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High-standard farmland construction (HSFC) is a critical initiative for mitigating climate disaster risks of grain production and ensuring national food security. Using panel data for 30 Chinese provinces from 2003 to 2020, this study measures the climate disaster vulnerability of grain production (CDVG) with an improved vulnerability assessment framework, and systematically examines the impact mechanisms and spatial spillover effects of HSFC on CDVG. The results reveal that: (1) Temporally, the evolution of CDVG is characterized by an initial rapid decline followed by slow, fluctuating decreases. Spatially, it exhibits pronounced regional disparities and spatial clustering, with the eastern coastal areas, central major grain-producing regions, and Xinjiang displaying lower vulnerability than other regions. (2) Baseline regression results confirm that HSFC significantly reduces CDVG, and this conclusion remains robust after a series of robustness tests. (3) Mechanism tests demonstrate that HSFC reduces CDVG through ecological regulation effects, infrastructure guarantee effects, and technological support effects. (4) Spatial econometric analysis reveals that HSFC exerts a significant spatial spillover effect on CDVG. It not only mitigates local vulnerability but also reduces vulnerability in neighboring regions. (5) Heterogeneity analysis reveals that vulnerability-reducing effect of HSFC is more pronounced in provinces with medium-to-low vulnerability quantiles, in major grain-producing areas, and in regions with relatively flat terrain. Based on these findings, this study recommends optimizing the spatial layout of HSFC, improving supporting systems, and tailoring strategies to local conditions to better mitigate climate disaster risks and ensure national food security.

In the dry–hot valley region of Southwest China, water infiltration exhibits temporal variations due to the combined effects of land use type and the dramatic seasonal dry–wet cycle. To accurately compare and predict the infiltration characteristics, soil water infiltration processes and cumulative infiltration were quantified for five typical land uses—traditional corn (TC), plum orchard (PO), pine forest (PF), grassland (GL), and abandoned cropland (AC)—in a dry–hot valley region during both the rainy (July) and dry (November) seasons using a Mini Disk Infiltrometer (MDI). These data were then statistically analyzed using the Kostiakov, Philip, and Horton models. The results showed that the mean infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration during the rainy season were 1.34 times and 1.31 times higher than in the dry season, respectively. The water infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration for the five land uses generally followed the order of PF > GL/TC > PO/AC during both rainy and dry seasons. The model parameters related to the initial infiltration capability (Kostiakov parameter, a) and the steady infiltration capability (Philip parameter, A; and the Horton parameter, fc) during the rainy season were all greater than those in the dry season. Compared to the Kostiakov and Horton models, the Philip model achieved the highest mean Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) values in fitting soil water infiltration processes, the lowest mean relative error (MRE) values, and the highest determination coefficient values (R2) in predicting the cumulative infiltration, with relatively little difference between the two seasons. These results indicate that PF, GL, and TC exhibit superior soil water infiltration capabilities compared to other land uses during both the rainy and dry seasons. The Philip model is more suitable for estimating soil infiltration capacity in the dry–hot valley region during both seasons. Identification of the superior land use types and accuracy determination of the water infiltration model can help guide effective water conservation and vegetation restoration initiatives in the dry–hot valley region of Southwest China.

The progressive replacement of conventional plastic films with biodegradable alternatives in agricultural systems has led to the accumulation of diverse plastic residues in soils, exerting documented impacts on microbial-mediated ecological processes. However, systematic investigations into how these residues influence organic carbon (C) turnover and inter-aggregate C flows remain critically lacking. This study investigated the effects of diverse plastic film residues on organic C decomposition dynamics and aggregate-associated C sequestration through a 60-day soil incubation experiment. Two representative plastic film types—conventional polyethylene (PE) and biodegradable polylactic acid + polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PAT)—were incorporated into agricultural soil under contrasting organic matter input regimes: with maize straw addition (St) and without any straw addition. The results demonstrated that, in the absence of maize straw, both PE and PAT residues enhanced native soil organic C (SOC) mineralization. Notably, PAT elevated the cumulative CO2 emission by 7.4% (P < 0.05) relative to the control. PE slightly reduced the final SOC content but increased the proportion of soil gates (Mi) and silt plus clay (S + C) toward Ma. Conversely, PAT exerted a negligible effect on final SOC content but reduced Ma by 40.9% (P < 0.05) and increased Mi by 33.4% (P < 0.05), driving C redistribution from Ma to Mi. In contrast, with the addition of maize straw, both St + PE and St + PAT treatments reduced organic C mineralization and diminished the increases in SOC content. Specifically, St + PAT decreased the cumulative CO2 emission by 1.9% (P < 0.05) and lowered the SOC content by 7.1% (P < 0.05) compared to straw addition alone (St). Both St + PE and St + PAT also lowered Ma formation; notably, St + PAT significantly reduced Ma by 33.6% and diminished C flow from Mi and S + C into Ma. In conclusion, biodegradable film residues may impede SOC sequestration and macroaggregate-associated C storage by stimulating the mineralization of native SOC and suppressing organic matter decomposition after crop residue input in soil. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms governing SOC turnover and C stabilization via soil aggregation in the context of accumulating plastic wastes.

