Green Manure Incorporation with Nitrogen Reduction Boosts Wheat Yield and Water Productivity

Strategic Insights -

Fresh data from a research study conducted at the Gansu Agricultural University in the People's Republic of China highlights the potential of using green manure incorporation with nitrogen reduction to enhance water productivity of spring wheat in arid areas. The study, which was conducted from 2021 to 2023, found that the treatment of 30,000 kg ha-1 green manure plus 15% nitrogen reduction resulted in a significant increase in soil moisture storage, reduced soil evaporation, and increased transpiration, ultimately leading to a 28.1% increase in wheat grain yield and 22.7% increase in water productivity.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study aimed to investigate the effects of different amounts of green manure incorporation with nitrogen reduction on grain yield and water use characteristics of wheat in arid irrigated areas of Northwest China.
  • The results showed that GM incorporation with N reduction had the advantages of increasing soil organic matter, total nitrogen, canopy coverage, root biomass, and dry matter accumulation from the anthesis to maturity stage.
  • The treatment of 30,000 kg ha-1 GM + 15% N reduction had the most significant effect on increasing soil water storage, reducing soil evaporation, and increasing transpiration.
  • This treatment increased wheat grain yield by 28.1% and water productivity by 22.7% compared to the conventional N application without GM (N100).
  • The structural equation model (SEM) revealed that dry matter accumulation was the main factor in improving water productivity.
  • The results suggest that 30,000 kg ha-1 GM + 15% N reduction could be an effective agricultural strategy to alleviate the contradiction between high wheat yield and water shortage in arid areas.

Statistics:

  • The study was conducted in the arid irrigated area of Northwest China from 2021 to 2023.
  • Seven treatments were established, including conventional N application without GM (N100) and six different amounts of GM incorporation with N reduction.
  • The results showed that the treatment of 30,000 kg ha-1 GM + 15% N reduction increased soil water storage by 12.8% and reduced soil evaporation by 15.6% compared to N100.
  • The same treatment increased transpiration by 21.9% and 10.3% in the concurrent and reproductive growth stages, respectively.
  • Wheat grain yield and water productivity increased by 28.1% and 22.7%, respectively, with the treatment of 30,000 kg ha-1 GM + 15% N reduction.

Sources:

  • Green manure incorporation with nitrogen reduction improves water productivity of spring wheat in arid areas. Agricultural Water Management, 2025, 318():109706.
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China
  • Gansu Provincial Natural Science Foundation
  • Gansu Agricultural University
  • Lanzhou, People's Republic of China