feed the expanding human population and to promote carbon neutrality. Along with the ever-increasing scarcity of water resources and frequency of extreme weather events, agricultural systems in saline areas are faced with a challenge: maintaining sustainable soil productivity with less water and fertilizer input. Dealing with this challenge requires promoting soil salinization management and preventing degradation, enhancing leaching efficiency under limited irrigation or rainfed conditions and increasing fertilizer nutrient utilization under saline environments. Water and fertilizer are crucial factors in agriculture, and modern agriculture has shifted the focus from traditional high consumption to precise consumption of water–fertilizer. In this respect, optimal soil water–fertilizer management practices and technologies that help to persistently eliminate counter-productive factors and efficiently promote water–fertilizer utilization with less water and fertilizer input are greatly needed be geared toward modern agriculture.

In this Special Issue, we aim to exchange knowledge on any aspect related to amendment, utilization and management of salt-affected soils, thus providing new insights into and better understandings of current advances in experiences, approaches and technologies for sustainable management of water–fertilizer in saline agroecosystems.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

  • Advanced approaches to regulate the water–salt regime.
  • Soil water flow and solute transport under water-saving irrigation.
  • Improving water use efficiency in salt-affected soils.
  • Migration and transport of fertilizer nutrients in salt-affected soils.
  • Managing fertilizer for better utilization and less losses.
  • Soil salinization amendment and fertility improvement.
  • Carbon sequestration and nutrient improvement in salinized farmland.
  • Monitoring and simulation of coupled processes of soil water, salt and fertilizer.
  • Modeling approaches for sustainable soil salinization management.
  • Integrated management of water–fertilizer in salt-affected agroecosystems.

Prof. Dr. Rongjiang Yao
Dr. Xiaobing Chen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • salinization
  • water
  • nitrogen
  • irrigation and drainage
  • water use efficiency
  • model
  • leaching efficiency
  • soil carbon sequestration
  • salt-affected soils

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 5931 KiB  
Article
Infiltration and Leaching Characteristics of Soils with Different Salinity under Fertilizer Irrigation
by Hongyan Zhu, Bingyan Zheng, Weizheng Zhong, Jinbo Xu, Weibo Nie, Yan Sun and Zilong Guan
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 553; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030553 - 8 Mar 2024
Viewed by 830
Abstract
Salt and nutrient transport and transformations during water infiltration directly influence saline soil improvement and the efficient use of water and fertilizer resources. The effects of soil initial salinity (18.3 g/kg, 25.5 g/kg, 42.2 g/kg, 79.94 g/kg, and 165 g/kg, respectively, labeled S1 [...] Read more.
Salt and nutrient transport and transformations during water infiltration directly influence saline soil improvement and the efficient use of water and fertilizer resources. The effects of soil initial salinity (18.3 g/kg, 25.5 g/kg, 42.2 g/kg, 79.94 g/kg, and 165 g/kg, respectively, labeled S1 to S5) on the infiltration and leaching characteristics of water, salt, and nitrogen were analyzed via a one-dimensional vertical fertilizer infiltration experiment. Meanwhile, the estimation models of cumulative infiltration and wetting front, including the effect of soil initial salinity, were established. The results showed that, with the increase in soil initial salinity, the cumulative infiltration within the same time decreased, and the migration time of wet front to 45 cm was longer. The time required for S5 to reach the preset cumulative infiltration was more than six times that of S1, and, for the wet front migration to 45 cm, the time requirement for S5 was about four times that of S1. In the established Kostiakov model and wetting front model, the coefficients all decreased with the increase in soil initial salinity, and the test index R2 values both reached 0.999. In the Kostiakov model, coefficient