Potassium (K) input is essential for the improvement of soil fertility in agricultural systems. However, organic amendment may differ from mineral K fertilization with respect to modifying the soil K transformation among different fractions, affecting soil K availability. We conducted a 60-day lab incubation experiment to evaluate the response of soil K dynamics and availability in various fractions with a view to simulating crop residue return and chemical K fertilization in an Anthrosol of northwest China. The tested soil was divided into two main groups, no K fertilization (K0) and K fertilization (K1), each of which was subjected to four straw addition regimes: no straw addition (Control), wheat straw addition (WS), maize straw addition (MS), and both wheat straw and maize straw addition (WS+MS). Soil K levels in the available (AK) and non-exchangeable (NEK) fractions were both significantly increased after K addition, following the order of K>WS>MS. Fertilizer K was the most efficient K source, demonstrating a 72.9% efficiency in increasing soil AK, while wheat and maize straw exhibited efficiencies of 47.1% and 39.3%, respectively. Furthermore, K fertilization and wheat and maize straw addition increased the soil AK in a cumulative manner when used in combination. The mobility factor (M.sub.F) and reduced partition index (I.sub.R) of soil K were used to quantitate the comprehensive soil K mobility and stability, respectively. Positive relationships were observed between the M.sub.F and all relatively available fractions of soil K, whereas the I.sub.R value of soil K correlated negatively with both M.sub.F and all available fractions of soil K. In conclusion, straw amendment could be inferior to mineral K fertilization in improving soil K availability when they were almost equal in the net K input. Crop straw return coupled with K fertilization can be a promising strategy for improving both soil K availability and cycling in soil-plant systems.

Context: To revive the practice of planting legume green manure (GM) in the fallow period in rainfed agricultural areas, it is essential to demonstrate the benefits of this practice on the yields and water use efficiency (WUE) of subsequent crops, especially when integrating with optimized water and fertilizer management. Objectives: We conducted a field experiment to determine the positive effects of planting legume GM in the summer fallow on the yield, WUE, and nitrogen uptake efficiency (NupE) of subsequent winter wheat, which was grown with plastic film mulching and integrated fertilization in the Loess Plateau of China. Methods: A split-plot-designed experiment was arranged with two main treatments, namely (1) wheat planting followed by GM planting in the summer fallow (GM) and (2) conventional wheat monoculture followed by bare land summer fallow (BL), and three sub-treatments: (1) control treatment without any chemical fertilizer (Ct), (2) application of chemical N, P, and K as basal fertilizer (B), and (3) application of basal fertilizer plus wheat straw return (BS). Results: In the initial two years, even in a dry year, GM did not decrease the soil water content and storage (0–200 cm layer) during the subsequent winter wheat season, relative to BL. But in the third and fourth years, GM increased the grain yield of winter wheat by 3.2% and 3.8%, respectively. B and BS increased the grain yield of winter wheat by 14.4% and 22.2%, respectively, during the third experimental year, and by 12.7% and 19.4% during the fourth experimental year, primarily through increasing the population density of winter wheat. The increase in the grain yield contributed to a higher WUE of winter wheat. In the third year, GM increased the water consumption (WC) and WUE of wheat by 2.4% and 1.7%, respectively, though they were far lower than B (8.3% and 5.6%) and BS (10.4% and 10.7%). B and BS resulted in a higher yield and N nutrition than GM alone, but GM combined with B and BS resulted in the highest yield and N nutrition, thus greatly decreasing the NupE and increasing N productivity. Conclusions: Planting legume GM in the fallow can further increase the long-term yield, WUE, and N utilization of winter wheat when integrated with chemical fertilization and wheat straw return in rainfed agriculture. Implications: Our study yields new insights into the agronomic benefits of legume GM application in semi-arid or analogous rainfed agroecosystems and underscores the critical role of water conservation in ensuring dryland agricultural production, particularly in regions undergoing optimization of fertilization.

