title: Plastic-film mulching and urea types affect soil CO2 emissions and grain yield in spring maize on the Loess Plateau, China.
abstract: A 2-year field experiment was conducted on maize (Zea mays L.) to explore effective ways to decrease soil CO2 emissions and increase grain yield. Treatments established were: (1) no mulching with urea, (2) no mulching with controlled release fertiliser (CRF), (3) transparent plastic-film mulching (PMt) with urea, (4) PMt with CRF, (5) black plastic-film mulching (PMb) with urea, and (6) PMb with CRF. During the early growth stages, soil CO2 emissions were noted as PMt > PMb > no mulching, and this order was reversed in the late growth stages. This trend was the result of topsoil temperature dynamics. There were no significant correlations noted between soil CO2 emissions and soil temperature and moisture. Cumulative soil CO2 emissions were higher for the PMt than for the PMb, and grain yield was higher for the PMb treatments than for the PMt or no mulching treatments. The CRF produced higher grain yield and inhibited soil CO2 emissions. Soil CO2 emissions per unit grain yield were lower for the BC treatment than for the other treatments. In conclusion, the use of black plastic-film mulching and controlled release fertiliser not only increased maize yield, but also reduced soil CO2 emissions.
authors.affiliation: College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
authors.forename: Qiaofei
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoxia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
authors.forename: Yuncheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D002681:China; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014508:Urea / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis; D003313:Zea mays / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D012987:Soil; D014867:Water; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D014508:Urea