Understanding how soil-plant systems regulate water use and productivity is critical for improving agricultural resilience in semiarid regions. However, the functional mechanisms linking hydrological management with rhizosphere biological processes and crop productivity remain insufficiently quantified. This study developed an integrated framework to evaluate soil-plant system functionality under ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting compacted with eco-engineered chopped straw-soil crust management. A 3-year field study was executed under randomized complete block design containing ten treatments and replicated three times. Treatments comprised three ridge widths (30 cm (W30), 45 cm (W45), and 60 cm (W60)) × three straw mulching treatments (ridges compacted with soil crust (SC0), short chopped straw-soil crust (SSC2, 2 cm), and long chopped straw-soil crust (LSC10, 10 cm)), and flat planting (FP) was control. Soil water storage, microbial biomass carbon, extracellular enzyme potential activities, nutrient availability, sainfoin water use efficiency (WUE), and fodder yield were measured to characterize hydrological, biochemical, and productivity responses. Soil health was quantified using a principal component analysis-based soil health index, while structural equation modeling identified functional pathways linking soil biological activity, water availability, and crop performance. A multi-criteria decision framework using entropy-weighted TOPSIS was applied to rank treatment performance and identify optimal management strategies. Results showed that wide ridges combined with long chopped straw-soil crust significantly enhanced soil water storage, microbial enzyme activity, and nutrient availability, resulting in improved soil health and higher WUE. Structural equation modeling revealed that ridge geometry enhanced productivity primarily through microbially mediated pathways that strengthened soil-plant functional interactions. The integrated framework explained more than 90% of yield variability and identified the 60-cm ridge width with a 10-cm chopped straw as the optimal configuration for maximizing system functionality and sainfoin productivity. These findings demonstrate that integrating hydrological management with multi-dimensional soil indicators provides a robust strategy for improving soil-plant system functionality and sustainable productivity in semiarid agroecosystems.

Context and objectives: Understanding how land management practices influence soil physical and hydraulic properties is essential for improving water use efficiency and fodder yield in semi-arid region. Ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting (RFRH) with chopped straw application modifies these properties, yet comprehensive and reliable experimental evidence on sloping terrains remains scarce for such systems. This study aimed to (1) evaluate the individual and combined effects of RFRH technologies with and without chopped straw application on soil physical properties on sloping terrains, (2) quantify changes in soil hydraulic properties using the Beerkan Estimation of Soil Transfer (BEST) method, and (3) integrate BEST-derived hydraulic parameters within SEM framework to elucidate the mechanistic pathways linking soil hydraulic functioning to soil structure, water dynamics, and sainfoin yield under RFRH with chopped straw application. Methods: The physically based BEST method was designed to completely characterize soil hydraulic properties using a single-ring infiltration experiment conducted in the field under a split-plot design with sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) as test crop. Chopped straw application patterns (0 and 4 & times; 103 kg ha- 1) were assigned as main plots, with RFRH technologies (flat planting (control), open-ridging, and tied-ridging) as subplots, to determine the physical and hydraulic properties, including soil particle size distribution and aggregate stability, dry bulk density, porosity (from dry bulk density), infiltration rate, hydraulic conductivities, sorptivity, and volumetric soil water contents. Results: Under chopped straw application, tied-ridging enhanced aggregation and porosity with decreased dry bulk density across the soil depth compared to open-ridging and flat planting. Additionally, relative to flat planting, tied-ridging increased sorptivity (+0.18 mm s-(0.5)) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (+0.055 m s(-1)) resulting in higher volumetric soil water content (+0.067 m(3) m(-3)), WUE (+6.55 kg ha(-1) mm(1) ), and fodder yield (+18.6%). Structural equation modelling showed significant direct positive associations of chopped straw application and RFRH, as independent predictors, with sainfoin fodder yield, with standardized path coefficients of 0.552 (p <0.01) and 0.664 (p < 0.01), respectively. Indirect associations were mediated through improvements in soil aggregates and water retention capacity, respectively. Conclusion and implications: This study provides quantitative, process-based evidence that integrating ridge-furrow technologies, particularly tied-ridging with chopped straw, offers an effective field-scale strategy to improve soil structure and hydraulic functioning in dry environments. This study offers a novel integrative framework combining BEST with SEM to quantify the mechanistic pathways linking soil hydraulic properties to crop productivity under RFRH with chopped straw systems.

