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Water-fertilizer coupling technology has emerged as a pivotal strategy in modern agriculture, recognized for its potential to enhance soil environmental quality, promote crop growth, and ensure sustainable resource utilization. With increasing global food demands and environmental concerns, optimizing agricultural practices is essential for achieving food security and ecological balance. This review aims to systematically review the direct impacts of water-fertilizer coupling on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil, while elucidating the underlying mechanisms that drive crop responses. Additionally, it evaluates the optimization of water-fertilizer coupling technology and its associated environmental benefits. The findings indicate that water-fertilizer coupling significantly improves soil structural stability, enhances microbial diversity, and increases soil enzyme activities. An appropriate water-fertilizer ratio markedly boosts soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen content, facilitating nutrient mineralization and accelerating the decomposition of organic matter. The implementation of intelligent water-fertilizer management systems has shown to enhance water use efficiency and reduce fertilizer loss rates, thereby minimizing the environmental footprint of agricultural production. The optimization of water-fertilizer coupling is crucial for improving soil health, crop yields, and resource efficiency. This technology not only supports sustainable agricultural practices but also contributes to national food security and rural revitalization efforts. Future research should focus on the interaction mechanisms among crops, soil, water, and fertilizer. It is essential to strengthen the development of water-fertilizer coupling regulation models and decision support systems to guide agricultural production practices effectively. Policymakers are encouraged to promote the adoption of integrated water-fertilizer management strategies to foster sustainable agricultural development and enhance environmental resilience. This review underscores the importance of advancing water-fertilizer coupling technology as a means to achieve sustainable agricultural productivity while safeguarding ecological integrity, aligning with the principles of socialism with Chinese characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camellia petelotii (Merr.) Sealy is an endangered Chinese native species that originates from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Previous research demonstrated that proper water and fertilizer treatments could improve the growth and quality of Camellia species. This study uses a three-factor, five-level quadratic rotational combination experimental design to investigate the impact of water-fertilizer coupling on plant growth characteristics and the most suitable treatment for 24-month-old grafted C. petelotii seedlings. The experimental design includes irrigation levels [30%, 40%, 55%, 70%, 80% of field capacity (FC)], nitrogen application (0, 2.17, 5.43, 8.70, 10.87 g·plant−1), and phosphorus application (0, 0.96, 2.40, 3.85, 4.81 g·plant−1). The results indicated that: (1) Water-nitrogen and water-phosphorus interactions significantly affected ground diameter, chlorophyll content and specific leaf weight (SLW), while water-nitrogen interactions significantly affected plant height and photosynthesis; (2) Application of nitrogen (8.70 g·plant−1) and phosphorus (3.85 g·plant−1) fertilizers under appropriate irrigation conditions (40% FC and 70% FC) improved growth. Applying fertilizers containing either nitrogen (10.87 g·plant−1) or phosphorus (4.81 g·plant−1) under adequate irrigation (55% FC) increased the Chl content. However, high nitrogen levels (10.87 g·plant−1) reduced photosynthesis. Conversely, it was enhanced under appropriate phosphorus (4.81 g·plant−1) when the irrigation level was 55% FC, indicating the sensitivity of C. petelotii seedlings to nitrogen fertilizer. (3) Under specific conditions of 40% FC or 70% FC irrigation and 8.70 g·plant−1or 2.17 g·plant−1nitrogen fertilizer application, 3.85 g·plant−1phosphorus addition boosted the SLW whereas, 0.96 g·plant−1phosphorus addition inhibited it. Under W = 55% FC, deficiencies in either nitrogen (N = 0 g·plant−1) or phosphorus (P = 0 g·plant−1) significantly decreased leaf growth, affecting SLW. In summary, C. petelotii was more sensitive to nitrogen fertilizer at W = 55% FC, and nitrogen deficiency inhibited C. petelotii growth in terms of ground diameter more than phosphorus deficiency. The C. petelotii seedlings performed best when treated with 55% FC, 5.43 g·plant−1nitrogen, 2.40 g·plant−1phosphorus per plant. These parameter estimates could optimize water and fertilizer application for C. petelotii seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the suitable coupling model of water and fertilizer for day lily in Yanghuang irrigation area of Ningxia. Using day lily as test material and drip irrigation method, 3 irrigation gradients and 3 water-soluble fertilizer fertilization gradients were designed, and a total of 9 experimental treatments were set up by combining different irrigation and fertilization gradients. The changes of plant height, flower moss thickness, flower bud length, flower bud thickness, yield and quality of day lily under different treatments were analyzed. The results showed that T2F2 treatment could significantly increase flower bud length, bud weight, yield, soluble sugar and Ve content of day lily. The growth, yield and quality indexes of day lily were evaluated by principal component analysis, and T2F2 treatment showed the best performance. The optimal water and fertilizer management mode of day lily in Yanghuang irrigation area of Ningxia was irrigated 10 times during growth period, total irrigation amount was 3 525 m³/hm², water-soluble fertilizer was applied 6 times, fertilization was applied once with water during germination and leaf opening period, fertilization was applied twice with water during bolting period and flowering period, and the total fertilizer application amount was 562.5 kg/hm². [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Water-fertilizer coupling technology has emerged as a pivotal strategy in modern agriculture, recognized for its potential to enhance soil environmental quality, promote crop growth, and ensure sustainable resource utilization. With increasing global food demands and environmental concerns, optimizing agricultural practices is essential for achieving food security and ecological balance. This review aims to systematically review the direct impacts of water-fertilizer coupling on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil, while elucidating the underlying mechanisms that drive crop responses. Additionally, it evaluates the optimization of water-fertilizer coupling technology and its associated environmental benefits. The findings indicate that water-fertilizer coupling significantly improves soil structural stability, enhances microbial diversity, and increases soil enzyme activities. An appropriate water-fertilizer ratio markedly boosts soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen content, facilitating nutrient mineralization and accelerating the decomposition of organic matter. The