Journal of Northern Agriculture ›› 2025, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (5): 67-77.doi: 10.12190/j.issn.2096-1197.2025.05.07

• Soil and fertilizer-Physiology and biochemistry • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of straw returning combined with microbial agents on soil physical properties and maize yield

DUAN Sitong1, ZHANG Yidi1, ZHAO Zihao1, WANG Weini2, LIU Junmei2, XING Jun3, ZHANG Dejian1, LI Juan1, ZHANG Xiangqian4   

  1. 1. College of Life Sciences,Inner Mongolia University,Hohhot 010070,China;
    2. Ordos Center of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Ecology and Resource Protection,Ordos 017200,China;
    3. Dalad Banner Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Technology Extension Center,Dalad Banner 014300,China;
    4. Institute of Plant Protection,Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural & Animal Husbandry Sciences,Hohhot 010031,China
  • Received:2024-11-13 Revised:2025-06-25 Online:2025-10-20 Published:2026-01-20

Abstract: 【Objective】 To address issues such as declining soil fertility and soil compaction in farmland of the irrigation area on the south bank of the Yellow River in Inner Mongolia,suitable microbial agents were screened for application in this region,providing a reference for the application and promotion of straw returning combined with microbial agents.【Methods】 The experiment was conducted in Dalad Banner,Ordos City,Inner Mongolia,from 2022 to 2023,using the maize variety Lihe No. 1 as the test material. Based on a foundation of straw returning,four different microbial agent treatments were established:Bacillus subtilis(Treatment A),Bacillus subtilis+Bacillus licheniformis(Treatment B),Bacillus subtilis+Saccharomyces cerevisiae(Treatment C),and Bacillus subtilis+Trichoderma harzianum(Treatment D),with no microbial agent application as the control(CK). The effects of different treatments on soil physical properties in the 0-60 cm soil layer and on maize yield were analyzed.【Results】 The mass fraction of large aggregates(≥0.25 mm)in treatments A and B was significantly higher than that in CK,promoting soil stability;in the 40-60 cm soil layer,the soil bulk density in treatments A and B was significantly reduced by 6.84% and 6.43% compared with CK(P<0.05);the total soil porosity was significantly increased by 4.41 and 4.09 percentage points compared with CK(P<0.05);the soil mass water content in all treatments fluctuated throughout different maize growth stages,reaching its peak during the large bell mouth stage. The maize grain yield of all treatments significantly increased by 2.57% to 10.34% compared with CK;the resulting economic benefits increased by 6.57% to 47.57% compared with CK,with treatments A and B being the highest at 8 514.93 and 7 413.82 CNY/hm2,respectively.【Conclusion】 Under straw returning conditions,the application of the microbial agents Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus subtilis+Bacillus licheniformis can better reduce soil bulk density,increase soil aeration,improve soil physical structure,and achieve higher maize grain yield and economic benefits.

Key words: Straw returning, Microbial agents, Soil physical properties, Maize, Yield, Economic benefits

CLC Number: 

  • S513