Research on Water and Fertilizer Use Strategies for Silage Corn Under Different Irrigation Methods to Mitigate Abiotic Stress

TL;DR

This study finds optimal water and fertilizer strategies for silage corn to reduce stress and improve productivity in water-scarce regions like the Yellow River Basin.

Contribution

A novel framework linking hydrological years, irrigation methods, and stress thresholds for precision agriculture in arid regions.

Findings

Medium fertilizer rate (555 kg·ha−1) was optimal for stability across varying conditions.

DIM maximized productivity in wet years, while SBDI saved water and maintained yields in dry years.

Dynamic irrigation requirements of 90, 135, and 180 mm were identified for wet, normal, and dry years.

Abstract

To reconcile the intensifying trade-off between chronic water scarcity and escalating forage demand in the Yellow River Basin, this study optimized integrated irrigation and fertilization regimes for silage maize. Leveraging the AquaCrop model, validated by 2023–2024 field experiments and a 35-year (1990–2024) meteorological dataset, we systematically quantified the impacts of multi-factorial water–fertilizer–heat stress under drip irrigation with mulch (DIM) and shallow-buried drip irrigation (SBDI). Model performance was robust, yielding high simulation accuracy for soil moisture (RMSE < 3.3%), canopy cover (RMSE < 3.95%), and aboveground biomass (RMSE < 4.5 t·ha−1), with EF > 0.7 and R2 ≥ 0.85. Results revealed distinct stress dynamics across hydrological scenarios: mild temperature stress predominated in wet years, whereas severe water and fertilizer stresses emerged as the primary constraints during dry years. To mitigate these stresses, a medium fertilizer rate (555 kg·ha−1) was identified as the stable optimum, while dynamic irrigation requirements were determined as 90, 135, and 180 mm for wet, normal, and dry years, respectively. Comparative evaluation indicated that DIM achieved maximum productivity in wet years (aboveground biomass yield 70.4 t·ha−1), whereas SBDI exhibited superior “stable yield–water saving” performance in normal and dry years. The established “hydrological year–irrigation method–threshold” framework provides a robust decision-making tool for precision management, offering critical scientific support for the sustainable, high-quality development of livestock farming in arid regions.

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