implementation of intelligent water-fertilizer management systems has shown to enhance water use efficiency and reduce fertilizer loss rates, thereby minimizing the environmental footprint of agricultural production. The optimization of water-fertilizer coupling is crucial for improving soil health, crop yields, and resource efficiency. This technology not only supports sustainable agricultural practices but also contributes to national food security and rural revitalization efforts. Future research should focus on the interaction mechanisms among crops, soil, water, and fertilizer. It is essential to strengthen the development of water-fertilizer coupling regulation models and decision support systems to guide agricultural production practices effectively. Policymakers are encouraged to promote the adoption of integrated water-fertilizer management strategies to foster sustainable agricultural development and enhance environmental resilience. This review underscores the importance of advancing water-fertilizer coupling technology as a means to achieve sustainable agricultural productivity while safeguarding ecological integrity, aligning with the principles of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The supply of water and fertilizer influences the growth and photosynthesis of strawberries, thereby affecting the yield. To determine the optimal combination of irrigation and fertilizer, an experiment was conducted over two years in 2019 and 2020. The experiment included four irrigation levels (I1: 100 % ETc, I2: 85 % ETc, I3: 70 % ETc, I4: 55 % ETc) and three fertilization levels (F1: 120 % F0, F2: 100 % F0, F3: 80 % F0), forming a total of 12 treatments, where F0 represents the exact value determined using the target yield method. Irrigation significantly affected on all growth indicators at flowering and fruit setting (F) and harvesting (H) stages in 2019, and the interaction of irrigation and fertilization was significant on photosynthetic rate (Pn) at seedling (S) stage (S-Pn) and the final fruit dry matter accumulation (FDM) in both study seasons. I1F1 achieved the highest S-Pn, while I2 showed significant promotion on FDM, with its maximum value of I2F1 in 2019 and I2F2 in 2020. F2 exhibited significant advantages on root dry weight (RDW) at H stage (H-RDW), with I3F2 and I4F2 performing the best. Moreover, I1F1 and I2F1 exhibited significantly promotion in stomatal conductance (Gs) at S stage (S-Gs). Based on correlation and path analysis, six indicators affecting yield formation were identified (S-RDW, S-Pn, F-CHll, F-Pn, H-CHll, FDM), with FDM having the greatest direct effect on yield (Y). A comprehensive evaluation system was constructed by considering the growth process and final yield, and Y obtained the highest combined weight (0.432 in 2019 and 0.476 in 2020). I2F2 and I3F1 were consistently ranked the top three in both years based on the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) evaluation model, indicating the combined irrigation and fertilizer of 70–85 % ETc with 100–120 % F0 can achieve optimal yield by promoting photosynthesis and growth of strawberries. This study can provide a theoretical basis for scientific water and fertilizer management of strawberries in arid and semi-arid regions.

Compared to conventional irrigation and fertilization, the Water-fertilizer coupling can significantly enhance the efficiency of water and fertilizer utilization, thereby promoting crop growth and increasing yield. Targeting the challenges of poor crop growth, low yield, and inefficient water and fertilizer utilization in the arid region of northwest China under conventional irrigation and fertilization practices. Therefore, a two-year on-farm experiment in 2022 and 2023 was conducted to study the effects of water-fertilizer coupling regulation on pumpkin growth, yield, water consumption (ET), and water and fertilizer use efficiency. Simultaneously the comprehensive evaluation of multiple objectives was carried out using principal component analysis (PCA) methods, so as to propose an suitable water-fertilizer coupling regulation scheme for the region. The experiment was set up as a two-factor trial using water-fertilizer integration technology under three irrigation volume (W1 = 37.5 mm, W2 = 45.5 mm, W3 = 52.5mm) and three organic fertilizer application amounts (F1 = 3900-300 kg ha-1, F2 = 4800-450 kg·ha-1, F3 = 5700-600 kg·ha-1), with the traditional irrigation and fertilization scheme from local farmers as control treatments (CK). The results indicated that irrigation volume and organic fertilizer application significantly affected pumpkin growth, yield, and water and fertilizer use efficiency (P<0.05). Pumpkin yield increased with increasing irrigation volume. Increasing organic fertilizer levels within a certain range benefited pumpkin plant growth, dry matter accumulation, and yield, however, excessive application beyond a certain level had inhibited effects on those. The increased fertilizer application under the same irrigation volume enhanced the efficiency of water and fertilizer utilization. However excessive irrigation only resulted in inefficient water consumption, reducing the water and fertilizer use efficiency. The Comprehensive evaluation by PCA revealed that the F2W3 treatment outperformed all the others, effectively addressing the triple objectives of increasing production, improving efficiency, and promoting green production. Therefore, F2W3 (Irrigation volume: 52.5 mm; Fertilizer application amounts: 4800-450 kg/ha-1) as a water and fertilizer management scheme for efficient pumpkin production in the arid region of northwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences is the property of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A reasonable water and fertilizer supply is key to coordinating nursery stock quality improvement and environmental pollution reduction. Here, the experiment was carried out based on the combinations of four levels of water content (W), substrate available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). The aim was to explore the combining effects of water and fertilizer on the comprehensive growth of Pinus massoniana seedlings, and to obtain the coupling optimization of water-fertilizer. The results indicate that the comprehensive growth index (CGI) of seedlings followed a linear pattern with P and a downward-opening parabola with W, N, and K. The seedling growth was not significantly affected by adjusting the input of other elements when the substrate P ≤ 32.00 mg/kg·dry substrate. Whereas when P was 128.00 mg/kg·dry substrate, the negative effects caused by low water (W was below 45%) could not be alleviated, even if moderate N and K levels were maintained. W and P had direct and significant positive effects on the growth of seedlings, while N and K had negative effects. The combination of 85–91% (W), 65.95–134.27 (N), 128.00 (P), and 215.87–234.00 mg/kg·dry substrate (K) was beneficial to seedling growth. While W of 91% combined with the N, P, and K of 57.39, 88.40, and 123.08 mg/kg·dry substrate coordinated the environmental development and seedling growth. This research showed that P is the key factor affecting the CGI of P. massoniana seedlings. which provides a reference for rational and precise fertilization during the cultivation of P. massoniana seedlings.

