Optimized length and application rate of chopped straw for alfalfa production in ridge-furrow rainwater-harvesting in semi-arid regions in China

Water scarcity poses a significant challenge for alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L) cultivation in semi-arid regions in China. The conventional use of ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting (RFRH) with plastic film mulching in these areas has led to notable environmental repercussions. This study proposed an innovative approach in which RFRH was integrated with chopped straw-soil crust instead of plastic film. Runoff observations and alfalfa production experiments were carried out using a split-plot design to investigate the impact of varying chopped straw lengths (2 cm and 10 cm) and application rates (0 (R 0 ), 3 (R 3 ), 6 (R 6 ), and 9 (R 9 ) t ha −1 ) on runoff coefficient, soil water storage, temperature, fodder yield, and crop water productivity (WP C ). Results indicated that the average runoff coefficient for R 0 , R 3 , R 6 , and R 9 was 0.36–0.49, 0.41–0.59, 0.50–0.68, and 0.64–0.74, respectively. Compared to R 0 , the increase in soil water storage for R 3 , R 6 , and R 9 was 7.1–15.1, 15.0–26.5, and 20.1–44.2 mm, respectively. The reduction in temperature within the furrow profile for those treatments was 0.4–1.0°C, 0.8–1.3°C, and 1.1–2.0°C, respectively. The increase in fodder yield for those treatments ranged from 11.3 % to 34.0 %, 31.2 %-62.9 %, and 7.9 %-47.7 %, respectively, while the enhancement in WP C was 1.3–14.8, 5.1–27.9, and 2.0–20.7 kg ha −1 mm −1 . Notably, the average values for runoff coefficient, soil water storage, fodder yield, and WP C under 10 cm length of chopped straw were 1.03–1.31, 1.02–1.03, 1.02–1.05, and 1.03–1.08 times greater than under 2 cm length of chopped straw. Runoff coefficient, soil water storage, fodder yield, and WP C increased as chopped straw application rate and length increased. The structural equation modelling analysis showed that the chopped straw application rate had a significant direct positive effect on fodder yield and WP C , whereas the chopped straw length had a significant indirect negative effect on those parameters. The regression equation indicated that the optimized chopped straw application rate ranged from 5.2 to 7.1 t ha −1 , while the optimized chopped straw length was 10 cm. This study underscored that chopped straw-soil crust was a sustainable alternative to plastic film mulching, offering valuable insights for improving alfalfa cultivation in water-scarce environments. • Straw application rate had a significant direct positive effect on fodder yield and WP C . • Chopped straw length exhibited a significant indirect negative effect on soil temperature. • The optimized chopped straw application rate ranged from 5.2 to 7.1 t ha −1 . • The optimized chopped straw length was 10 cm. • Runoff, soil moisture, fodder yield, and WP C increased as straw application rate and length increased.