Effects of Stubble Height and Mulching on Wind Erosion in Maize–Peanut Intercropping Farmland

To clarify the effectiveness of different stubble heights and mulching patterns for wind erosion control in maize–peanut intercropping systems, this study was conducted in the black soil region of Northeast China using a combination of wind tunnel simulation and field wind erosion monitoring. Monocropped peanut bare land was used as the control (CK). Four wind tunnel treatments were established: maize stubble with mulching (WT-1), maize stubble without mulching (WT-2), and peanut strip with maize straw mulching (WT-3). Additionally, seven field treatments were established, comprising mulched and non-mulched plots at three stubble height levels (low, medium, and high), as well as a mulched peanut plot without stubble (T7). Wind erosion intensity and amount were systematically measured across all treatments. The results showed that: (1) Wind erosion intensity increased exponentially with wind speed (R2 = 0.90–0.96, p < 0.001). Over the full range of wind speeds, wind erosion intensity was consistently greater in CK and WT-2 than in WT-3 and WT-1. The three mulching treatments exhibited distinct protective characteristics across different wind speed intervals: rapid response of surface mulching at low wind speeds, enhanced wind erosion control of standing stubble at moderate wind speeds, and diminished stubble protection but sustained mulching advantage at high wind speeds. The WT-1 treatment maintained an anti-wind erosion efficiency of 70.15% even at the extreme wind speed of 18 m·s−1. (2) Field wind erosion amounts ranked as CK > T6 > T2 > T4 > T1 > T7 > T5 > T3. The medium stubble with mulching treatment (T3) showed a net dust deposition effect with a wind erosion amount of −0.35 g, demonstrating the optimal erosion reduction performance. (3) Standing stubble and surface mulching synergistically increased aerodynamic roughness by 22.86–394.44%, effectively reducing near-surface wind speed by 30.32–55.55%. Meanwhile, straw mulching reduced soil water evaporation, increased pre-sowing surface soil water content by 5.4–126.01%, and enhanced inter-particle cohesion, thereby effectively suppressing soil wind erosion. Therefore, after harvest in the maize–peanut intercropping system in the black soil region of Northeast China, the combined application of maize straw mulching on peanut strips (T7) and medium stubble (40–50 cm) with mulching on maize strips (T3) is recommended as an optimal technical strategy for wind erosion control in the study area and similar brown soil-dominated wind erosion-sensitive regions after autumn harvest.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Plants
Published
2026-10-14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15203139
Primary Topic
Aeolian processes and effects
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Effects of Stubble Height and Mulching on Wind Erosion in Maize–Peanut Intercropping Farmland

Jiaxin Chen, 苏亚军, 王允青, Wuyan Xiang et al.
Plants
Aeolian processes and effects
article

Effects of Stubble Height and Mulching on Wind Erosion in Maize–Peanut Intercropping Farmland

Jiaxin Chen, 苏亚军, 王允青, Wuyan Xiang, Naijia Wang, Chen Feng, Xining Gao, Liwei Wang, Wei Yuhang, Shuyao Wang, Meiling Zhang, Ping Zeng, Yubo Meng
article en

Abstract

To clarify the effectiveness of different stubble heights and mulching patterns for wind erosion control in maize–peanut intercropping systems, this study was conducted in the black soil region of Northeast China using a combination of wind tunnel simulation and field wind erosion monitoring. Monocropped peanut bare land was used as the control (CK). Four wind tunnel treatments were established: maize stubble with mulching (WT-1), maize stubble without mulching (WT-2), and peanut strip with maize straw mulching (WT-3). Additionally, seven field treatments were established, comprising mulched and non-mulched plots at three stubble height levels (low, medium, and high), as well as a mulched peanut plot without stubble (T7). Wind erosion intensity and amount were systematically measured across all treatments. The results showed that: (1) Wind erosion intensity increased exponentially with wind speed (R2 = 0.90–0.96, p < 0.001). Over the full range of wind speeds, wind erosion intensity was consistently greater in CK and WT-2 than in WT-3 and WT-1. The three mulching treatments exhibited distinct protective characteristics across different wind speed intervals: rapid response of surface mulching at low wind speeds, enhanced wind erosion control of standing stubble at moderate wind speeds, and diminished stubble protection but sustained mulching advantage at high wind speeds. The WT-1 treatment maintained an anti-wind erosion efficiency of 70.15% even at the extreme wind speed of 18 m·s−1. (2) Field wind erosion amounts ranked as CK > T6 > T2 > T4 > T1 > T7 > T5 > T3. The medium stubble with mulching treatment (T3) showed a net dust deposition effect with a wind erosion amount of −0.35 g, demonstrating the optimal erosion reduction performance. (3) Standing stubble and surface mulching synergistically increased aerodynamic roughness by 22.86–394.44%, effectively reducing near-surface wind speed by 30.32–55.55%. Meanwhile, straw mulching reduced soil water evaporation, increased pre-sowing surface soil water content by 5.4–126.01%, and enhanced inter-particle cohesion, thereby effectively suppressing soil wind erosion. Therefore, after harvest in the maize–peanut intercropping system in the black soil region of Northeast China, the combined application of maize straw mulching on peanut strips (T7) and medium stubble (40–50 cm) with mulching on maize strips (T3) is recommended as an optimal technical strategy for wind erosion control in the study area and similar brown soil-dominated wind erosion-sensitive regions after autumn harvest.

PlantsVol. 15(20)
Shenyang Agricultural University (CN), Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CN), Jilin Weather Modification Office (CN)
Department of Science and Technology of Liaoning Province, National Key Research and Development Program of China
Zero hunger, Life on land
Openalex Percentile: Top 16%
Aeolian processes and effects
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.