Legume green manure (LGM) is an excellent organic amendment conducive to soil quality and nutrient cycling; however, the use of LGM was once repealed in the rain-fed agriculture of northern China. The objective was to investigate the effects that planting LGM would bring and whether it would affect other fertilization regimes regarding the productivity and water and nutrient use efficiencies of succeeding crops. A short-term (2016–2019) field experiment was established with a split-plot design in the Loess Plateau of China, which included ten treatments consisting of two planting systems (main treatments)—conventional winter wheat monoculture (G0) and planting and incorporating LGM followed by winter wheat planting (G)—and five fertilization regimes (sub-treatments)—no fertilization (CK), basal fertilization with chemicals N, P and K (NPK), basal fertilization plus wheat straw return (NPK + S), basal fertilization plus farmyard manure application (NPK + M), and basal fertilization plus wheat straw return plus farmyard manure application (NPK + S + M). The results demonstrated that compared with G0, the G did not remarkably affect the total water consumption (WC) and water use efficiency (WUE) across the three trial wheat seasons. Specifically, during the third wheat season, the winter wheat yield of G increased by 7.5% more than that of G0 (p < 0.05). G primarily increased the N concentration in winter wheat and universally increased the uptake of N, P and K by 18.8%, 11.7% and 18.8%, respectively. The apparent use efficiencies (AUEs) of chemicals N, P and K under G were 88.0%, 102% and 93.2% higher than those under G0 (p < 0.05). In contrast, the wheat yields of NPK, NPK + S, NPK + M and NPK + S + M were 14.3%, 22.2%, 26.4% and 19.5%, respectively, higher than those of CK. The WC and WUE increased under NPK, NPK + S, NPK + M and NPK + S + M relative to the CK (p < 0.05). Compared with CK, the NPK, NPK + S, NPK + M and NPK + S + M primarily increased the N concentration in winter wheat and universally increased the uptake of N, P and K (p < 0.05). The AUEs of N, P and K were increased by 44.3–75.3%, 72.4–103% and 128–160%, respectively, by NPK + S, NPK + M and NPK + S + M compared with CK. In conclusion, the revival of planting LGM during the fallow period was considered an appropriate measure in the Loess Plateau and similar rain-fed regions due to its ability to improve the growth and nutrient utilization of subsequent winter wheat even in the short term, as well as the lack of negative effects exerted on other organic amendments in its effectiveness.

Organic input is a widely recognized amendment for soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and soil quality improvement. A short‐term (2‐yr) field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of green manure (GM) planting, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straw return and farmyard manure application, and their interactions on SOC sequestration in a rain‐fed winter wheat system in Northwest China. Ten combinations of two cultivation practices, conventional wheat monoculture (G0) and green manure–winter wheat rotation (G), and five fertilization methods during the wheat season: (a) no basal fertilization (B0), (b) basal chemical fertilization (B), (c) basal chemical fertilization plus wheat straw return (B + S), (d) basal chemical fertilization plus manure application (B + M) and (e) basal chemical fertilization plus wheat straw return and manure application (B + S+ M) were tested. Compared with their controls, M, S, and G increased the SOC stock in the 0‐to‐10‐cm soil layer by an average of 20.7, 6.8, and 6.3%, respectively, and increased in the 10‐to‐20‐cm soil layer by an average of 15.8, 4.7, and 6.6%, respectively. Manure exhibited a 55.9% carbon sequestration efficiency (CSE) in the 0‐to‐20‐cm soil layer, followed by GM and wheat straw which exhibited CSEs of 27.7 and 19.3%, respectively. Nevertheless, combinations of G, M, and S, increased the SOC stock in cumulative manners without significant interactions. Positive relationships (P < .05) existed between the SOC sequestration and cumulative C input in both G0 and G. Therefore, G, S, and M, and their combinations were all effective for SOC sequestration in this cropping system. The G + M+ S was optimal for promoting SOC sequestration over the short term.