K had a linear relationship with the natural logarithm of initial soil salt content, while index a had a direct linear relationship with initial soil salt content. The cumulative leachate volume decreased with the increase in soil initial salinity, and the corresponding data of S3 and S5 were reduced by 37% and 57.3%, respectively, compared with S1. The electrical conductivity values of S1, S3, and S5 were 15.4, 209.8, and 205.6 ms/cm, respectively, being affected by the initial content in soil, soil moisture transport rate, and exogenous potassium nitrate (KNO3) addition. The NO3−-N concentrations in the leachates of S1, S3, and S5 at the end of leaching were 55.26, 16.17, and 3.2 mg/L, respectively. Based on the results of this study, for soil with high initial salinity, the conventional irrigation amount (2250 m3/ha) of the general soil in the study area could not meet the requirements of leaching salt. These results can provide a reference for the formulation of irrigation and fertilization strategies for soils with different salinity and contribute to the sustainable development of saline soil agriculture and the ecological environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water-Fertilizer Management for Soil Salinization Amendment and Crop Production in Salt-Affected Agroecosystems)
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16 pages, 4951 KiB  
Article
Soil Phosphorus Forms in Saline Soil after the Application of Biomass Materials
by Xuewei Guan, Jinlin Chen, Guangming Liu and Xiuping Wang
Agronomy 2024, 14(2), 255; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14020255 - 25 Jan 2024
Viewed by 830
Abstract
Although the application of biological materials has shown potential in improving the environment of salinized soil, the impact on the transformation of soil phosphorus forms in salinized soil, especially when combined with B. mucilaginosus (BM), has rarely been studied. Therefore, this study investigated soil’s [...] Read more.
Although the application of biological materials has shown potential in improving the environment of salinized soil, the impact on the transformation of soil phosphorus forms in salinized soil, especially when combined with B. mucilaginosus (BM), has rarely been studied. Therefore, this study investigated soil’s properties and phosphorus forms, as well as their relationship, in salinized soil after the application of different biological materials, including rice straw (RS), biochar (B), acidified biochar (AB), BM, RS+BM, B+BM, and AB+BM. A sequential extraction procedure was employed to determine the soil organic/inorganic phosphorus forms (Po/Pi). In our study, the contents of the soil’s resin-P, NaHCO3-Pi, NaOH-Pi, and HCl-P increased by 50–341.66%, 4.08–184.63%, 37.45–163.45%, and 10.19–38.29%, respectively, with the application of the biological materials compared to with conventional fertilization (CK1). However, the contents of the soil’s NaHCO3-Po, NaOH-Po, and residual-P significantly decreased in comparison to with CK1, particularly in the soils that received a combined application with biological materials and BM. Furthermore, the results from the statistical analysis revealed that the application of biological materials could increase the level of soil stable phosphorus, facilitate the transformation from soil stable phosphorus and soil unstable Po to soil unstable Pi, and enhance the effectiveness of soil phosphorus, especially when combined with BM, particularly in soil with AB+BM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water-Fertilizer Management for Soil Salinization Amendment and Crop Production in Salt-Affected Agroecosystems)
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14 pages, 3200 KiB  
Article
Effects of Nitrogen Reduction at Different Growth Stages on Maize Water and Nitrogen Utilization under Shallow Buried Drip Fertigated Irrigation
by Ju Zhao, Yinglong Qi, Chunyan Yin and Xiaoyu Liu
Agronomy 2024, 14(1), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010063 - 26 Dec 2023
Viewed by 736
Abstract
A field experiment of drip fertigated nitrogen reduction was set up in a typical Maize planting area in the Xiliao River Basin in 2018 and 2019. Different phased nitrogen reductions were set up under shallow buried drip irrigation during the growth period to [...] Read more.