Soil degradation, water scarcity, and plastic residue accumulation pose significant challenges to sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia L.) production under ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting (RFRH) in semiarid region. This study was aimed to optimize ridge width and straw length under novel RFRH integrated with straw-soil crust improving carbon sequestration and sainfoin production. A Three-year field experiment was carried out using a randomized block design comprising 10 treatments and 3 replications. Treatments were 3 ridge widths (30, 45, and 60 cm) x 3 mulching materials (ridges integrated with soil crust (SC), short-chopped straw-soil crust (SSC, 2 cm), and long-chopped straw-soil crust (LSC, 10 cm)), and conventional flat planting (FP) as a control. The RFRH integrated with chopped straw-soil crust increased runoff, soil water storage (SWS), soil organic carbon (SOC), fodder yield, and water use efficiency (WUE) of sainfoin. Runoff coefficient for the ridge widths of 30, 45, and 60 cm was 0.23, 025, and 0.28, respectively, while for SC, SSC, and LSC was 0.21, 0.25, and 0.30, over three years. Compared to FP, the increase in SWS for the ridge widths of 30, 45, and 60 cm was 15.2, 23.5, and 32.6 mm, respectively, while for SC, SSC, and LSC was 14.4, 22.6, and 34.3 mm. The increase in SOC for the ridge widths was 20.1%, 33.5%, and 44.7%, respectively, while for straw lengths was 24%, 31.5%, and 42.8%. The increase in fodder yield for the ridge widths was 8.5%, 16.8%, and 28.9%, respectively, while for straw lengths was 13.4%, 17.4%, and 23.5%. The increase in WUE of sainfoin for the ridge widths was 2.0, 3.2, and 5.4 kg ha-1 mm-1 , respectively, while for straw lengths was 2.3, 3.2, and 5 kg ha-1 mm-1 . Structural equation modeling revealed that ridge width showed direct positive (standardized path coefficients = 0.56***) effect on SOC and indirect positive (standardized path coefficients = 0.15*) effect on WUE of sainfoin, while straw length demonstrated direct positive effect on SOC (standardized path coefficients = 0.41***) and WUE of sainfoin (standardized path coefficients = 0.15*). The Runoff coefficient, SWS, SOC, fodder yield, and WUE of sainfoin increased as the ridge width and straw length increased. In RFRH, wide ridges (60 cm) integrated with long-chopped straw-soil crust (10 cm) enhanced carbon sequestration and sainfoin production, offering viable replacement to plastic film mulching in semiarid region.

As climate change intensifies and food security concerns grow, there is an urgent need for advanced agricultural models that can simulate physiological processes precisely and assess risks dynamically. To address the limitations of existing models in China’s complex and diverse cropping systems, this paper presents the Chinese AgroMeteorological Model (CAMM) and describes its systematic development from version 2.0 to the fully operational version 3.0. CAMM 3.0 constitutes an integrated “model–assimilation–platform” trinity. Its core innovations include a dynamic temperature-response phenology model, a coupled photosynthesis-stomatal conductance module, and a novel nonlinear water stress model that spans drought to waterlogging. It mechanistically integrates key regional disaster modules, including freeze injury in winter wheat and heat damage in rice. A dynamic dry matter partitioning framework, governed by development stage, environment, and source-sink balance, enables transparent analysis of yield formation. Supported by a multi-source remote sensing assimilation system, a dynamic parameter regionalization scheme, and seamless meteorological drivers, CAMM 3.0 operates automatically on the national “Tianqing” cloud platform. It generates standardized 5-km resolution products for crop monitoring, stress assessment, and yield forecasting across China. Under independent validation against the WOrld FOod STudies (WOFOST) benchmark, CAMM reduces yield simulation root mean square error (RMSE) by 12.8

