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This study investigates the intricate interactions between strip spacings, water-fertilizer treatments, and the ensuing impact on the physiological attributes and productivity of maize and soybean intercropping systems. Implementing a 2:4 maize-soybean planting configuration within the Ningxia Yellow River irrigation zone, the research scrutinizes the effects of strip spacing (A), irrigation allocation (W), and fertilization intensity (F) on the physiological dynamics, net assimilation rate, leaf area index, and yield metrics of both crops and their integrated systems. It aims to provide comprehensive technical insights for the widespread application of strip intercropping strategies in maize and soybean agroecosystems. Findings reveal nuanced influences, notably the dominant effects of A during critical growth stages of maize (contributing rates of 75.6% to 83.7% during jointing and 52.4% to 81.3% during grain filling) and W primarily impacting the tasseling stage (contributing rates of 91.4% to 92.5%). Moreover, A significantly shapes soybean physiological indices during flowering (contributing rates of 97.9% to 99.3%), while W predominantly impacts pod setting (contributing rate of 70%). Treatment T6 (A2W3F1), characterized by heightened irrigation and reduced fertilizer application, augments maize net assimilation rate (NAR) and leaf area index (LAI) but exhibits an inverse relationship with soybean LAI. The tripartite factors significantly influence both system yield and economic benefits, ranking in order of W>A>F. Notably, all levels of A and W significantly affect maize yield and system productivity, particularly A2>A3>A1 and W3>W2> W1, while the F level shows negligible impact on soybean yield. Contribution analyses underscore A2>A3>A1, W3>W2>W1, and F1>F3> F2 in terms of system economic benefits. Specifically, A2 presents a 25.2% higher benefit compared to A1, W3 demonstrates a 32.3% higher benefit than W1, and F1 exhibits an 11.2% higher benefit over F2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With continuous increases in the amount and duration of plastic film used, the residual film in farmland soil is accumulated and tended to be fragmented, which affects soil water infiltration. We carried out an experiment of one-dimensional vertical infiltration of soil moisture. We examined the effects of different residual film density and area on soil water cumulative infiltration under 21 experimental treatments with 5 residual film area levels (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 8 cm²) and 5 residual film density levels (0, 60, 180, 300, 420 kg · hm-2). The results showed that soil water infiltration rate was accelerated and the total infiltration amount was increased by adding a certain amount of residual film into the clay loam soil with bulk density of 1.53 g · cm-3. The total infiltration amount of different residual film area always appeared mutation or turning point when the single residual film area was 1 cm². When the residual film area and density were larger or smaller than that, the cumulative infiltration amount would be significantly affected, with the treatment of 0.5 cm residual film area and 200 kg · hm-2 residual film density being obvious demarcation. When the residual film area was 0.25 cm², the cumulative infiltration reached the maximum. When the residual film with a single area ≤ 0.25 cm² was uniformly mixed into the soil, the slope of soil water cumulative infiltration curve was significantly different from that of other residual film treatments, forming a " new structure" soil with unique water infiltration characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With continuous increases in the amount and duration of plastic film used, the residual film in farmland soil is accumulated and tended to be fragmented, which affects soil water infiltration. We carried out an experiment of one-dimensional vertical infiltration of soil moisture. We examined the effects of different residual film density and area on soil water cumulative infiltration under 21 experimental treatments with 5 residual film area levels (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 8 cm 2 ) and 5 residual film density levels (0, 60, 180, 300, 420 kg·hm -2 ). The results showed that soil water infiltration rate was accelerated and the total infiltration amount was increased by adding a certain amount of residual film into the clay loam soil with bulk density of 1.53 g·cm -3 . The total infiltration amount of different residual film area always appeared mutation or turning point when the single residual film area was 1 cm 2 . When the residual film area and density were larger or smaller than that, the cumulative infiltration amount would be significantly affected, with the treatment of 0.5 cm 2 residual film area and 200 kg·hm -2 residual film density being obvious demarcation. When the residual film area was 0.25 cm 2 , the cumulative infiltration reached the maximum. When the residual film with a single area ≤0.25 cm 2 was uniformly mixed into the soil, the slope of soil water cumulative infiltration curve was significantly different from that of other residual film treatments, forming a "new structure" soil with unique water infiltration characteristics.