Considering the pear in the arid region as the research object, single-factor testing and water–fertilizer coupling testing were conducted. The response of pear tree growth to water, nitrogen, and phosphorus was explored and provided a theoretical basis for efficient water and fertilizer management. Among them, the single-factor test set water, nitrogen, and phosphorus as the three factors, and five levels were set. Screening out W3, W4, N3, N4, P3, and P4 promoted plant nutrient uptake and fruit quality. Eight treatments were set up in the water and fertilizer coupling test: Treatment 1 (T1, W3N3P3), Treatment 2 (T2, W3N3P4), Treatment 3 (T3, W3N4P3), Treatment 4 (T4, W3N4P4), Treatment 5 (T5, W4N3P3), Treatment 6 (T6, W4N3P4), Treatment 7 (T7, W4N4P3), and Treatment 8 (T8, W4N4P4). The results showed that the leaf area index of the T1, T2, T3, and T4 treatments was significantly higher than that of the other treatments at maturity. The yield, single fruit weight, and primary fruit rate were the highest under T3 treatment. The gray correlation degree analysis of fruit quality showed that the T3 treatment had the highest degree of correlation and ranking of each fruit quality index, indicating that the T3 treatment had the highest fruit quality. The yield model showed that irrigation with 6510.06 m3 hm−2, nitrogen fertilizer with 337.5 kg N hm−2, and phosphate fertilizer with 262.5 kg P hm−2 had the best yield. A detailed investigation of pear tree growth and fruit quality showed that the T3 treatment had the best fruit growth and development performance, and the pear fruit quality was the best.

The hydroponic lettuce experiment involved the blending of aquaculture wastewater with water-soluble fertilizer, aiming to determine the optimal ratio of water and fertilizer. This study aims to provide a theoretical foundation for effectively utilizing water resources in industrial aquaculture wastewater. In this study, the research focused on "cream lettuce" as the primary subject. Various quantities of Yamazaki formula water-soluble fertilizer were dissolved in industrial aquaculture wastewater to create a blended nutrient solution. Subsequently, an experiment utilizing the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) was conducted to investigate its effects. The experiment consisted of five distinct treatments: S1 (123g fertilizer + 150L wastewater), S2 (98.4g fertilizer + 150L wastewater), S3 (73.8g fertilizer + 150L wastewater), S4 (49.2g fertilizer + 150L water), and S5 (24.6g fertilizer + 150L water). Additionally, a control group labeled CK (123g fertilizer + 150L water) was utilized to examine the impact of different treatments on lettuce yield and quality. The TOPSIS comprehensive benefit evaluation model, based on the entropy weight method, was employed to analyze and ascertain the optimal parameters for the water and fertilizer ratio. The results demonstrated that the mixed nutrient solution effectively enhanced the absorption of water and fertilizer. However, it was observed that as the concentration of fertilizer increased, the lettuce's fertilizer consumption exhibited an initial rise followed by a subsequent decline. The water and fertilizer consumption of lettuce under the various treatments was lower than that of the CK treatment. Furthermore, the S1-S5 treatments exhibited fertilizer savings of 25.01%, 19.15%, 34.12%, 51.89%, and 74.10% respectively, in comparison to the CK treatment. The mixed nutrient solution proved to be highly effective in promoting the growth of lettuce. However, it was observed that the growth indicators of lettuce followed a pattern of initial increase and subsequent decrease as the fertilizer concentration increased. Notably, the highest lettuce yield of 1.88 kg·m-2 was achieved under the S2 treatment, representing a 15.32% increase compared to the CK treatment. Furthermore, the mixed nutrient solution exhibited a positive impact on improving the quality of lettuce. The contents of soluble sugar and soluble protein in lettuce displayed an initial increase and subsequent decrease, with the highest levels observed in lettuce treated with S2. The content of vitamin C(VC) and nitrate exhibited a positive correlation with the fertilizer concentration. Specifically, the S1 treatment resulted in the highest VC content, while the nitrate content under the S1-S5 treatments was lower compared to the CK treatment. The comprehensive benefit evaluation revealed that the S2 treatment was the most favorable for lettuce growth, yielding higher crop output and superior quality. The optimal combination of fish tail water and fertilizer demonstrated significant benefits, enhancing water and fertilizer absorption, improving lettuce yield and quality, and maximizing overall crop production efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has the largest apple-growing area and fresh fruit production in the world; however, water shortages and low fertilizer utilization rates have restricted agricultural development. It is a major challenge to obtain scientific and reasonable irrigation and fertilization systems for young apple trees in semi-arid regions of northern China. A 2-year field bucket experiment with four irrigation levels of W1 (75–90% Fs, where Fs is the field water holding capacity), W2 (65–80% Fs), W3 (55–70% Fs), and W4 (45–60% Fs), and three fertilizer levels of F1 (27-9-9 g N-P2O5-K2O), F2 (18-9-9 g N-P2O5-K2O), and F3 (9-9-9 g N-P2O5-K2O) was conducted in 2019 and 2020, so as to explore the effects of different water and fertilizer treatments on the growth and physiological characteristics of young apple trees. The results showed that the plant growth, leaf area, and dry matter of young apple trees at each growing period reached maximum values under F1W2, and they showed a positive linear relationship with relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), water consumption, and water use efficiency (WUE). With the growth of young apple trees, water-fertilizer coupling could significantly increase the leaf SPAD of young apple trees. Pn, Tr, and Gs reached the maximum value under F1W1, and although they decreased under F1W2, the water use efficiency increased by 2.3–25.7% and 4.0–23.8% under F1W2 compared with other treatments in two years, respectively. The water consumption of young apple trees increased with the increase of irrigation and fertilizer, and both dry matter and water productivity reached the maximum value under F1W2, which increased by 0.8%, 14.6% in 2019, and 0.6%, 11.1% in 2020 compared with F1W1, while water consumption decreased by 12.2% and 9.4% in both years. In conclusion, F1W2 treatment (soil moisture was controlled at 65–80% of field water holding capacity, and N-P2O5-K2O was controlled at 27-9-9 g) was the best coupling mode of water and fertilizer for young apple trees in semi-arid areas of northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water and fertilizer management in sustainable agricultural development needs to balance crop yield, quality, and soil ecological environment. Therefore, we conducted trials with nine treatments over two growing seasons in 2020 and 2021. The treatments included the three irrigation levels W1 (75% Ep), W2 (100% Ep), and W3 (125% Ep) and the three fertilization levels F1 (758.44 kg/hm2), F2 (948.05 kg/hm2), and F3 (1137.66 kg/hm2) with a N/P/K ratio of 2:1:3. