title: Enhanced yields and soil quality in a wheat-maize rotation using buried straw mulch.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Straw return may improve soil quality and crop yields. In a 2-year field study, a straw return method (ditch-buried straw return, DB-SR) was used to investigate the soil quality and crop productivity effects on a wheat-corn rotation system. This study consisted of three treatments, each with three replicates: (1) mineral fertilisation alone (CK0); (2) mineral fertilisation + 7500 kg ha-1wheat straw incorporated at depth of 0-15 cm (NPKWS); and (3) mineral fertilisation + 7500 kg ha-1wheat straw ditch buried at 15-30 cm (NPKDW).
  
  
  RESULTS
  NPKWS and NPKDW enhanced crop yield and improved soil biotical properties compared to mineral fertilisation alone. NPKDW contributed to greater crop yields and soil nutrient availability at 15-30 cm depths, compared to NPKWS treatment. NPKDW enhanced soil microbial activity and bacteria species richness and diversity in the 0-15 cm layer. NPKWS increased soil microbial biomass, bacteria species richness and diversity at 15-30 cm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The comparison of the CK0 and NPKWS treatments indicates that a straw ditch buried by digging to the depth of 15-30 cm can improve crop yields and soil quality in a wheat-maize rotation system. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Soil and Fertilizer Research Institute, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China.|State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China.|State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.|Key laboratory of Nutrient Cycling and Resources Environment of AnHui province, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Zhibin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Physics, Hefei University, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Soil and Fertilizer Research Institute, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China.|Key laboratory of Nutrient Cycling and Resources Environment of AnHui province, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Shuixia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Soil and Fertilizer Research Institute, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China.|Key laboratory of Nutrient Cycling and Resources Environment of AnHui province, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Keke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.affiliation: Tobacco Research Institute / Maize Research Institute, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Chaoqiang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Soil and Fertilizer Research Institute, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China.|Key laboratory of Nutrient Cycling and Resources Environment of AnHui province, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Daozhong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Soil and Fertilizer Research Institute, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China.|Key laboratory of Nutrient Cycling and Resources Environment of AnHui province, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Chuanlong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Soil and Fertilizer Research Institute, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China.|Key laboratory of Nutrient Cycling and Resources Environment of AnHui province, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Xisheng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000069599:Crop Production / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D012987:Soil; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: fertilisation; soil bacteria community; soil microbial biomass; soil organic matter