Interactive effects of maize straw incorporation and improved irrigation on soil physicochemical properties and microbial community structure in saline–alkaline soil

Overall, maize straw incorporation combined with improved irrigation effectively enhanced soil quality, reshaped microbial community structure, and strengthened microbial functional potential. These findings provide practical evidence that integrated straw-irrigation management can serve as a feasible and sustainable strategy for the remediation and productive utilization of saline-alkali soils.