A field experiment of drip fertigated nitrogen reduction was set up in a typical Maize planting area in the Xiliao River Basin in 2018 and 2019. Different phased nitrogen reductions were set up under shallow buried drip irrigation during the growth period to explore ways to improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by understanding the Maize regulation of nitrogen absorption and utilization. The recommended nitrogen application in the early stage (Nopt, total nitrogen 240 kg·hm−2) had the highest grain nitrogen uptake and total nitrogen uptake, followed by nitrogen reduction before the maximum canopy mulching (Nde-I, total nitrogen 180 kg·hm−2), nitrogen reduction after the maximum canopy mulching (Nde-II, total nitrogen 180 kg·hm−2) and no nitrogen application (N0). Without nitrogen application, the leaves were thin, green and yellow. The total nitrogen uptake was 38.54~41.31% lower than the recommended nitrogen application in the early stage. When nitrogen fertilizer was reduced in the maximum canopy mulching, grain nitrogen absorption was affected. Grain nitrogen absorption fell by 15.07% to 17.51% when nitrogen was reduced in the maximum canopy mulching compared to the recommended nitrogen application. The harvest index of nitrogen reduction before the maximum canopy coverage was 9.65~11.52% higher than that in the later stage, indicating that the nitrogen absorption between Maize grain, stem, and leaf was better regulated. Maize evapotranspiration water consumption was reduced throughout the growth cycle when nitrogen was reduced at various stages. Nitrogen reduction before maximum canopy mulching boosted water use efficiency (WUE) by 3.44% to 6.12% compared to the recommended nitrogen application in the early stage. The nitrogen fertilizer agronomic efficiency increased by 11.17% to 13.87%. The nitrogen use efficiency rose by 10.99~3.15% (5.24~6.60 percentage points). A total of 25% of nitrogen fertilizer was saved with the yield declining by only about 5%, resulting in increased NUE while maintaining the yield stability. Under shallow buried drip fertigated irrigation, the appropriate reduction in nitrogen fertilizer during the period from Maize sowing to the maximum canopy development ensured the nitrogen supply during tasseling–silking stage and filling stage, which can be used as a regulation method and a way to improve the Maize fertilizer use efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water-Fertilizer Management for Soil Salinization Amendment and Crop Production in Salt-Affected Agroecosystems)
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12 pages, 2481 KiB  
Article
Soil Microbial Communities Show Different Patterns under Different Land Use Types in the Coastal Area of Nantong, China
by Jinbiao Li, Anyong Hu, Xiuping Wang, Chuang Zhao, Jiarui Jin, Guangming Liu, Yujie Han and Bo Liu
Agronomy 2023, 13(10), 2613; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13102613 - 13 Oct 2023
Viewed by 838
Abstract
Tidal flats in eastern China have undergone various transformations into other land-use types. Understanding the impact of land-use conversion on soil properties and microbial communities is crucial for effective ecological conservation efforts. In this study, we compared soil chemical properties and the diversity, [...] Read more.
Tidal flats in eastern China have undergone various transformations into other land-use types. Understanding the impact of land-use conversion on soil properties and microbial communities is crucial for effective ecological conservation efforts. In this study, we compared soil chemical properties and the diversity, composition, and ecological functions of soil bacterial and fungal communities across four land-use types: natural bare land (BL), unused reclaimed tidal land (Phragmites, PL), agricultural land (maize, ML), and shelterbelt land (SL), utilizing next-generation sequencing technology. The results indicated that soil electrical conductivity decreased, while soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrient contents increased in ML and SL compared to BL and PL. The bacterial Chao1 and fungal Chao1 and Shannon values vary across different land-use types. A higher relative abundance of Acidobacteriota, specifically RB41, was found in ML compared to BL. Principal coordinate and PerMANOVA analysis showed that the composition of bacterial and fungal communities differed significantly across the four land-use types. SOC explained the most variance in both bacterial and fungal communities. Carbon-related functional genes and fungal guilds exhibit greater diversity across the four land-use types compared to nitrogen-related functional genes. In conclusion, the transformation of natural land-use types to managed one greatly altered soil chemical and microbial properties. Our study offers foundational insights into the microbial communities in the typical land-use types of Eastern China’s coastal area. Future studies should emphasize the quantification of human interventions and their impact on soil microbial communities and ecological functions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water-Fertilizer Management for Soil Salinization Amendment and Crop Production in Salt-Affected Agroecosystems)
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12 pages, 7334 KiB  
Article
Chemical Fertilizer Reduction Potential Estimation and Fertilization Optimization Strategy Based on a 10-Year Application Summary and Status Questionnaires in a Typical Yellow River Irrigated Area
by Yunpeng Sun, Jingtian Xian, Xiaobing Chen, Dan Cao, Rongjiang Yao, Yongming Luo and Xin Zhang
Agronomy 2023, 13(8), 2047; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13082047 - 1 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1102
Abstract
The Yellow River Delta is an important grain production base in China, and it is a typical Yellow River irrigated area. Chemical fertilizer overuse has seriously affected grain production safety, and understanding the fertilizer application situation is useful for scientific agronomy management. In [...] Read more.
