Effects of subsoiling-seeding on soil water, temperature and microbial characteristics of summer maize field

The objective of this study was to clarify soil water, temperature and microbial characteristics of summer maize field in Haihe lowland plains under subsoiling-seeding mode. The study was carried out in 2012-2013 at Shenzhou Experimental Station for Dry-land Farming of Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences. Two seeding modes of 'Zhengdan 958' summer maize variety in the study included subsoiling-seeding integrated treatment (SRT) and no-tillage seeding treatment (NT). Measurements of soil water, soil temperature and microbial characteristics started at maize seedling emergency stage till maturity stage. The results showed that SRT treatment improved soil temperature with average soil temperature increment under SRT treatment of 1.5% for the entire growth season. Also SRT treatment increased diurnal range of soil temperature. While NT treatment improved surface soil moisture storage, SRT treatment enhanced deep soil water storage. In the 0 20 cm soil layer, the water content under NT treatment was higher than that under SRT treatment by 17.5%. Then in the 40 100 cm soil layer, the water content under SRT treatment was higher than that under NT treatment by 9.2%. Also in the 0 40 cm soil layer, fungi and bacteria counts, and SMBC and SOC contents under SRT treatment increased respectively by 26.8%, 17.5%, 23.5% and 57.8%; all of which exceeded those under NT treatment. Actinomycete population decreased by 18.62%, which was lower that under NT treatment. On the whole, SRT treatment increased fungi, bacteria counts, and SMBC and SOC contents, widened soil daily temperature gap and improved soil water storage capacity. Subsoiling-seeding mode was favorable for increasing crop yield, enhancing sustainable utilization of farmlands and increasing maize productivity in Haihe lowland plains.