Environmental governance
ZHAO Tianxu, DING Jinli
To analyze soil water storage and moisture retention effects of different soil textures and their impacts on crop yield,this study used field experiment data in 2023 and 2024 to examine the differences in soil bulk weight,soil porosity,saturated hydraulic conductivity,and field capacity of silty loam,silty sand,and sandy loam at soil depths of [0,20],(20,40],(40,60],(60,80],and (80,100]cm.The characteristics of soil water content,water storage,and water consumption in the 0-100cm soil layer were investigated to clarify the effects of these three soil types on maize yield and water use efficiency(WUE).The results showed that the sandy loam had lower average soil bulk density and field water-holding capacity but higher soil porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity in the 0-100cm soil layer as compared with the other two soil types.Over two years,the average water content and water storage in the 0-100cm soil layer decreased in the order of silty loam,silty sand,and sandy loam at maize seedling,jointing,and flowering stages.In addition,the three soil textures had no significant effect on the maize plant height,ear position,and leaf number(P>0.5).However,compared with sandy loam,silty loam and silty sand treatments increased maize yield for two consecutive years,with silty loam and silty sand boosting yields by 24.9% and 13.6%,respectively,in 2023.The water use efficiency of the three soil textures over two years decreased in the order of silty loam,silty sand,and sandy loam.In conclusion,silty loam significantly outperformed silty sand and sandy loam in the soil water storage and moisture retention as well as the increment of maize yield.