[Objective]To clarify the precise management of water and fertilizer based on spring growth stages,and to reveal the mechanism of optimizing yield components through efficient light energy utilization,thereby contributing to the increase in grain yield of winter wheat.[Method]The field experiment was conducted at the TaiGu Winter Wheat Experimental Station in Jinzhong,Shanxi Province,from 2021 to 2023.A split-plot design was adopted,with two spring nitrogen top-dressing rates(90 kg·hm-2,N90;120 kg·hm-2,N120)as main plots,and four top-dressing times after regreening(10 d,20 d,30 d,and 40 d)as sub-plots.Through systematic surveys of tillering dynamics and measurements of canopy photosynthetic active radiation interception,combined with the fitting of the grain-filling process using the Richards model,we systematically analyzed the effects of different nitrogen topdressing treatments on the winter wheat population structure,canopy light distribution,and grain-filling characteristics.Correlation analysis was conducted to clarify the intrinsic relationships among population photosynthetic performance,tillering dynamics,and yield components.[Result]Compared with other treatments,applying 120 kg·hm-2 of nitrogen at 30 days after regreening reduced the peak tiller number,delayed the occurrence of the tillering peak,and decreased the tiller senescence rate by 28%-43%.It also decreased the number of ineffective tillers(50-70 days after regreening)by 15%-30%,thereby significantly increasing the tiller-to-spike ratio by 10%-23%.Significantly increased the canopy PAR interception rate and extinction coefficient during the anthesis and mid-grain-filling stages,while significantly reducing the decline rate of lower-layer PAR interception during the anthesis-to-grain-filling period.Significantly increased the theoretical maximum 1000-grain weight,initial filling potential,average and maximum grain-filling rates,the time to reach maximum grain-filling rate,the duration of the gradual-increasing phase,and the grain-filling rates during the rapid-increasing and slow-increasing phases;significantly increased spike length by 3%-10%,spike weight by 8%-14%,and seed setting rate by 2%-12%.Significantly increased the number of spikes by 4%-10%,the number of grains per spike by 3%-10%,and the 1000-grain weight by 5%-10%,resulting in an increase in grain yield of 7%-20%.The Population Photosynthetic Potential during the booting-anthesis period showed a significant positive correlation with the tiller number at 45-70 days after regreening;meanwhile,the tiller number at 45-70 days after regreening was significantly and positively correlated with the spike number at maturity.The radiation interception rate in the lower layer of the canopy at the mid-grain-filling stage showed a significant positive correlation with the tiller number at 50-55 days after regreening;meanwhile,the tiller number at 50-55 days after regreening was significantly and positively correlated with the number of grains per spike.The PAR interception rate in the canopy at anthesis and mid-grain-filling stages showed a positive correlation with the tiller number at 50-55 days after regreening;meanwhile,the population photosynthetic potential during the booting-anthesis period was significantly and positively correlated with the tiller number at 50-55 days after regreening,and the tiller number at 50-55 days after regreening was significantly and positively correlated with the 1000-grain weight.[Conclusion]Application of 120 kg·hm-2 nitrogen topdressing 30 days after regreening achieved a synergistic improvement in the number of effective spikes,grains per spike,and 1000-grain weight,thereby significantly increasing grain yield.This was realized by suppressing and delaying the tillering peak,optimizing the post-anthesis canopy light distribution,and enhancing the grain-filling process.Furthermore,correlation analysis further confirmed that the population photosynthetic potential before anthesis and the canopy photosynthetic performance after anthesis,by influencing spikelet formation and grain filling,jointly determined the final grain yield.This study provides a critical nitrogen management strategy for achieving high-yield and efficient cultivation of winter wheat in the irrigation area of the Loess Plateau by improving the population photosynthetic efficiency through integrated water and fertilizer management.

