Open Access

ARTICLE

The Combination of Appropriate Drip Irrigation and Straw Mulching Increased the Yield of Maize

Chen Xu^1,#, Tianhao Luan^1,#, Zexin Qi², Xiaolong Liu³, Yaliang Liu⁴, Hui Sun⁵, Yueqiao Li¹, Ning Sun¹, Qian Li¹, Shaofeng Bian¹, Lihua Zhang^1,*, Hongxiang Zhao^1,*

1 Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130033, China
2 Agronomy College, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China
3 College of Life Science and Resources and Environment, Yichun University, Yichun, 336000, China
4 Jilin Agriculture Science and Technology College, Jilin, 132101, China
5 Jilin Engineering Vocational College, Siping, 136001, China

* Corresponding Authors: Lihua Zhang. Email: ; Hongxiang Zhao. Email:
# These authors contributed equally to this work

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress in Agricultural Crops)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2025, 94(11), 3703-3719. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2025.071324

Received 05 August 2025; Accepted 07 November 2025; Issue published 01 December 2025

Abstract

Optimizing drip irrigation with straw mulch return represents a promising sustainable intensification strategy for revolutionizing regional water management. This 2-year controlled field experiment examined straw incorporation effects (removal and return) and drip irrigation levels (200, 350, 500 mm) on maize carbon-nitrogen metabolism, root bleeding sap characteristics, dry matter accumulation, and yield. Dry matter and yield increased with irrigation amount. Under 200–350 mm irrigation, straw return enhanced root bleeding intensity; elevated nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium concentrations in bleeding sap; and promoted soluble sugar and hydrolyzed amino acid contents, establishing material foundations for yield formation. Straw mulching increased cytokinin while reducing abscisic acid content, delaying senescence. Leaf activities of nitrate reductase, glutamine synthetase, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase significantly increased under straw return, enhancing photosynthesis and improving 100-grain weight, ear length, ear diameter, and yield while decreasing bald tip length. Low irrigation amplified straw return benefits on maize growth and metabolism, whereas high irrigation negated these effects. Therefore, combining drip irrigation with straw return provides scientific foundations for water resource management in Jilin Province and theoretical bases for sustainable agricultural development in water-limited regions.

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Keywords

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material File

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