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) gradually decreased with the plant growing period, and was significantly (*) affected by fertilization at the flowering and fruiting stages. The chlorophyll content increased by 43.75% from the vine to flowering and fruiting stages and decreased by 12.50% in the mature stage, reaching a maximum following W1 application. W2F2 was the most effective in promoting total dry mass (TDM) during the vine and mature stages. Irrigation, fertilization and the interaction exerted a highly significant effect on the fruit quality and yield. Soluble solids performed best under W1F1, while free amino acid reached a maximum under W3F2. Moreover, water use efficiency increased with the fertilization amount, and was maximized in W1F3. At the same fertilizer level, soil nitrate N and available P content exhibited an increasing then decreasing trend with the increasing irrigation amount, while soil available K content increased with irrigation at all growth stages. Structural equation models of yield and quality formation were then established based on the co-occurrence analysis. Pn indirectly regulated the melon growth by TDM (0.87) (***), while growth was identified as the most important direct factor affecting the yield and quality of melon. Furthermore, soil residues indirectly affected yield and quality composition through efficiency. This study indicates that the sustainable practices for water and fertilizer management are essential to improve melon yield and quality in arid and semi-arid regions, and contribute to reducing the risk of soil contamination from agricultural production.

The water-fertilizer (NP) coupling field experiment for oilseed sunflower was conducted in the drought of middle ningxia under the condition of drip irrigation by “312-D”saturation optimum design. The regressive maths model was set up based on the oilseed sunflower yield. Analysis showed that the effects among these factors were positive on the oilseed sunflower yield with the influenced order as water>N>P, interaction effects influenced order as N and water>NP>P and water, and P and water was negative. The optimum dosage combinations of water-fertilizer coupling: the dosage of N were 248. 03 kg / hm², P2O5 were 104. 06 kg / hm², K2O 60 kg / hm², irrigation was 888. 05 m³ / hm². Yield reached 4 918. 15 kg / hm², than local yield and income of oilseed sunflower increased by 29. 4% and 5 287 yuan / hm². [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought and nutrient deficiency pose great challenges to the successful establishment of native plants on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The dominant factors and strategies that affect the adaptation of alpine herbs to dry and nutrient-deficient environments remain unclear. Three water gradients were established using two-factor controlled experiments: low water (WL), medium water (WM), and high water (WH). The field water-holding capacities were 35%, 55%, and 75%, respectively. Nitrogen fertilizer (N) was applied at four levels: control (CK), low (FL), medium (FM), and high (FH) at 0, 110, 330, and 540 mg/kg, respectively. The results revealed that N was the main limiting factor, rather than phosphorous (P), in Festuca coelestis under drought stress. Under water shortage conditions, F. coelestis accumulated more proline and non-structural carbohydrates, especially in the aboveground parts of the leaves and stems; however, the root diameter and aboveground nitrogen use efficiency were reduced. Appropriate N addition could mitigate the adverse effects by increasing the release of N, P, and enzyme activity in the bulk soil and rhizosphere to balance their ratio, and was mainly transferred to the aboveground parts, which optimized the supply uptake relationship. The effects of water and fertilizer on the physiological adaptability and nutrient utilization of F. coelestis were verified using structural equation modeling. Based on their different sensitivities to water and nitrogen, the WHFM treatment was more suitable for F. coelestis establishment. Our results demonstrated that the disproportionate nutrient supply ability and preferential supply aboveground compared to below ground were the main factors influencing F. coelestis seedling establishment under drought conditions. This study provides evidence for a better understanding of herbaceous plants living in high mountain regions and offers important information for reducing the risk of ecological restoration failure in similar alpine regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The supply of water and fertilizer influences the growth and photosynthesis of strawberries, thereby affecting the yield. To determine the optimal combination of irrigation and fertilizer, an experiment was conducted over two years in 2019 and 2020. The experiment included four irrigation levels (I1: 100 % ET c , I2: 85 % ET c , I3: 70 % ET c , I4: 55 % ET c) and three fertilization levels (F1: 120 % F 0 , F2: 100 % F 0 , F3: 80 % F 0), forming a total of 12 treatments, where F 0 represents the exact value determined using the target yield method. Irrigation significantly affected on all growth indicators at flowering and fruit setting (F) and harvesting (H) stages in 2019, and the interaction of irrigation and fertilization was significant on photosynthetic rate (Pn) at seedling (S) stage (S-Pn) and the final fruit dry matter accumulation (FDM) in both study seasons. I1F1 achieved the highest S-Pn, while I2 showed significant promotion on FDM, with its maximum value of I2F1 in 2019 and I2F2 in 2020. F2 exhibited significant advantages on root dry weight (RDW) at H stage (H-RDW), with I3F2 and I4F2 performing the best. Moreover, I1F1 and I2F1 exhibited significantly promotion in stomatal conductance (Gs) at S stage (S-Gs). Based on correlation and path analysis, six indicators affecting yield formation were identified (S-RDW, S-Pn, F-CHll, F-Pn, H-CHll, FDM), with FDM having the greatest direct effect on yield (Y). A comprehensive evaluation system was constructed by considering the growth process and final yield, and Y obtained the highest combined weight (0.432 in 2019 and 0.476 in 2020). I2F2 and I3F1 were consistently ranked the top three in both years based on the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) evaluation model, indicating the combined irrigation and fertilizer of 70–85 % ET c with 100–120 % F 0 can achieve optimal yield by promoting photosynthesis and growth of strawberries. This study can provide a theoretical basis for scientific water