Fall Straw Incorporation with Plastic Film Cover Increases Corn Yield and Water Use Efficiency Under a Semi-Arid Climate

Corn straw incorporation in soil has been regarded as an environment-friendly approach for straw utilization. However, the straw incorporation has been a challenge under a cold and dry climate due to a slow decomposition. This field study was to use a novel approach to incorporate corn straw into soil during fall season with plastic film cover, in an effort to enhance the straw degradation. Two-year field experiments were conducted in Northeast China to investigate the effects of four treatments: including 1) straw incorporation with film cover; 2) straw incorporation only; 3) film cover only; and 4) control, on soil properties and corn growth. Soils and corn plants were collected during the growing season and analyzed for soil temperature and moisture, straw degradation, corn biomass, grain yield, and water use efficiency. Results indicated that straw incorporation with film cover increased grain yield by 53% as compared to straw incorporation only and by 102% to control, but did not significantly differ from film cover only. The straw decomposition under film cover was 20% faster, significantly higher than that of the straw incorporation only treatment. In all cases, soil water content before planting, corn water uptake, and corn water use efficiency under straw incorporation with film cover were significantly higher than straw incorporation only and control, but did not significantly differ from film cover only. Surface film cover resulted in 10-day earlier corn tasseling in compared to treatments without film cover. This field study demonstrated that straw incorporation with film cover would enhance straw degradation in soil, improve soil properties, and increase corn yield and water use efficiency, which could be potentially used as the sustainable soil management practice in Northeast China.