Abstract
A two-year experiment was carried out at Shenyang Agricultural University’s research field area in China to evaluate the impact of the combined application of straw mulch (0 and 8 t ha−1) and biochar (0, 4, 12, and 36 t ha−1) on the morphological traits and grain development of rainfed maize during 2018 and 2019. The results showed that straw mulch and different biochar application rates significantly impacted the maize growth index. Compared to non-biochar-treated soils, the introduction of straw mulch improved plant height, stem diameter, leaf area index (LAI), leaves, stem, root, and crop growth rate (CGR), and dry weight of rainfed maize crop. The highest plant height, stem diameter, LAI, leaves, stem, root growth rate, CGR, and dry weight of rainfed maize crop were reported when soil was treated with a higher rate of biochar (36 t ha−1). Biochar increased grain filling rate while decreasing grain filling duration in rainfed maize crops. Our results indicate that straw mulch and biochar-based soil management strategies can improve the rainfed maize growth with the environmental benefits of global warming mitigation. However, due to the wide range of biochar properties, the interactions between straw mulch and biochar should be given special consideration in the maize cropping system.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Straw mulch and biochar application rates significantly affected maize growth index.
Zea maysNot reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The results showed that straw mulch and different biochar application rates significantly impacted the maize growth index.”
Claim · model-written summary
Straw mulch improved maize height, stem diameter and leaf area index relative to non-biochar-treated soils.
- Treatment
- straw mulche0
- Outcome
- plant height, stem diameter, leaf area index (LAI)e0
- Direction
- improvede0
- Comparator
- non-biochar-treated soilse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compared to non-biochar-treated soils, the introduction of straw mulch improved plant height, stem diameter, leaf area index (LAI), leaves, stem, root, and crop growth rate (CGR), and dry weight of rainfed maize crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
Straw mulch improved leaf, stem, root and crop growth rates and dry weight in rainfed maize.
- Treatment
- straw mulche0
- Outcome
- crop growth rate (CGR), and dry weighte0
- Direction
- improvede0
- Comparator
- non-biochar-treated soilse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compared to non-biochar-treated soils, the introduction of straw mulch improved plant height, stem diameter, leaf area index (LAI), leaves, stem, root, and crop growth rate (CGR), and dry weight of rainfed maize crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
The 36 t ha−1 biochar rate produced the highest plant height, stem diameter and leaf area index.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The highest plant height, stem diameter, LAI, leaves, stem, root growth rate, CGR, and dry weight of rainfed maize crop were reported when soil was treated with a higher rate of biochar (36 t ha−1).”
Claim · model-written summary
The 36 t ha−1 biochar rate produced the highest growth rates and dry weight.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The highest plant height, stem diameter, LAI, leaves, stem, root growth rate, CGR, and dry weight of rainfed maize crop were reported when soil was treated with a higher rate of biochar (36 t ha−1).”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar increased grain filling rate in rainfed maize.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Biochar increased grain filling rate while decreasing grain filling duration in rainfed maize crops.”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar decreased grain filling duration in rainfed maize.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Biochar increased grain filling rate while decreasing grain filling duration in rainfed maize crops.”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend considering interactions between straw mulch and biochar in maize cropping.
- Outcome
- special consideratione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the interactions between straw mulch and biochar should be given special consideration in the maize cropping system.”
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