Straw return to the field conserves soil moisture, but its effect on winter wheat growth varies, considering the return method used. Optimal irrigation can improve the effects of returning straw to the field. However, studies on the effects of the straw- return method and irrigation interactions on the physiological growth and yield of winter wheat are limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of two common methods of corn straw-return—burying and mulching— combined with different irrigation regimes on the physiological growth of winter wheat in the North China Plain (NCP). The goal was to establish an economically stable straw-return irrigation regime. Straw-burying (SB) and straw mulching (SM) treatments were applied under three irrigation regimes: no irrigation (I), 60 mm irrigation during the jointing stage (I), and 60 mm irrigation during both the jointing and heading stages (I) during the winter wheat growing seasons from 2020 to 2022. Leaf area index (LAI), stem number, photosynthetic characteristics, photosynthesis-active radiation (PAR) capture rate, dry matter accumulation, and winter wheat yield were measured and calculated. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the correlation between physiological indexes and winter wheat yield. SB-I and SB-I maintained higher stem numbers and LAI in winter wheat, compared with SM-I and SM-I. SB-I had the highest photosynthetic and PAR capture rates. Under the same irrigation treatment, the spike numbers and yield of SB increased by 2.47–5.73 % and 4.37–9.51 % compared with those of SM, respectively. Under the same straw-return treatment, irrigation improved the straw-return effect, and the yield and dry matter accumulation of winter wheat increased with increasing irrigation. SB-I recorded the highest wheat yield. SEM analysis revealed that yield was positively affected by LAI and photosynthetic rate. The application of SB-I increased grain yield, enhancing food security and optimizing the benefits from straw return. This study revealed the optimal straw application and irrigation for wheat production, promoting food security in dry regions.

中文翻译：

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不同秸秆还田方式和灌溉方式对冬小麦生理生长和产量的协同影响


秸秆还田可以保存土壤水分，但其对冬小麦生长的影响因所采用的还田方式而异。优化灌溉可以提高秸秆还田效果。然而，秸秆还田方式与灌溉相互作用对冬小麦生理生长和产量影响的研究还很有限。本研究旨在探讨两种常见的玉米秸秆还田方式——埋藏和覆盖——结合不同灌溉方式对华北平原冬小麦生理生长的影响。目标是建立经济稳定的秸秆还田灌溉制度。埋草（SB）和秸秆覆盖（SM）处理采用三种灌溉方式：不灌水（I）、拔节期灌水 60 mm（I）、拔节抽穗期灌水 60 mm（I）。 ）在2020年至2022年冬小麦生长季期间，测量并计算了叶面积指数（LAI）、茎数、光合特性、光合有效辐射（PAR）捕获率、干物质积累和冬小麦产量。采用结构方程模型（SEM）分析生理指标与冬小麦产量的相关性。与SM-I和SM-I相比，SB-I和SB-I在冬小麦中保持了较高的茎数和LAI。 SB-I 具有最高的光合作用和 PAR 捕获率。在相同的灌溉处理下，SB的穗数和产量比SM分别增加2.47%~5.73%和4.37%~9.51%。在相同秸秆还田处理下，灌溉提高了秸秆还田效果，冬小麦产量和干物质积累量随着灌水量的增加而增加。 SB-I 记录了最高的小麦产量。 SEM 分析表明，LAI 和光合速率对产量有正向影响。 SB-I 的应用提高了粮食产量，增强了粮食安全并优化了秸秆还田的效益。这项研究揭示了小麦生产的最佳秸秆应用和灌溉方式，促进干旱地区的粮食安全。