Aims Improving nutrient availability and water retention is critical for sustainable maize production in semi-arid regions. This study tested whether optimizing farmyard manure (FYM) placement depth with mulching enhances water conservation, soil plant nutrients dynamics, yield, and profitability. Methods Three experiments were conducted (i) an open-shed study measuring 20-day soil moisture loss, (ii) a 112-day incubation assessing mineral N (min-N) release, soil organic carbon (SOC), and total N (TN) at 40% and 60% relative water-holding capacity (RWHC), and (iii) two-year field trial. Treatments were control, shallow FYM (0–5 cm), deep FYM (0–10 cm), shallow FYM + Urea-N, and deep FYM + Urea-N, each with no-mulch, blue, or transparent plastic. FYM was applied at 15 t ha⁻1 and Urea-N at 60 kg N ha⁻1 Results Plastic mulch reduced soil moisture loss by 79%. At 60% RWHC, min-N release rose 19% in FYM + Urea-N but also accelerated SOC and TN depletion compared with 40% RWHC. Both shallow and deep FYM + Urea-N released 28–32% more min-N than sole FYM. In field trials, FYM + Urea-N with mulch increased grains ear⁻1 (23%), thousand-grain weight (1.6%), and yield (88%) compared with control. N uptake rose 42% with FYM + Urea-N and 20% with mulching, while sole FYM showed 11% higher N efficiency compared with control. Transparent plastic mulch with FYM + Urea-N was most profitable (value–cost ratio 3.6). Conclusions Integrating FYM with Urea-N and plastic mulch improves moisture conservation, N mineralization dynamics, and yield stability, providing a high-return strategy for semi-arid smallholders. Research highlights <UnorderedList Mark="Bullet"> <ItemContent> Plastic mulch cut soil moisture loss by up to 79% in maize cropping systems. </ItemContent> <ItemContent> Deep or shallow FYM + Urea-N with mulch maximized N release and yield stability. </ItemContent> <ItemContent> 60% RWHC moisture regime optimizes N release but accelerates SOC/TN loss. </ItemContent> <ItemContent> Plastic mulching with FYM + Urea-N delivers 88% higher yield and economic return. </ItemContent> <ItemContent> PCA–SEM reveals yield gains driven by soil nutrient status and crop traits. </ItemContent> </UnorderedList> Graphical Abstract

Farmyard manure mineralization: field and laboratory insights into manure placement depth and mulching strategies for sustainable maize production

期刊论文
发表日期：

2026年2月20日

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Sarmad Iqbal,
Ahmad Khan,
Gulzar Ahmad,
Habib Akbar,
Dost Muhammad

摘要

Aims

Improving nutrient availability and water retention is critical for sustainable maize production in semi-arid regions. This study tested whether optimizing farmyard manure (FYM) placement depth with mulching enhances water conservation, soil plant nutrients dynamics, yield, and profitability.

Methods

Three experiments were conducted (i) an open-shed study measuring 20-day soil moisture loss, (ii) a 112-day incubation assessing mineral N (min-N) release, soil organic carbon (SOC), and total N (TN) at 40% and 60% relative water-holding capacity (RWHC), and (iii) two-year field trial. Treatments were control, shallow FYM (0–5 cm), deep FYM (0–10 cm), shallow FYM + Urea-N, and deep FYM + Urea-N, each with no-mulch, blue, or transparent plastic. FYM was applied at 15 t ha⁻¹ and Urea-N at 60 kg N ha⁻¹

Results

Plastic mulch reduced soil moisture loss by 79%. At 60% RWHC, min-N release rose 19% in FYM + Urea-N but also accelerated SOC and TN depletion compared with 40% RWHC. Both shallow and deep FYM + Urea-N released 28–32% more min-N than sole FYM. In field trials, FYM + Urea-N with mulch increased grains ear⁻¹ (23%), thousand-grain weight (1.6%), and yield (88%) compared with control. N uptake rose 42% with FYM + Urea-N and 20% with mulching, while sole FYM showed 11% higher N efficiency compared with control. Transparent plastic mulch with FYM + Urea-N was most profitable (value–cost ratio 3.6).

Conclusions

Integrating FYM with Urea-N and plastic mulch improves moisture conservation, N mineralization dynamics, and yield stability, providing a high-return strategy for semi-arid smallholders.

Research highlights

Plastic mulch cut soil moisture loss by up to 79% in maize cropping systems.

Deep or shallow FYM + Urea-N with mulch maximized N release and yield stability.

60% RWHC moisture regime optimizes N release but accelerates SOC/TN loss.

Plastic mulching with FYM + Urea-N delivers 88% higher yield and economic return.

PCA–SEM reveals yield gains driven by soil nutrient status and crop traits.

Graphical Abstract