and fertilizer management of strawberries in arid and semi-arid regions. • The interaction of water and fertilizer was significant for the final fruit dry matter accumulation at three growth stages. • FDM has the largest direct impact on yield (0.731 in 2019, 0.922 in 2020). • Yield and its six forming factors were comprehensive evaluated based on TOPSIS. • The combination of 70–85 % ET c and 100–120 % F 0 achieved optimal yield by promoting growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has the largest apple-growing area and fresh fruit production in the world; however, water shortages and low fertilizer utilization rates have restricted agricultural development. It is a major challenge to obtain scientific and reasonable irrigation and fertilization systems for young apple trees in semi-arid regions of northern China. A 2-year field bucket experiment with four irrigation levels of W1 (75–90% Fs, where Fs is the field water holding capacity), W2 (65–80% Fs), W3 (55–70% Fs), and W4 (45–60% Fs), and three fertilizer levels of F1 (27-9-9 g N-P2O5-K2O), F2 (18-9-9 g N-P2O5-K2O), and F3 (9-9-9 g N-P2O5-K2O) was conducted in 2019 and 2020, so as to explore the effects of different water and fertilizer treatments on the growth and physiological characteristics of young apple trees. The results showed that the plant growth, leaf area, and dry matter of young apple trees at each growing period reached maximum values under F1W2, and they showed a positive linear relationship with relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), water consumption, and water use efficiency (WUE). With the growth of young apple trees, water-fertilizer coupling could significantly increase the leaf SPAD of young apple trees. Pn, Tr, and Gs reached the maximum value under F1W1, and although they decreased under F1W2, the water use efficiency increased by 2.3–25.7% and 4.0–23.8% under F1W2 compared with other treatments in two years, respectively. The water consumption of young apple trees increased with the increase of irrigation and fertilizer, and both dry matter and water productivity reached the maximum value under F1W2, which increased by 0.8%, 14.6% in 2019, and 0.6%, 11.1% in 2020 compared with F1W1, while water consumption decreased by 12.2% and 9.4% in both years. In conclusion, F1W2 treatment (soil moisture was controlled at 65–80% of field water holding capacity, and N-P2O5-K2O was controlled at 27-9-9 g) was the best coupling mode of water and fertilizer for young apple trees in semi-arid areas of northern China.

Copyright of Journal of Agricultural Science & Technology (1008-0864) is the property of Journal of Agricultural Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Prataculturae Sinica is the property of Acta Prataculturae Sinica Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A reasonable water and fertilizer supply is key to coordinating nursery stock quality improvement and environmental pollution reduction. Here, the experiment was carried out based on the combinations of four levels of water content (W), substrate available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). The aim was to explore the combining effects of water and fertilizer on the comprehensive growth of Pinus massoniana seedlings, and to obtain the coupling optimization of water-fertilizer. The results indicate that the comprehensive growth index (CGI) of seedlings followed a linear pattern with P and a downward-opening parabola with W, N, and K. The seedling growth was not significantly affected by adjusting the input of other elements when the substrate P ≤ 32.00 mg/kg·dry substrate. Whereas when P was 128.00 mg/kg·dry substrate, the negative effects caused by low water (W was below 45%) could not be alleviated, even if moderate N and K levels were maintained. W and P had direct and significant positive effects on the growth of seedlings, while N and K had negative effects. The combination of 85–91% (W), 65.95–134.27 (N), 128.00 (P), and 215.87–234.00 mg/kg·dry substrate (K) was beneficial to seedling growth. While W of 91% combined with the N, P, and K of 57.39, 88.40, and 123.08 mg/kg·dry substrate coordinated the environmental development and seedling growth. This research showed that P is the key factor affecting the CGI of P. massoniana seedlings. which provides a reference for rational and precise fertilization during the cultivation of P. massoniana seedlings. [Display omitted] • A water-fertilizer multi-factor coupling model for the comprehensive growth of Pinus massoniana seedlings was established. • Substrate effective P is the main driving factor affecting P. massoniana seedling comprehensive growth. • The optimal combination of W, N, P, and K was determined to improve the quality of P. massoniana seedlings. • N-K, P-W, P-N, P-K have synergize effect within a reasonable interval on seeding growth, but W-N have antagonistic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought and nutrient deficiency pose great challenges to the successful establishment of native plants on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The dominant factors and strategies that affect the adaptation of alpine herbs to dry and nutrient-deficient environments remain unclear. Three water gradients were established using two-factor controlled experiments: low water (WL), medium water (WM), and high water (WH). The field water-holding capacities were 35%, 55%, and 75%, respectively. Nitrogen fertilizer (N) was applied at four levels: control (CK), low (FL), medium (FM), and high (FH) at 0, 110, 330, and 540 mg/kg, respectively. The results revealed that N was the main limiting factor, rather than phosphorous (P), in Festuca coelestis under drought stress. Under water shortage conditions, F. coelestis accumulated more proline and non-structural carbohydrates, especially in the aboveground parts of the leaves and stems; however, the root diameter and aboveground nitrogen use efficiency were reduced. Appropriate N addition could mitigate the adverse effects by increasing the release of N, P, and enzyme activity in the bulk soil and rhizosphere to balance their ratio, and was mainly transferred to the aboveground parts, which optimized the supply uptake relationship. The effects of water and fertilizer on the physiological adaptability and nutrient utilization of F. coelestis were verified using structural equation modeling. Based on their different sensitivities to water and nitrogen, the WHFM treatment was more suitable for F. coelestis establishment. Our results demonstrated that the disproportionate nutrient supply ability and preferential supply aboveground compared to below ground were the main factors influencing F. coelestis seedling establishment under drought conditions. This study provides evidence for a better understanding of herbaceous plants living in high mountain regions and offers important information for reducing the risk of ecological restoration failure in similar alpine regions.