Climate change-induced drought and erratic rainfall intensify soil erosion in semi-arid sloped regions, threatening long-term agricultural sustainability. Although plastic mulching in RFRH systems reduces erosion and water loss, increasing concerns about soil microplastic accumulation justify the evaluation of chopped straw as a biodegradable and eco-friendly alternative for sustainable crop cultivation. To enhance resource efficiency and sustainability, this study employed structural equation modelling to (i) assess the combined effects of RFRH and chopped straw application on runoff, sediment yield, soil water storage (SWS), organic matter, nutrients, soil temperature, evapotranspiration, fodder yield, and water use efficiency (WUE) of sainfoin; and (ii) identify optimal RFRH and chopped straw integration for sustainable crop-soil-water management in sloped landscapes. A two-year (2022-2023) field experiment with sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) as the test crop used a split-plot design with chopped straw application patterns (0 and 4 & times; 10(3) kg ha(-)(1)) as main plots and RFRH methods (flat planting (FP, control), open-ridging (OR), and tied-ridging (TR)) as subplots. The results showed treatment effectiveness followed TR > OR > FP, and integration with chopped straw significantly enhanced soil conditions, WUE and sainfoin fodder yield. Compared to FP under no chopped straw, OR and TR reduced runoff by 28.6% and 44.4%, increased SWS by 8.77 and 28.13 mm, enhanced WUE to 1.86 and 2.83 kg ha(-)(1) mm(-)(1), and improved fodder yield by 9.9% and 16.9%, respectively. Under chopped straw application, OR and TR further reduced runoff by 31.4% and 52.6%, increased SWS by 16.70 and 32.28 mm, enhanced WUE to 3.53 and 6.71 kg ha(-)(1) mm(-)(1), and improved fodder yield by 13.1% and 18.3%, respectively. Chopped straw application improved total nitrogen (29.49%), phosphorus (16.40%), potassium (7.49%), and organic matter (19.85%), leading to an increased soil health index (0.29) and fodder yield compared to no chopped straw application. Structural equation modelling revealed that chopped straw application and RFRH had significant indirect positive effects (0.41) and (0.49) on sainfoin fodder yield, respectively. Tied-ridging combined with chopped straw proved most effective in optimizing soil quality and water use while enhancing sainfoin productivity. These findings offer practical strategies for sustainable soil-crop-water management in erosion-prone, water-scarce sloped areas.

Accurate sediment yield prediction is crucial for mitigating soil erosion and promoting ecosystem sustainability, particularly in semi-arid regions. Although ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting (RFRH) effectively controls runoff and sediment loss, the sediment yield modelling in RFRH remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to enhance sediment yield prediction by empirically coupling the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) with the optimized Soil Conservation Service-Curve Number (SCS-CN) model. Field experiments were conducted under a split-plot design with slope gradients (5 degrees and 10 degrees) as main plots and tillage practices, flat planting (FP, control), open-ridging (OR), and tied-ridging (TR) as sub-plots. Model calibration and validation were conducted using data from 2015 to 2018 and 2019-2023, respectively. Model performance was evaluated using the coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE). The calibrated USLE model demonstrated good agreement with observed sediment data. Model validation yielded R2, RMSE, and NSE values ranging from 0.52 to 0.56, 0.59-0.82 t ha-1 yr-1, and 0.64-0.69 under 5 degrees, and 0.60-0.63, 0.53-2.74 t ha-1 yr-1, and 0.61-0.73 under 10 degrees, respectively. The coupled USLE-SCS-CN model demonstrated superior predictive accuracy than the standalone USLE model. Model validation yielded R2, RMSE, and NSE values ranging from 0.73 to 0.78, 0.040-0.13 t ha-1 yr-1, and 0.74-0.82 under 5 degrees, and 0.82-0.92, 0.035-0.19 t ha-1 yr-1, and 0.71-0.88 under 10 degrees, respectively. Tied-ridging consistently produced the lowest annual potential soil and sediment loss under both slope gradients compared to open-ridging and flat planting. These findings validate the coupled model's robustness in accurately predicting event-based sediment yield within RFRH under diverse hydrological and geomorphic conditions, providing a practical framework for soil and land conservation in the Loess Plateau of China.

