Abstract
Water scarcity and water-related soil erosion are severely exacerbated by inappropriate human activities and global climate change. Hence, to find a suitable technology to mitigate drought and soil erosion, three consecutive field experiments were conducted to explore the impact of ridge-furrow cropping with biochar amendment on soil water storage, runoff, sediment yield, soil nutrient losses, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) fodder yield, crop water productivity (WPc), and economic benefit from 2019 to 2021. This experiment was conducted in a split-plot design, taking biochar amendment patterns (no biochar amendment and biochar amendment at a rate of 3× 104 kg ha−1) as a main plot and ridge-furrow technologies (traditional planting, open-ridging, and tied-ridging) as a split-plot. The combination of biochar amendment with ridge-furrow technology, especially tied-ridging technology, increased soil water storage, and captured runoff, sediment, and related soil nutrient losses, consequently increasing alfalfa fodder yield, WPc, and income. During this study, compared to traditional planting, open-ridging depicted an increase in soil water storage by a range of 9.8–39.6 mm, an alfalfa fodder yield boost ranging from 9.8% to 38.6%, and a WPc increase ranging from 0.1 to 16.5 kg ha−1 mm−1. On the other hand, tied-ridging showed greater improvements with soil water storage increasing by 29.1–65.1 mm, alfalfa fodder yield growing by 11.6–44.4%, and WPc advancing by 0.9–17.5 kg ha−1 mm−1. The mean decrease in runoff, sediment, and nutrients (total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and organic matter) loss for open-ridging was 17.9%-37.7%, 46.4%-75.5%, and 40.4%-75.3%, respectively, while for tied-ridging, it was 22.3%-55.5%, 62.1%-87.6%, and 49.0%-87.3%, respectively. Compared to no biochar amendment, soil water storage, alfalfa fodder yield, and WPc for biochar amendment increased by 9.1%-20.4%, 5.8%-52.7%, and 4.6–7.8 kg ha−1 mm−1, respectively, while runoff, sediment, and nutrients loss for biochar amendment decreased by 32.2%-40.9%, 25.5%-55.5%, and 35.9%-53.3%, respectively. Structural equation modeling analysis indicated that the significant direct effect of biochar amendment and ridge-furrow technology on WPc was 0.20 and 0.62, respectively, whereas the significant direct effect of runoff and actual crop evapotranspiration on alfalfa fodder yield was −0.40 and 0.94, respectively. Tied-ridge cropping combined with biochar addition was a highly suggested approach for addressing soil erosion and enhancing alfalfa fodder yields in the Loess Plateau in China. This technology could mitigate soil water scarcity and soil erosion, and give farmers the confidence to invest in this technology in dryland regions.
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Claims 20
Claim · model-written summary
Open-ridging increased soil water storage by 9.8–39.6 mm relative to traditional planting.
- Taxon
- alfalfa
Medicago sativat0 - Treatment
- open-ridginge0
- Outcome
- soil water storagee0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Value
- 9.8–39.6 mme0
- Comparator
- traditional plantinge0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“compared to traditional planting, open-ridging depicted an increase in soil water storage by a range of 9.8–39.6 mm”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Open-ridging increased alfalfa fodder yield by 9.8%–38.6% relative to traditional planting.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae0
- Treatment
- open-ridginge0
- Outcome
- alfalfa fodder yielde0
- Direction
- booste0
- Value
- 9.8% to 38.6%e0
- Comparator
- traditional plantinge0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“compared to traditional planting, open-ridging depicted an increase in soil water storage by a range of 9.8–39.6 mm, an alfalfa fodder yield boost ranging from 9.8% to 38.6%”
Claim · model-written summary
Open-ridging increased crop water productivity by 0.1–16.5 kg ha−1 mm−1 relative to traditional planting.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- open-ridginge0
- Outcome
- WPce0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Value
- 0.1 to 16.5 kg ha−1 mm−1e0
- Comparator
- traditional plantinge0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“compared to traditional planting, open-ridging depicted an increase in soil water storage by a range of 9.8–39.6 mm, an alfalfa fodder yield boost ranging from 9.8% to 38.6%, and a WPc increase ranging from 0.1 to 16.5 kg ha−1 mm−1”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Tied-ridging increased soil water storage by 29.1–65.1 mm relative to traditional planting.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- tied-ridginge0
- Outcome
- soil water storagee0
- Direction
- increasinge0
- Value
- 29.1–65.1 mme0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“tied-ridging showed greater improvements with soil water storage increasing by 29.1–65.1 mm”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Tied-ridging increased alfalfa fodder yield by 11.6–44.4%.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae0
- Treatment
- tied-ridginge0
- Outcome
- alfalfa fodder yielde0
- Direction
- growinge0
- Value
- 11.6–44.4%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“tied-ridging showed greater improvements with soil water storage increasing by 29.1–65.1 mm, alfalfa fodder yield growing by 11.6–44.4%”
Claim · model-written summary
Tied-ridging increased crop water productivity by 0.9–17.5 kg ha−1 mm−1.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- tied-ridginge0
- Outcome
- WPce0
- Direction
- advancinge0
- Value
- 0.9–17.5 kg ha−1 mm−1e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“tied-ridging showed greater improvements with soil water storage increasing by 29.1–65.1 mm, alfalfa fodder yield growing by 11.6–44.4%, and WPc advancing by 0.9–17.5 kg ha−1 mm−1”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Open-ridging decreased runoff loss by 17.9%–37.7%.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- open-ridginge0
- Outcome
- runoffe0
- Direction
- decreasee0
- Value
- 17.9%-37.7%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The mean decrease in runoff, sediment, and nutrients (total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and organic matter) loss for open-ridging was 17.9%-37.7%, 46.4%-75.5%, and 40.4%-75.3%, respectively”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Open-ridging decreased sediment loss by 46.4%–75.5%.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- open-ridginge0
- Outcome
- sedimente0
- Direction
- decreasee0
- Value