An important problem currently faced by karst rocky desertification management is the degradation of vegetation fruits, which encourages the search for a solution for the sustainable growth of vegetation. Water and fertilizer are key factors affecting crop quality (the formation of soluble solids, protein, amino acids, soluble sugar content, etc.). A comprehensive review of research related to water–fertilizer coupling and crop quality improvement may be beneficial for rocky desertification control. This study analyzed 427 related papers, and the results showed that: (1) the number of published papers showed an "S" curve growth trend over time, indicating that research in the field of water–fertilizer coupling has entered a mature stage after rapid growth, yet it is still in the initial stage in karst areas; (2) the research was mainly theoretical, but also included technology research and development, model construction, demonstration and extension, and monitoring and evaluation; (3) except for research related to greenhouse facilities, the research areas are mainly located in arid and semi-arid regions. The study further revealed (4) the frontier theory of water–fertilizer coupling and crop quality research. Finally, it was found that the theoretical and technical studies related to water–fertilizer coupling and crop quality improvement in karst areas are insufficient. Whether the existing theories and techniques are applicable to karst areas needs further verification. In addition to the areas of selecting germplasm with high water/fertilizer utilization efficiency and tolerance to rocky desertification, further improvement in the dynamic model of water–fertilizer coupling and the construction of a more applicable water–fertilizer coupling model could also be future research hotspots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology / Yingyong Shengtai Xuebao is the property of Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for human beings and plants are the current main sources of Se element in Asian diet. Therefore a feasible way to increase people's Se intake is to increase Se content in plants. In this paper, we focus on how the tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum) yield and quality are influenced by the effect of irrigation amount, Se-enriched and high-calcium organic fertilizer and compound fertilizer amount respectively. The results from a two-year experiment show that the combination of Se-enriched organic fertilizer and compound fertilizer can significantly increase the tomato yield comparing with the use of NPK organic or compound fertilizer. It is also shown that by applying more Se-enriched and high-calcium organic fertilizer the contents of Se, Lycopene, Vitamin C (Vc) and soluble sugar in tomato fruit can be increased considerably. It was found that the highest Se content was achieved using 100% Se-enriched organic fertilizer combined with irrigation at 100% in 2016 and 100% Se-enriched organic fertilizer with irrigation at 80% in 2017. Deficit irrigation (80%) can help to increase Water Use Efficiency (WUE) and the Se and VC contents in tomato yield. Therefore in order to improve the Se-enriched tomato yield and quality, it is suggested to apply 100% Se-enriched organic fertilizer and adopt the deficit irrigation at 80%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important problem currently faced by karst rocky desertification management is the degradation of vegetation fruits, which encourages the search for a solution for the sustainable growth of vegetation. Water and fertilizer are key factors affecting crop quality (the formation of soluble solids, protein, amino acids, soluble sugar content, etc.). A comprehensive review of research related to water–fertilizer coupling and crop quality improvement may be beneficial for rocky desertification control. This study analyzed 427 related papers, and the results showed that: (1) the number of published papers showed an “S” curve growth trend over time, indicating that research in the field of water–fertilizer coupling has entered a mature stage after rapid growth, yet it is still in the initial stage in karst areas; (2) the research was mainly theoretical, but also included technology research and development, model construction, demonstration and extension, and monitoring and evaluation; (3) except for research related to greenhouse facilities, the research areas are mainly located in arid and semi-arid regions. The study further revealed (4) the frontier theory of water–fertilizer coupling and crop quality research. Finally, it was found that the theoretical and technical studies related to water–fertilizer coupling and crop quality improvement in karst areas are insufficient. Whether the existing theories and techniques are applicable to karst areas needs further verification. In addition to the areas of selecting germplasm with high water/fertilizer utilization efficiency and tolerance to rocky desertification, further improvement in the dynamic model of water–fertilizer coupling and the construction of a more applicable water–fertilizer coupling model could also be future research hotspots.

Compared to conventional irrigation and fertilization, the Water-fertilizer coupling can significantly enhance the efficiency of water and fertilizer utilization, thereby promoting crop growth and increasing yield. Targeting the challenges of poor crop growth, low yield, and inefficient water and fertilizer utilization in the arid region of northwest China under conventional irrigation and fertilization practices. Therefore, a two-year on-farm experiment in 2022 and 2023 was conducted to study the effects of water-fertilizer coupling regulation on pumpkin growth, yield, water consumption (ET), and water and fertilizer use efficiency. Simultaneously the comprehensive evaluation of multiple objectives was carried out using principal component analysis (PCA) methods, so as to propose an suitable water-fertilizer coupling regulation scheme for the region. The experiment was set up as a two-factor trial using water-fertilizer integration technology under three irrigation volume (W1 = 37.5 mm, W2 = 45.5 mm, W3 = 52.5mm) and three organic fertilizer application amounts (F1 = 3900-300 kg ha -1 , F2 = 4800-450 kg·ha -1 , F3 = 5700-600 kg·ha -1 ), with the traditional irrigation and fertilization scheme from local farmers as control treatments (CK). The results indicated that irrigation volume and organic fertilizer application significantly affected pumpkin growth, yield, and water and fertilizer use efficiency (P<0.05). Pumpkin yield increased with increasing irrigation volume. Increasing organic fertilizer levels within a certain range benefited pumpkin plant growth, dry matter accumulation, and yield, however, excessive application beyond a certain level had inhibited effects on those. The increased fertilizer application under the same irrigation volume enhanced the efficiency of water and fertilizer utilization. However excessive irrigation only resulted in inefficient water consumption, reducing the water and fertilizer use efficiency. The Comprehensive evaluation by PCA revealed that the F2W3 treatment outperformed all the others, effectively addressing the triple objectives of increasing production, improving efficiency, and promoting green production. Therefore, F2W3 (Irrigation volume: 52.5 mm; Fertilizer application amounts: 4800-450 kg/ha -1 ) as a water and fertilizer management scheme for efficient pumpkin production in the arid region of northwest China., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhong, Zhang, Du, Ding, Zhang, Liu, Ren, Yin, Yang, Tian, Gan, Yong, Li, Li and Li.)

