Yield Increase and Emission Reduction Effects of Alfalfa in the Yellow River Irrigation District of Gansu Province: The Coupling Mechanism of Biodegradable Mulch and Controlled-Release Nitrogen Fertilizer
Agricultural production in Northwest China is widely constrained by residual plastic film pollution, excessive greenhouse gas emissions, and low productivity. Integrating biodegradable film with controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer offers a promising approach to optimize crop management, enhance y...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Plants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/2022 |
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| Summary: | Agricultural production in Northwest China is widely constrained by residual plastic film pollution, excessive greenhouse gas emissions, and low productivity. Integrating biodegradable film with controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer offers a promising approach to optimize crop management, enhance yield, and improve environmental outcomes. In this study, three planting patterns (conventional flat planting, FP; ridge mulching with biodegradable film, BM; and ridge mulching with conventional plastic film, PM), two nitrogen fertilizer types (urea, U, and controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer, C), and four nitrogen application rates (0, 80, 160, and 240 kg·hm<sup>−2</sup>) were applied to systematically investigate their effects on alfalfa yield and N<sub>2</sub>O emissions from grasslands. The results showed that BM and PM increased alfalfa yield by 23.49% and 18.65%, respectively, compared to FP, while C increased yield by 8.46% compared to urea. The highest yield (24.84 t·hm<sup>−2</sup>) was recorded under the BMC2 treatment, which was 97.11% higher than that of FPN0. N<sub>2</sub>O emission flux and cumulative emissions increased with nitrogen application rate. Compared with U, C reduced cumulative N<sub>2</sub>O emissions and greenhouse gas emission intensity (GHGI) by 23.89% and 25.84%, respectively. Compared to PM, BM reduced cumulative N<sub>2</sub>O emissions and GHGI by 11.58% and 20.15%, respectively. Principal component analysis indicated that the combination of ridge mulching with biodegradable film and 160 kg·hm<sup>−2</sup> of C was optimal for simultaneously increasing alfalfa yield and reducing N<sub>2</sub>O emissions, making it a suitable planting–fertilization strategy for the Yellow River irrigation district in Gansu and similar ecological regions. |
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| ISSN: | 2223-7747 |