The Yellow River Delta is an important grain production base in China, and it is a typical Yellow River irrigated area. Chemical fertilizer overuse has seriously affected grain production safety, and understanding the fertilizer application situation is useful for scientific agronomy management. In this study, we collected the data of the N, P, K fertilizers for crop cultivation in Donging City from 2011 to 2020, and we collected 185 investigating questionnaires to gather information on the fertilizer application rate for small farmers. The results showed that the amount of total fertilizer used has decreased from the year 2015, but the macro element fertilizer rate for crop cultivation exceeded the recommended dosage. The application of compound fertilizer increased during the investigated 10 years, and its proportion in 2020 was 1.65 times higher than in 2011. For obtaining an ideal grain yield, the N and P2O5 had relative reduction rates of 67.8% and 69.6% for wheat planting. Furthermore, the relative reduction rates of N, P2O5, and K2O were 25.9%, 69.6%, and 59.7%, respectively, for maize cultivation when compared to the recommended dosage. During wheat growth, the potassium fertilizer was needed to increase the dosage, although the K element content in the soil was high. Furthermore, the medium and trace elements are all important nutrients for improving crop yield and quality which need to be studied. More scientific measurements should be conducted to match chemical fertilizer reduction to constructing healthy and sustainable agriculture in the Yellow River irrigated area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water-Fertilizer Management for Soil Salinization Amendment and Crop Production in Salt-Affected Agroecosystems)
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14 pages, 5150 KiB  
Article
Agricultural Water Quality Assessment and Application in the Yellow River Delta
by Yunpeng Sun, Xiaobing Chen, Yongming Luo, Dan Cao, Hongyu Feng, Xin Zhang and Rongjiang Yao
Agronomy 2023, 13(6), 1495; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13061495 - 29 May 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1189
Abstract
Irrigation is the primary agricultural utilization of water resources worldwide, and it produces 36% of the food. The quality of irrigation water influences crop growth and food safety. The coastal river delta region supplies huge area lands for developing agriculture, and the irrigation [...] Read more.
Irrigation is the primary agricultural utilization of water resources worldwide, and it produces 36% of the food. The quality of irrigation water influences crop growth and food safety. The coastal river delta region supplies huge area lands for developing agriculture, and the irrigation in this area is composed of many resources for its special location. This study investigated the agricultural water with different resources and evaluated its quality in the Yellow River Delta. The water samples included irrigation water, underground water, and drainage water. The sampling points were designed in the typical areas of Kenli county and Guangrao county in Dongying city, which is the core area of the Yellow River Delta. Through testing the ions composition and the parameters of electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and so on, six evaluation methods were conducted to assess the water quality. The results suggested that the Yellow River water has good quality for irrigation or unconventional water utilization. The high concentration of Na+ and Cl− was the primary problem of the water resource. The rainfall was also another water resource supplement in this region. Therefore, developing saline water irrigation incorporated with salt-tolerant crop cultivation is a rational measure for improving coastal agriculture in the Yellow River Delta. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water-Fertilizer Management for Soil Salinization Amendment and Crop Production in Salt-Affected Agroecosystems)
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