Delayed sowing of winter wheat is increasingly common in the winter wheat-summer maize rotation system of northern China, yet whether its yield penalty can be mitigated without increasing seasonal water and nitrogen (N) inputs remains unclear. A three-year field experiment was conducted to test whether stage-specific drip fertigation could mitigate yield loss in winter wheat sown 20 d late without increasing total seasonal water and N inputs. Delaying sowing by 20 d under conventional management reduced grain yield by 21.0% relative to wheat sown at the conventional date (CK). The optimized regime (DF4) achieved a yield recovery rate of 100.7%. Grain number per unit area in DF4 was partly restored but remained 5.6% lower than in CK, indicating incomplete sink recovery. Yield recovery was therefore supported by post-anthesis source compensation, evidenced by a 17.0% increase in post-anthesis dry matter accumulation relative to CK and associated with higher post-anthesis N uptake and radiation use efficiency. Although root penetration depth under DF4 remained lower than in CK, root length in the 0-40 cm soil layer was restored to the CK level. DF4 also improved water use efficiency by 11.1% relative to CK while soil water consumption was only 56.4% of that in CK. These findings indicate that stagespecific timing and placement of water-N supply through drip fertigation can mitigate yield loss in winter wheat sown 20 d late by coordinating partial sink recovery with stronger post-anthesis source compensation, without increasing seasonal water or N inputs.

Optimizing maize production and quality under climate change requires a systematic understanding of how yield components and grain quality respond to meteorological factors across different cropping systems. This study analyzed data from a multi-region, interval-sowing experiment conducted across China’s major maize-producing areas from 2018 to 2020. Yield components, grain quality traits, and their relationships with grain filling characteristics and post-flowering meteorological factors were evaluated for spring and summer maize using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and regression. To reduce genotypic confounding, spring and summer maize were analyzed separately, without explicitly considering varietal differences within each system, focusing instead on meteorological associations. In this study, spring maize showed higher values than summer maize in most yield-related traits and protein content. However, the two cropping systems exhibited different responses to meteorological factors. For spring maize, location accounted for the largest share of variance in key traits such as hundred-grain weight and stem diameter (η² up to 84.2

Adjusting planting structure, as a strategic intervention in agricultural ecosystems, is essential for enhancing ecosystem service value (ESV) and improving ecological functionality. Existing studies largely focus on the static ecological implications of planting structure transformation, overlooking dynamic spatial spillover effects and lacking a systematic understanding of cross-regional ecological linkages. This study develops an innovative analytical framework integrating spatiotemporal diagnostics, equivalent factor-based valuation, and both single- and two-regime spatial panel models to assess the spatial effects of planting structure on farmland ESV (FESV). It reveals the dynamic coupling of ecological-productive-living functions, clarifies interregional response mechanisms, and offers insights into green agricultural transformation and ecosystem resilience under the Sustainable Development Goals framework. Empirical findings showed that: Planting structure of China's three major grains generally followed an "east-high, west-low" pattern, while FESV exhibited a spatial structure aligned with the "Heihe-Tengchong Line," with regulating services contributing the most. Furthermore, both planting structure and FESV displayed significant spatial agglomeration. Planting structure adjustments not only enhanced local FESV but also exerted cross-regional spillover effects, mostly negative due to interregional competition. Two-regime spatial model revealed asymmetric yet consistently positive spillover effects in "National Key Ecological Function Area," "China's Major Grain Producing Area," and "National Urban Agglomerations," especially in regions with low grain-cropping intensity. Mechanism testing further identified two main transmission pathways: resource input optimization and ecological function stabilization. Therefore, greater attention should be paid to the ecological benefits of planting structure adjustments and their asymmetric spillover effects, to ensure the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems, to foster cross-regional ecological resilience, and to promote synergistic economic and environmental development.