- 46.4%-75.5%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The mean decrease in runoff, sediment, and nutrients (total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and organic matter) loss for open-ridging was 17.9%-37.7%, 46.4%-75.5%, and 40.4%-75.3%, respectively”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Open-ridging decreased nutrient loss by 40.4%–75.3%.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- open-ridginge0
- Outcome
- nutrients (total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and organic matter) losse0
- Direction
- decreasee0
- Value
- 40.4%-75.3%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The mean decrease in runoff, sediment, and nutrients (total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and organic matter) loss for open-ridging was 17.9%-37.7%, 46.4%-75.5%, and 40.4%-75.3%, respectively”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Tied-ridging decreased runoff loss by 22.3%–55.5%.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- tied-ridginge0
- Outcome
- runoffe1
- Direction
- decreasee1
- Value
- 22.3%-55.5%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“for tied-ridging, it was 22.3%-55.5%, 62.1%-87.6%, and 49.0%-87.3%, respectively”
e1“The mean decrease in runoff, sediment, and nutrients (total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and organic matter) loss”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Tied-ridging decreased sediment loss by 62.1%–87.6%.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- tied-ridginge0
- Outcome
- sedimente1
- Direction
- decreasee1
- Value
- 62.1%-87.6%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“for tied-ridging, it was 22.3%-55.5%, 62.1%-87.6%, and 49.0%-87.3%, respectively”
e1“The mean decrease in runoff, sediment, and nutrients (total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and organic matter) loss”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Tied-ridging decreased nutrient loss by 49.0%–87.3%.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- tied-ridginge0
- Outcome
- nutrients (total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and organic matter) losse1
- Direction
- decreasee1
- Value
- 49.0%-87.3%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“for tied-ridging, it was 22.3%-55.5%, 62.1%-87.6%, and 49.0%-87.3%, respectively”
e1“The mean decrease in runoff, sediment, and nutrients (total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and organic matter) loss”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar increased soil water storage by 9.1%–20.4% relative to no amendment.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- biochar amendmente0
- Outcome
- soil water storagee0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 9.1%-20.4%e0
- Comparator
- no biochar amendmente0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compared to no biochar amendment, soil water storage, alfalfa fodder yield, and WPc for biochar amendment increased by 9.1%-20.4%, 5.8%-52.7%, and 4.6–7.8 kg ha−1 mm−1, respectively”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar increased alfalfa fodder yield by 5.8%–52.7% relative to no amendment.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae0
- Treatment
- biochar amendmente0
- Outcome
- alfalfa fodder yielde0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 5.8%-52.7%e0
- Comparator
- no biochar amendmente0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compared to no biochar amendment, soil water storage, alfalfa fodder yield, and WPc for biochar amendment increased by 9.1%-20.4%, 5.8%-52.7%, and 4.6–7.8 kg ha−1 mm−1, respectively”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar increased crop water productivity by 4.6–7.8 kg ha−1 mm−1 relative to no amendment.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- biochar amendmente0
- Outcome
- WPce0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 4.6–7.8 kg ha−1 mm−1e0
- Comparator
- no biochar amendmente0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compared to no biochar amendment, soil water storage, alfalfa fodder yield, and WPc for biochar amendment increased by 9.1%-20.4%, 5.8%-52.7%, and 4.6–7.8 kg ha−1 mm−1, respectively”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar decreased runoff loss by 32.2%–40.9%.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- biochar amendmente0
- Outcome
- runoffe0
- Direction
- decreasede0
- Value
- 32.2%-40.9%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“runoff, sediment, and nutrients loss for biochar amendment decreased by 32.2%-40.9%, 25.5%-55.5%, and 35.9%-53.3%, respectively”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar decreased sediment loss by 25.5%–55.5%.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- biochar amendmente0
- Outcome
- sedimente0
- Direction
- decreasede0
- Value
- 25.5%-55.5%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“runoff, sediment, and nutrients loss for biochar amendment decreased by 32.2%-40.9%, 25.5%-55.5%, and 35.9%-53.3%, respectively”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar decreased nutrient loss by 35.9%–53.3%.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- biochar amendmente0
- Outcome
- nutrients losse0
- Direction
- decreasede0
- Value
- 35.9%-53.3%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“runoff, sediment, and nutrients loss for biochar amendment decreased by 32.2%-40.9%, 25.5%-55.5%, and 35.9%-53.3%, respectively”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
A structural equation model found positive direct effects of biochar and ridge-furrow technology on crop water productivity.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- biochar amendment and ridge-furrow technologye0
- Outcome
- WPce0
- Value
- 0.20 and 0.62e0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Structural equation modeling analysis indicated that the significant direct effect of biochar amendment and ridge-furrow technology on WPc was 0.20 and 0.62, respectively”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend tied-ridge cropping with biochar to reduce erosion and enhance alfalfa fodder yield in the Loess Plateau.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae0
- Treatment
- Tied-ridge cropping combined with biochar additione0
- Outcome
- addressing soil erosion and enhancing alfalfa fodder yieldse0
- Setting
- Loess Plateau in Chinae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tied-ridge cropping combined with biochar addition was a highly suggested approach for addressing soil erosion and enhancing alfalfa fodder yields in the Loess Plateau in China”
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See all 5 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.