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Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (6): 102-110.doi: 10.11924/j.issn.1000-6850.casb2025-0456

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Effect of Yellow River Water Drip Irrigation Coordinated with Soil Regulation Technology on Soil Physicochemical Properties and Maize Yield

LI Zhengkui(), XIA Yuhong(), ZHAO Sha, HAN Tiankai, SUN Long, LIU Jiaxin, CHEN Min   

  1. Bayannur Institute of Water Conservancy Science, Bayannur, Inner Mongolia 015000
  • Received:2025-06-21 Revised:2025-10-11 Online:2026-03-25 Published:2026-03-30

Abstract:

This study investigates the effects of various soil conditioning techniques on soil physicochemical properties and maize yield under drip irrigation with Yellow River water under plastic film in the Hetao Irrigation District of Inner Mongolia, and screens optimal water-saving and soil-improving yield-increasing mode. Maize was used as the test crop, and single application of SAP, single application of PAM, mixed application of SAP + PAM ( S + P ), CK1 ( film mulching control ) and CK2 ( no film control ) were set up. Three irrigation quota gradients of 2376 m3/hm2, 2673 m3/hm2 and 2970 m3/hm2 were used to carry out field experiments by drip irrigation under the Yellow River water film. The soil bulk density, organic matter content, water content, total salt content, maize yield and irrigation water production efficiency were measured. The results indicate that, compared to the control group, both water-retaining agents and soil amendments reduced soil bulk density to varying degrees. The combined application of water-retaining agents and soil amendments resulted in the most significant reduction in soil bulk density, with an average decrease of 0.13 g/cm3 compared to pre-sowing levels. The soil organic matter content under plastic film in all treatments was generally higher than that of the control, with the combined treatment yielding the highest soil organic matter content at an average of 49.47 g/kg. Under the various treatment conditions, the combined application of water-retaining agents and soil amendments produced the highest maize yield and irrigation water productivity, reaching 15.6 t/hm2 and 17.58 kg/m3 respectively. For the same conditioning treatment, an irrigation quota of 2376 m3/hm2 was found to be most conducive to enhancing irrigation water productivity. Overall, the combined application of water-retaining agents and soil amendments demonstrated considerable advantages in improving soil physicochemical properties, increasing maize yield, and enhancing irrigation water productivity, offering valuable insights for similar agricultural production studies.

Key words: water-retaining agent, soil amendment, drip irrigation with Yellow River water, conditioning technology, physicochemical properties, maize yield, Hetao Irrigation District