Water scarcity poses a significant challenge for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) cultivation in semi-arid regions in China. The conventional use of ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting (RFRH) with plastic film mulching in these areas has led to notable environmental repercussions. This study proposed an innovative approach in which RFRH was integrated with chopped straw-soil crust instead of plastic film. Runoff observations and alfalfa production experiments were carried out using a split-plot design to investigate the impact of varying chopped straw lengths (2 cm and 10 cm) and application rates (0 (R0), 3 (R3), 6 (R6), and 9 (R9) t ha-1) on runoff coefficient, soil water storage, temperature, fodder yield, and crop water productivity (WPC). Results indicated that the average runoff coefficient for R0, R3, R6, and R9 was 0.36-0.49, 0.41-0.59, 0.50-0.68, and 0.64-0.74, respectively. Compared to R0, the increase in soil water storage for R3, R6, and R9 was 7.1-15.1, 15.0-26.5, and 20.1-44.2 mm, respectively. The reduction in temperature within the furrow profile for those treatments was 0.4-1.0 degrees C, 0.8-1.3 degrees C, and 1.1-2.0 degrees C, respectively. The increase in fodder yield for those treatments ranged from 11.3 % to 34.0 %, 31.2 %-62.9 %, and 7.9 %-47.7 %, respectively, while the enhancement in WPC was 1.3-14.8, 5.1-27.9, and 2.0-20.7 kg ha-1 mm-1. Notably, the average values for runoff coefficient, soil water storage, fodder yield, and WPC under 10 cm length of chopped straw were 1.03-1.31, 1.02-1.03, 1.02-1.05, and 1.03-1.08 times greater than under 2 cm length of chopped straw. Runoff coefficient, soil water storage, fodder yield, and WPC increased as chopped straw application rate and length increased. The structural equation modelling analysis showed that the chopped straw application rate had a significant direct positive effect on fodder yield and WPC, whereas the chopped straw length had a significant indirect negative effect on those parameters. The regression equation indicated that the optimized chopped straw application rate ranged from 5.2 to 7.1 t ha-1, while the optimized chopped straw length was 10 cm. This study underscored that chopped straw-soil crust was a sustainable alternative to plastic film mulching, offering valuable insights for improving alfalfa cultivation in water-scarce environments.

The combined application of reduced nitrogen fertilizer with organic fertilizer and biochar has been shown to improve the physicochemical properties of crops. However, its impact on crop proteins has not been extensively studied. This study investigates the effects of various fertilization treatments, including pure urea, nitrogen reduction combined with organic fertilizer, nitrogen reduction combined with biochar, and nitrogen reduction combined with organic fertilizer and biochar, on the structure and functionality of Tartary buckwheat protein. The results indicate that the reduced nitrogen treatments combined with other fertilizers induced changes in buckwheat protein content and its secondary structure. Correlation analysis further revealed that these structural changes significantly affected the protein's functional properties. Overall, this combined fertilization strategy substantially increased both the protein content and the accumulation of protein components in buckwheat, thereby enhancing buckwheat protein's functional properties and thermal stability. Nitrogen reduction combined with organic fertilizer and biochar proved to be particularly advantageous for improving Tartary buckwheat protein quality, providing a theoretical basis for the further development of buckwheat protein-based food processing.

The ideal population type is the basis of high-yield and high-efficiency cultivation of wheat. Population uniformity is an important index to evaluate the population ideotype. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the yield difference of winter wheat at different spike layers between different populations because spike layer affects the production function of population. Here, two 2-year field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of irrigation times, nitrogen application rate, and planting density on wheat yield, population traits, sugar and dry matter accumulation, and photosynthetic parameters at different spike layers. The results indicated that optimal planting density (SD3), nitrogen (N2) and irrigation (W1 or W2) deceased the ineffective tillers number at flowering stage and improved the spike number at upper and middle spike layers, which leading to lower coefficient of variation (CV) and higher population uniformity. Increasing planting density, nitrogen, and irrigation promoted high grain yield and population-scale biomass accumulation mainly due to the increment of spike number and yield at upper and middle spike layers. But, the single-stem biomass and grain dry weight reduced with increased planting density whereas improved with an increase of nitrogen and irrigation. Increasing planting density, nitrogen, and irrigation improved the leaf area index (LAI) and light interception at the upper and middle canopy, but decreased it at the lower canopy. Furthermore, the chlorophyll content at flag leaf and penultimate leaf was higher than that of top third leaf. Thus, the single-stem and each organ biomass accumulation, and sugar content gradually decreased from the upper to the lower layers, leading to decreased grains number per spike and average grain weight. Increasing planting density decreased spike length, total soluble sugar content and dry matter accumulation of spike at different spike layers but improved these indicators in stem, which leading to decreases in grain number per spike; whereas these indicators improved with increased irrigation. Overall, these findings provided theoretical and practical basis for building ideal crop population, and breeding and cultivation of winter wheat with high yield.

