Abstract
Abstract Integrating film mulching (FM) with cereal–oilseed intercropping offers a promising strategy to enhance resource efficiency in the Guanzhong Plain, where climate change‐driven soil and water depletion threaten grain and edible oil production. This 2‐year field study (2021–2022) assessed the combined impact of FM and intercropping configuration on yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and nitrogen utilization in corn ( Zea mays L.)–sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) systems. Treatments included two mulching methods: no film mulching (NF) and FM, and four planting patterns: corn monoculture (C), sunflower monoculture (S), two rows of corn alternated with two rows of sunflower (C 2 S 2 ), and two rows of corn alternated with four rows of sunflower (C 2 S 4 ). FM significantly improved plant height, leaf area, and dry matter accumulation in both crops. It also enhanced water and nitrogen use efficiencies, particularly in the C 2 S 2 intercropping system, where WUE increased by 97.77%–101.35% and total nitrogen by 16.14%–23.66% compared to monocropping. Kernel quality also improved under FM, with significantly higher starch, protein, and oil contents than NF. The film‐mulched C 2 S 2 system achieved the highest yield (8068.59 kg ha −1 ) and economic return (36,504.33 yuan ha −1 ), representing a 25.79% increase in productivity over monoculture. These findings suggest that combining FM with a 2:2 corn–sunflower intercropping pattern significantly enhances yield, resource use efficiency, and profitability—supporting sustainable intensification in the Guanzhong Plain.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Film mulching significantly improved plant height, leaf area and dry matter accumulation of corn in both crops compared with no film mulching.
- Taxon
- corn
Zea mays subsp. mayse2 - Treatment
- FMe0
- Outcome
- plant height, leaf area, and dry matter accumulatione0
- Direction
- improvede0
- Qualifier
- in both cropse0
- Comparator
- no film mulching (NF)e1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“FM significantly improved plant height, leaf area, and dry matter accumulation in both crops”
e1“Treatments included two mulching methods: no film mulching (NF) and FM”
e2“corn ( Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Film mulching enhanced water and nitrogen use efficiencies.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse2
- Treatment
- FMe1
- Outcome
- water and nitrogen use efficienciese0
- Direction
- enhancede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“It also enhanced water and nitrogen use efficiencies”
e1“Treatments included two mulching methods: no film mulching (NF) and FM”
e2“corn ( Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
In the C 2 S 2 intercropping system, water use efficiency increased by 97.77%–101.35% compared with monocropping.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse1
- Treatment
- C 2 S 2e0
- Outcome
- WUEe0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 97.77%–101.35%e0
- Comparator
- monocroppinge0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“particularly in the C 2 S 2 intercropping system, where WUE increased by 97.77%–101.35% and total nitrogen by 16.14%–23.66% compared to monocropping”
e1“corn ( Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
In the C 2 S 2 intercropping system, total nitrogen increased by 16.14%–23.66% compared with monocropping.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse1
- Treatment
- C 2 S 2e0
- Outcome
- total nitrogene0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 16.14%–23.66%e0
- Comparator
- monocroppinge0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“particularly in the C 2 S 2 intercropping system, where WUE increased by 97.77%–101.35% and total nitrogen by 16.14%–23.66% compared to monocropping”
e1“corn ( Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Under film mulching, corn kernel starch, protein and oil contents were significantly higher than without film mulching.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse1
- Organ / stage
- Kernele0
- Treatment
- FMe0
- Outcome
- starch, protein, and oil contentse0
- Direction
- highere0
- Comparator
- NFe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Kernel quality also improved under FM, with significantly higher starch, protein, and oil contents than NF”
e1“corn ( Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
The C 2 S 2 system achieved the highest yield, 8068.59 kg ha −1.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse2
- Treatment
- C 2 S 2e1
- Outcome
- yielde0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 8068.59 kg ha −1e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“achieved the highest yield (8068.59 kg ha −1) and economic return (36,504.33 yuan ha −1)”
e1“particularly in the C 2 S 2 intercropping system”
e2“corn ( Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
The C 2 S 2 system achieved the highest economic return, 36,504.33 yuan ha −1.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse2
- Treatment
- C 2 S 2e1
- Outcome
- economic returne0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 36,504.33 yuan ha −1e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“achieved the highest yield (8068.59 kg ha −1) and economic return (36,504.33 yuan ha −1)”
e1“particularly in the C 2 S 2 intercropping system”
e2“corn ( Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
The C 2 S 2 system raised productivity by 25.79% over monoculture.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse2
- Treatment
- C 2 S 2e1
- Outcome
- productivitye0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Value
- 25.79%e0
- Comparator
- monoculturee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“representing a 25.79% increase in productivity over monoculture”
e1“particularly in the C 2 S 2 intercropping system”
e2“corn ( Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Combining film mulching with a 2:2 corn-sunflower intercropping pattern is suggested to enhance yield, resource use efficiency and profitability.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse2
- Outcome
- combining FM with a 2:2e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“These findings suggest that combining FM with a 2:2 corn”
e1“significantly enhances yield, resource use efficiency, and profitability”
e2“corn ( Zea mays L.)”
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