Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.107026
Title (Primary) Combined application of organic amendments improved soil quality and maize yield in coastal saline soil
Author Bai, X.; Dong, R.; Wang, S.; Chen, M.; Li, X.; Wang, J.; Zhou, J.; Li, Y.; Zhang, H.; Colinet, G.
Source Titel Applied Soil Ecology
Year 2026
Department AECOL
Volume 223
Page From art. 107026
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Supplements Supplement 1
Keywords Straw; Biochar; Soil salinization; Soil quality; Crop yield
Abstract Organic amendments are widely recognized as efficient strategies to enhance soil fertility and crop yield. However, the impacts of combined application of organic amendments on soil quality and crop yield in saline soils remains incompletely understood. Here, a field experiment was conducted to evaluate soil physical index (SPI, e.g., bulk density, mean weight diameter, and R0.25), soil chemical index (SCI, e.g., soil organic carbon and nutrient availability), and soil biological index (SBI, e.g., microbial biomass and enzyme activities) their relationships with soil quality index (SQI) and crop yield under manure combination with straw/biochar. Four treatments included: CK (compound fertilizer), OM (compound fertilizer plus manure), OM + ST (compound fertilizer plus manure plus straw) and OM + BC (compound fertilizer plus manure plus biochar). Our results showed that OM + ST and OM + BC treatments notably changed soil properties across different soil layers. In addition, OM + ST and OM + BC treatments increased SPI, SCI, SBI and SQI by 6.3%–15.9% and 4.8%–19.1% relative to OM across different soil layers. OM + BC treatment notably increased maize yield by 35.2% compared to OM treatment. Linear regression analysis showed that SBI and SPI were key factors influencing maize yield. Variation partitioning analysis further revealed that SPI contributed most to SQI variation across soil layers, whereas SBI exerted the strongest influence on maize yield. Manure combined with straw primarily improved crop yield through regulating SCI and SPI, while manure combined with biochar enhanced crop yield mainly through improvement of SPI and SBI. Overall, our findings provide guidance for improving soil quality and designing sustainable agricultural strategies in coastal saline soil.
Bai, X., Dong, R., Wang, S., Chen, M., Li, X., Wang, J., Zhou, J., Li, Y., Zhang, H., Colinet, G. (2026):
Combined application of organic amendments improved soil quality and maize yield in coastal saline soil
Appl. Soil Ecol. 223 , art. 107026
10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.107026