Straw mulching can be affected by N fertilization rate with regard to improving soil organic carbon (SOC) lability, which modifies the net accumulation of SOC and soil aggregation. We conducted a 14‐yr field experiment to determine how straw mulching coupled with N application rates affects crop yield, SOC sequestration as a net gain of SOC, and soil aggregation in a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) monoculture system. Six combinations of two cultivation practices, conventional cultivation (CC) and straw mulching (SM), and three N application rates (0, 120, and 240 kg N ha–1) were compared. Results revealed that SM did not affect wheat yield throughout the 14 yr of cultivation, but increased the SOC stock, SOC lability, and the carbon management index (CMI) in surface soil (0–20 cm). Instead, N application, N120 and N240, increased the wheat production almost equally, and followed a trend for increasing SOC stock: N240 > N120 > N0; however, a different trend for increasing SOC lability and soil CMI (N120 > N240 > N0). Soil macro‐aggregation was increased by SM but decreased with increasing N application. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that organic C input was the key to improving SOC sequestration, SOC lability, and soil macro‐aggregation rather than N input, especially high N input (N240) reduced SOC lability and soil aggregation in soil. Consequently, medium N application (N120) may be expected to couple with straw direct‐returning for improving soil productivity and quality in this agro‐system.

Core Ideas Returning crop residues increased maize and wheat yields. Returning crop residues increase soil organic carbon in the surface 20 cm. Returning crop residues increase several soil labile organic C fractions. The adoption of wheat straw return including stubbles 25–30 cm in height and maize straw return in combination with sub‐soiling is an optimal straw–return strategies for sustainable crop production. Returning the crop residues has been documented to increase soil carbon storage. However, the impacts of different straw return strategies on soil C fractions and sustainable crop productivity are not fully understood. Here, we investigated the impact of different residue management systems on grain yields, SOC sequestration, and soil C fractions in a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–maize (Zea mays L.) double cropping system over 6 yr. The straw return strategies included no straw return (CK), conventional wheat straw return (WC), modified wheat straw return (WM), conventional maize straw return (MC), modified maize straw return (MM), conventional straw return for both wheat and maize (WC+MC), and modified straw return for both wheat and maize (WM+MM). The annual average grain yields of maize and wheat when compared to crop residue removal were increased by 32.5 and 50.5% than when the wheat straw and corn stover was not harvested, respectively. Compared to the initial value, the SOC stock increased over a 6 yr by 16.4% period when the wheat straw and corn stover was not harvested. The concentrations of microbial biomass C, very labile C, labile C, KMnO4–oxidizable C, and C management index were increased by returning the crop residue. Overall, the results suggested that the integrated and modified return strategy of both wheat and maize straw is an optimal way of sustainable crop production under the intensive wheat–maize double cropping rotation in the North–central Plain of China.

The quality (carbon to nitrogen ratio; C/N ratio) of crop residue affects the decomposition of soil organic carbon (SOC) due to the nutrient stoichiometry, which requires well-exploration especially on the dynamics and sequestration of SOC in nutrient-sufficient soil. We investigated an 80-day incubation experiment by adding C 3 winter wheat (W) and legume (L) straws (with contrasting C/N ratios) as well as their mixture (W + L) into a C 4 soil that had experienced years of maize planting and fertilization. Either W or L increased the decomposition rate (k a ) of SOC primarily in active pool and released more CO 2 over the short-term incubation. Compared with Ct, the W slightly decreased the k a , while the L increased the k a by 49.2% than Ct, and by 75.0% than W. The L increased the straw-derived SOC by 10.6% than W, while it resulted in a higher mineralization of native SOC, which was 2.04 times that of W. The W + L yielded the largest net gain in SOC at 1.35 g kg −1 , which followed by the W (0.66 g kg −1 ) and the L (0.22 g kg −1 ). Incorporating the lower C/N ratio’s legume straw more stimulated the decomposition of both active and native SOC even in fertilized soil, which could be the most effective at sequestrating SOC when combing with wheat straw. These findings suggest the difference in crop straw should be considered for SOC sequestration potential particularly in response to the increasingly intensified agriculture.