Abstract
Long-term mulching has improved crop yields and farmland productivity in semiarid areas but also increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and depleted soil fertility. Biochar application has emerged as a promising solution for addressing this issue. In this study, we investigated the effects of four biochar application rates (no biochar (N)=0 t ha–1, low (L)=3 t ha–1, medium (M)=6 t ha–1, and high (H)=9 t ha–1) under film mulching and no mulching over three growing seasons. We assessed the impact on greenhouse gas emissions, soil organic carbon sequestration (SOCS), and maize yield to evaluate the productivity and sustainability of farmland ecosystems. Our results demonstrated that mulching increased maize yield (18.68–41.80%), total fixed C in straw (23.64%), grain (28.87%), and root (46.31%) biomass, and GHG emissions (CO2, 10.78%; N2O, 3.41%), while decreasing SOCS (6.57%) and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI; 13.61%). Under mulching, biochar application significantly increased maize yield (10.20%), total fixed C in straw (17.97%), grain (17.69%), root (16.75%) biomass, and SOCS (4.78%). Moreover, it decreased GHG emissions (CO2, 3.09%; N2O, 6.36%) and GHGI (12.28%). These effects correlated with the biochar addition rate, with the optimal rate being 9.0 t ha–1. In conclusion, biochar application reduced CO2 and N2O emissions, enhanced CH4 absorption, and improved maize yield under film mulching. It also improved the soil carbon fixation capacity while mitigating the warming potential, making it a promising sustainable management method for mulched farmland in semiarid areas.
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Claims 18
Claim · model-written summary
Mulching increased maize yield by 18.68–41.80%.
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“mulching increased maize yield (18.68–41.80%)”
Claim · model-written summary
Mulching increased fixed carbon in straw biomass by 23.64%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“total fixed C in straw (23.64%), grain (28.87%), and root (46.31%) biomass”
e1“mulching increased maize yield (18.68–41.80%)”
t0“farmland”
Claim · model-written summary
Mulching increased fixed carbon in grain biomass by 28.87%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“total fixed C in straw (23.64%), grain (28.87%), and root (46.31%) biomass”
e1“mulching increased maize yield (18.68–41.80%)”
t0“farmland”
Claim · model-written summary
Mulching increased fixed carbon in root biomass by 46.31%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“total fixed C in straw (23.64%), grain (28.87%), and root (46.31%) biomass”
e1“mulching increased maize yield (18.68–41.80%)”
t0“farmland”
Claim · model-written summary
Mulching increased CO2 emissions by 10.78%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“GHG emissions (CO2, 10.78%; N2O, 3.41%)”
e1“mulching increased maize yield (18.68–41.80%)”
t0“farmland”
Claim · model-written summary
Mulching increased N2O emissions by 3.41%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“GHG emissions (CO2, 10.78%; N2O, 3.41%)”
e1“mulching increased maize yield (18.68–41.80%)”
t0“farmland”
Claim · model-written summary
Mulching decreased soil organic carbon sequestration by 6.57%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“decreasing SOCS (6.57%) and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI; 13.61%)”
e1“mulching increased maize yield (18.68–41.80%)”
t0“farmland”
Claim · model-written summary
Mulching decreased greenhouse gas intensity by 13.61%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“decreasing SOCS (6.57%) and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI; 13.61%)”
e1“mulching increased maize yield (18.68–41.80%)”
t0“farmland”
Claim · model-written summary
Under mulching, biochar significantly increased maize yield by 10.20%.
- Treatment
- biochar applicatione0
- Outcome
- maize yielde0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 10.20%e0
- Qualifier
- Under mulchinge0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Under mulching, biochar application significantly increased maize yield (10.20%)”
Claim · model-written summary
Under mulching, biochar increased fixed carbon in straw by 17.97%.
- Treatment
- biochar applicatione1
- Outcome
- total fixed C in strawe0
- Direction
- increaseinferrede0
- Value
- 17.97%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“total fixed C in straw (17.97%), grain (17.69%), root (16.75%) biomass”
e1“Under mulching, biochar application significantly increased maize yield (10.20%)”
t0“farmland”
Claim · model-written summary
Under mulching, biochar increased fixed carbon in grain by 17.69%.
- Treatment
- biochar applicatione1
- Outcome
- total fixed C in strawe0
- Direction
- increaseinferrede0
- Value
- 17.69%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“total fixed C in straw (17.97%), grain (17.69%), root (16.75%) biomass”
e1“Under mulching, biochar application significantly increased maize yield (10.20%)”
t0“farmland”
Claim · model-written summary
Under mulching, biochar increased fixed carbon in roots by 16.75%.
- Treatment
- biochar applicatione1
- Outcome
- total fixed C in strawe0
- Direction
- increaseinferrede0
- Value
- 16.75%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“total fixed C in straw (17.97%), grain (17.69%), root (16.75%) biomass”
e1“Under mulching, biochar application significantly increased maize yield (10.20%)”
t0“farmland”
Claim · model-written summary
Under mulching, biochar increased soil organic carbon sequestration by 4.78%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“SOCS (4.78%)”
e1“Under mulching, biochar application significantly increased maize yield (10.20%)”
t0“farmland”
Claim · model-written summary
Under mulching, biochar decreased CO2 emissions by 3.09%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“decreased GHG emissions (CO2, 3.09%; N2O, 6.36%)”
e1“Under mulching, biochar application significantly increased maize yield (10.20%)”
t0“farmland”
Claim · model-written summary
Under mulching, biochar decreased N2O emissions by 6.36%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“decreased GHG emissions (CO2, 3.09%; N2O, 6.36%)”
e1“Under mulching, biochar application significantly increased maize yield (10.20%)”
t0“farmland”
Claim · model-written summary
Under mulching, biochar decreased greenhouse gas intensity by 12.28%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“GHGI (12.28%)”
e1“Under mulching, biochar application significantly increased maize yield (10.20%)”
t0“farmland”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar enhanced CH4 absorption under film mulching.
- Treatment
- biochar applicatione0
- Outcome
- CH4 absorptione0
- Direction
- enhancede0
- Qualifier
- under film mulchinge0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“biochar application reduced CO2 and N2O emissions, enhanced CH4 absorption, and improved maize yield under film mulching”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar improved soil carbon fixation capacity while mitigating warming potential.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“It also improved the soil carbon fixation capacity while mitigating the warming potential”
e1“Under mulching, biochar application significantly increased maize yield (10.20%)”
t0“farmland”
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