This work is a contribution to applied water and fertilizer coupling efforts aiming at increasing crop productivity on sugarcane plantations through the analysis of average cane yields obtained following main agronomic traits in growth and sugar content of plantations, in order to improve irrigation scheduling practices. A field experiment was carried out, testing drip irrigation (D), with four levels (0%, 50%, 100% and 150%) of water (W) and four levels (0%, 50%, 100% and 150%) of fertilizer (F) with three replicates. Rain-fed crop (neither irrigation nor fertilizer DW0F0) and manpower irrigation were included as the control (W1F1). The effects of water and fertilizer on agronomic traits (plant high, stem diameter, effective stem number and single stem weight), sugarcane yield and sugar content were studied in Guangxi (southwest China) from 2018–2020. Compared with W1F1, the agronomic traits were higher under DW1F1 treatment; for sugar content, the benefit of the combined treatment was W0.5F0; for sugarcane yield, the best treatment was DW1F1, followed by DW1.5F1. To obtain maximum sugar yield, it is recommended to apply a N fertilizer dose of 292 kg ha−1, K2O fertilizer 146.55 kg ha−1 and P2O5 fertilizer 439.5 kg ha−1 with water 1778.4 m3 ha−1. The results could not only boost efficiency of water and fertilizer, but also establish the reasonable irrigation and fertilizer measure, and regulate yield of sugarcane. It could offer some ideas and techniques for developing precision farming.

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology / Yingyong Shengtai Xuebao is the property of Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Water and fertilizer management in sustainable agricultural development needs to balance crop yield, quality, and soil ecological environment. Therefore, we conducted trials with nine treatments over two growing seasons in 2020 and 2021. The treatments included the three irrigation levels W1 (75% Ep), W2 (100% Ep), and W3 (125% Ep) and the three fertilization levels F1 (758.44 kg/hm2), F2 (948.05 kg/hm2), and F3 (1137.66 kg/hm2) with a N/P/K ratio of 2:1:3. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) gradually decreased with the plant growing period, and was significantly (*) affected by fertilization at the flowering and fruiting stages. The chlorophyll content increased by 43.75% from the vine to flowering and fruiting stages and decreased by 12.50% in the mature stage, reaching a maximum following W1 application. W2F2 was the most effective in promoting total dry mass (TDM) during the vine and mature stages. Irrigation, fertilization and the interaction exerted a highly significant effect on the fruit quality and yield. Soluble solids performed best under W1F1, while free amino acid reached a maximum under W3F2. Moreover, water use efficiency increased with the fertilization amount, and was maximized in W1F3. At the same fertilizer level, soil nitrate N and available P content exhibited an increasing then decreasing trend with the increasing irrigation amount, while soil available K content increased with irrigation at all growth stages. Structural equation models of yield and quality formation were then established based on the co-occurrence analysis. Pn indirectly regulated the melon growth by TDM (0.87) (***), while growth was identified as the most important direct factor affecting the yield and quality of melon. Furthermore, soil residues indirectly affected yield and quality composition through efficiency. This study indicates that the sustainable practices for water and fertilizer management are essential to improve melon yield and quality in arid and semi-arid regions, and contribute to reducing the risk of soil contamination from agricultural production. • The chlorophyll content reached a peak at 43 days after transplanting under W1 application. • Pn indirectly regulated melon growth by TDM based on Structural equation models. • Soil residues indirectly affected yield and quality composition through efficiency. • A water-fertilization strategy to balance economic efficiency and soil environmental was determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Drainage & Irrigation Machinery Engineering / Paiguan Jixie Gongcheng Xuebao is the property of Editorial Department of Drainage & Irrigation Machinery Engineering and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Drainage & Irrigation Machinery Engineering / Paiguan Jixie Gongcheng Xuebao is the property of Editorial Department of Drainage & Irrigation Machinery Engineering and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Water and fertilizer are the two main factors which promote the rapid growth of Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) trees. Studies of root systems and the nutrition-use efficiency of dense, dwarfed fruit trees are limited, especially in an extremely arid region with drip irrigation. The experiment was conducted in a 12-year-old dwarf jujube planting basement in Hami from 2013 to 2015. In this experiment, root length density and root weight density were calculated and found to range from 75 cm to 275 cm in horizontal distance, and from 0 to 90 cm in vertical depth, treated with three drip irrigation quota gradients and three fertilizer rates with each treatment replicated three times. The results showed that, as the amount of nitrogen applied increased gradually, the jujubes' growth amount increased, reaching a maximum when an optimal concentration was applied. However, the jujubes' growth was inhibited, and the growth declined when the amount of nitrogen applied was more than the optimal concentration. At an appropriate level of nitrogen, the growth, yield and quality of jujube trees could be guaranteed. If the rate of nitrogen application was lowered, the jujubes' growth would inhibit, and hence the yield wound be seriously impacted. The optimal irrigation quota and fertilization amount were found to be 900 mm and 1500-1800 kg/hm2, respectively. The research findings were of significance and hold great promise for the development of the forestry and fruit industries in the arid region of Xinjiang. At the same time, there was a further study on irrigation technique, focusing on the combined effect of the dwarfed-planting technique and drip irrigation on jujube trees; with this information, the application