Leaf Area Index (LAI) is a key variable in modeling plant growth because it is the site of photosynthesis. However, there are significant differences in LAI between different models and between models and satellite-derived estimates. Empirical studies show that LAI is closely related to temperature. The theory provides an alternative method for predicting steady-state LAI. We have implemented this theory in a simple universal model for estimating the growth of the soybean leaf area index (LAI). This study presents a novel, pivotal parameter for assessing plant growth and productivity. We hypothesized that the maximum leaf area index for a specific variety is a constant value. In 2021, a field experiment was conducted at the Liaoning Jinzhou Agricultural Meteorological Experimental Station, where soybean cultivation was manipulated across seven distinct sowing dates, using the local traditional sowing date as a baseline. The model developed in this study demonstrated remarkable accuracy in LAI estimation across various growth stages and environmental conditions. Our findings reveal a robust correlation between the model’s predictions and actual LAI measurements. This model serves as a reliable tool for researchers and agronomists to monitor and predict soybean growth, thereby facilitating more informed decision-making in agricultural management.

Context or problem: Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.), a key crop for nutritional security and ecological restoration in semi-arid regions, suffers from yield stagnation and suboptimal fertilization efficiency. Despite its agronomic importance, the synergistic mechanisms by which nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) regulate photosynthetic carbon assimilation, source-sink dynamics, and grain quality formation remain poorly understood. Objective: To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a two-year field experiment (2022-2024) employing a complete factorial design with four N (0, 60, 90, 120 kg ha(-1)) and P (0, 45, 90, 135 kg ha(-1)) application rates (16 treatments total), using the widely cultivated Yulv 1 variety. The research systematically evaluated N-P coordination effects on photosynthetic performance, dry matter accumulation, yield components, and grain quality in mung beans. Results: Our results demonstrate that synergistic N-P co-application significantly enhanced leaf nutrient content, SPAD values, and photosynthetic efficiency, thereby delaying functional leaf senescence during reproductive growth. The N-P interaction optimized dry matter partitioning, elevating pod allocation by 27.36 % and boosting grain yield by 41.92 % compared to unfertilized controls. Mechanistically, N dominated chlorophyll biosynthesis via leaf N modulation, indirectly influencing carbon allocation (grain number), while P regulated grain morphogenesis (100-grain weight) through P-mediated pathways. Notably, excessive fertilization (> 90 kg ha(-1)) induced photoinhibition, disrupted nutrient-defense metabolic imbalance (evidenced by an 18.7 % reduction in flavonoid content), and led to grain deformities, highlighting a trade-off between yield maximization and physiological stability. Structural equation modeling identified leaf nutrient and SPAD values as the central hub linking photosynthetic performance, biomass accumulation, and yield architecture. Furthermore, fertilization-induced variations in mung bean grain color were significantly correlated with shifts in nutrient composition, suggesting a physiological link between fertilization regimes and grain quality traits. Conclusions: In summary, Optimal N-P co-application (90 kg ha(-1) each) synergistically enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, dry matter allocation to grains, and yield in mung beans while maintaining a balance between nutritional and appearance quality. Implications or significance: This work establishes a physiologically grounded framework for reconciling yield enhancement with nutritional enrichment in rainfed legumes, offering actionable strategies to transform semi-arid pulse production systems through precision nutrient stewardship.