efficiency of water and fertilizer can be optimized, leading to higher profits and economic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is a contribution to applied water and fertilizer coupling efforts aiming at increasing crop productivity on sugarcane plantations through the analysis of average cane yields obtained following main agronomic traits in growth and sugar content of plantations, in order to improve irrigation scheduling practices. A field experiment was carried out, testing drip irrigation (D), with four levels (0%, 50%, 100% and 150%) of water (W) and four levels (0%, 50%, 100% and 150%) of fertilizer (F) with three replicates. Rain-fed crop (neither irrigation nor fertilizer DW0F0) and manpower irrigation were included as the control (W1F1). The effects of water and fertilizer on agronomic traits (plant high, stem diameter, effective stem number and single stem weight), sugarcane yield and sugar content were studied in Guangxi (southwest China) from 2018–2020. Compared with W1F1, the agronomic traits were higher under DW1F1 treatment; for sugar content, the benefit of the combined treatment was W0.5F0; for sugarcane yield, the best treatment was DW1F1, followed by DW1.5F1. To obtain maximum sugar yield, it is recommended to apply a N fertilizer dose of 292 kg ha−1, K2O fertilizer 146.55 kg ha−1 and P2O5 fertilizer 439.5 kg ha−1 with water 1778.4 m3 ha−1. The results could not only boost efficiency of water and fertilizer, but also establish the reasonable irrigation and fertilizer measure, and regulate yield of sugarcane. It could offer some ideas and techniques for developing precision farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil phosphorus (P) could be categorized into organic and inorganic forms, with diffe-rent capabilities of nutrient supply. Exploring soil P components through liquid 31 P-NMR would provide an important theoretical basis for soil P nutrition regulation. This study addressed the characteristic of P in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) soil via the pot experiment. There were two scenarios of treatments with conventional and dry water combined with different P fertilizer levels (P 0 -P 4 : 0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 g P 2 O 5 ·kg -1 soil). The characteristics of P components in alfalfa soil under water-fertilizer coupling conditions were measured by liquid 31 P-NMR. Results showed that under different water and fertilizer treatments, soil inorganic P was mainly composed of inorganic orthophosphate, pyrophosphate and inorganic polyphosphate. Inorganic orthophosphate was the dominant component of inorganic P, which could be reduced by drought. High P application (P 4 ) could increase the contents of soil inorganic polyphosphates and inorganic pyrophosphates. Among the organic P components, monoester orthophosphate was dominant, the conversion and utilization of which in alfalfa soil were affected by drought. Overall, the rational management of water and fertilizer could effectively regulate the conversion and utilization of P nutrients in alfalfa soil in Eastern Inner Mongolia.

To reveal the coupling effect of water and fertilizer on the yield of spring maize under shallow-buried drip irrigation in semi-arid area of western Liaoning, a field experiment was conducted with the quadratic regression orthogonal design of three factors (water, nitrogen and potassium) crossed with five levels in 2017-2018. A quadratic regression model was established with yield (Y) as the dependent variable and irrigation amount (W), nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) application amounts as independent variables to analyze the coupling relationships between Y and W, N and K, respectively. The results showed that the shallow-drip irrigation water-fertilizer coupling had significant impact on yield. The single factor of W, N and K promoted the yield, with their effects ranking as W>N>K. The effect of two-factor interaction on yield increased first and then decreased which ranked as WN>WK>NK. Considering the three-factor coupling effect on yield, the combination of abundant water, nitrogen and potassium was the highest, followed by high water, nitrogen and potassium, and low water, nitrogen and potassium the lowest. As the optimal treatments found by the model, we obtained the suitable water-fertilizer application range of shallow-buried drip irrigation with higher target yield of 8000-8810 kg·hm -2 , that was, the irrigation amount was 43-61 mm, nitrogen 138-343 kg·hm -2 and potassium 79-163 kg·hm -2 under the ambient natural rainfall. The results provided a referable basis for application of water-fertilizer integrated cropping pattern under shallow-buried drip irrigation in semi-arid area of northern China.

Jujube fruits are nutritious, widely consumed in all Asian countries, but relatively unknown to America due to the very limited study of the plant species. Effects of water and fertilizer application on vegetative growth of the jujube trees in semiarid regions have not been investigated. Thus, a field study was conducted in an orchard near the city of Portales, New Mexico, USA. Two-year-old young jujube trees were subjected to one of the combinations of three levels of water: 2 L/plant (W1), 8 L/plant (W2) ,16 L/plant (W3), and three levels of fertilizer: 35 g/plant (F1), 70 g/plant (F2), and 140 g/plant (F3). The increment in stem height (SH), stem diameter (SD), number of leaves (NL), Leaf size (LS), number of shoots (NS), and chlorophyll content (CC) were measured. The data analysis suggested a significant effect of W x F treatment on SH, SD, and NL. Results showed that the combination of high water and mild fertilizer level (W3F2) had the highest increment in SH, SD, and NL. W3F2 treatment increased SH and SD by 60.1 cm and 0.5 cm, respectively. The average number of leaves produced was 674.4 (W3F2). Furthermore, an identical pattern was observed with the interactions of W x F positively effecting leaf CC. Based on this study the recommended combination of water and fertilizer application for jujube growers in the semi-arid region was 16 L and 70 g per plant in order to achieve the optimal growth of young jujube trees. The information provides guidance for scientific management of water and fertilizer in jujube orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]