Model-based scenarios are essential for assessing the potential of agricultural management strategies to achieve sustainable development goals. However, to date, knowledge of the trade-offs and synergies between greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nitrogen (N) reduction, carbon sequestration, and food provisioning under different agricultural practices remains limited, with most studies focusing on global and national scales. The present study implements the generalized representation of agro-food system model coupled with the soil organic carbon (SOC) AMG model in the Tuojiang River Basin, China, to assess the effects of 24 agricultural scenarios on SOC stock, the GHG budget, nitrogen (N) surplus, and export capacity at the county level in 2035. We considered viable options by modifying four levers: (i) synthetic fertilizer inputs, (ii) livestock population size and the fraction of animal proteins in the human diet, (iii) the share of legumes in crop rotation, and (iv) the proportion of straw used for bioenergy production. We found that the potential of biofuels to substitute fossil fuel emissions remains low across all scenarios, reducing by 2.9%-5.3% of current emissions. Our results also reveal synergies in reducing GHG emissions and N pollution, with reductions of 39%-43% and 26%-52%, respectively, under agro-ecological scenarios with zero N fertilizer application and halving of the livestock population. In contrast, trade-offs were identified between SOC sequestration and export capacity, both of which were lower in agro-ecological scenarios than in the others.

Soil erosion and water loss are the major drivers of land degradation, ecosystem malfunction, and low crop production in water-scarce regions. The Loess Plateau in China, one of the most erosion-prone areas globally, has implemented ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting technology to address water loss and soil erosion. Numerous hydrological models have been applied for runoff and sediment prediction in small watersheds. However, the application of the SCS-CN model to runoff and sediment prediction in small-scale fields has remained uncertain. Predictive models for runoff and sediment yield in ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting remained limited. This study utilized regression analysis of precipitation and runoff data from 2015 to 2018 to determine initial abstraction. The statistical parameters, including root mean square deviation (RMSE) and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), were employed to optimize initial abstraction ratios and potential maximum retention values of the SCS-CN model based on rainfall-runoff data from 2015 to 2018. Validation of the SCS-CN model with optimized parameters was performed using rainfall-runoff data from 2019 to 2023, leveraging NSE and coefficients of determination (R2) as evaluation criteria. The optimized initial abstraction ratios for flat planting, open-ridging, and tied-ridging were 0.09-0.14, 0.06-0.07, and 0.04-0.05, respectively. Corresponding potential maximum retention values were 58.3-93.9, 129.5-154.2, and 188.9-237.7 mm, respectively, while the curve numbers (CN) were 73.0-81.3, 62.2-66.2, and 51.7-57.3, respectively. For slope gradients of 5 degrees and 10 degrees, the optimized initial abstraction ratios were 0.05 and 0.07, respectively, with potential maximum retention values of 181.4 and 127.0 mm, respectively. The CN values for these slopes were 58.3 and 66.7, respectively. Significantly, increased slope gradients resulted in higher optimized initial abstraction ratios and CN values, along with reduced potential maximum retention values. The study concluded that ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting technology, particularly tied-ridging, demonstrated lower optimized initial abstraction ratios and CN values, coupled with higher potential maximum retention values, compared to flat planting. The SCS-CN model, incorporating optimized parameters, is a robust tool for accurately predicting runoff in ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting systems in the Loess Plateau of China.

Growing awareness exists regarding the dangers posed by emerging contaminants (ECs) to terrestrial ecosystems and human health. This study reviewed ecological risk assessment studies on ECs, emphasizing their environmental presence, toxicological effects, behavior, and potential negative impacts on soil and terrestrial ecosystems. The work aims to identify key trends, research hotspots, and gaps to provide policy recommendations, inform regulatory frameworks, and suggest future research directions for the sustainable management of ECs in terrestrial environments. A systematic literature review was conducted using the Web of Science database, selecting studies from the past decade related to ECs, soil, terrestrial ecosystems, and ecological risk assessment. A total of 450 documents were analyzed using VOSviewer and CiteSpace to visualize key research patterns. Results indicate a 26.26

The experiment was set up with 2 :8 intercropping (2P8M), 4 :6 intercropping (4P6M), with single crop pea (SP) and single crop wheat (SM) as control, and concluded that bean-wheat intercropping significantly increased wheat plant height, chlorophyll content and yield, while reduced the corresponding traits of pea, and the land equivalence ratio of 4P6M > 2P8M > 1 improved the efficiency of land use, and the intercropping of 4P6M treatment combination was better.