Optimizing the Effects of Additional Straw Returning on Soil Organic Carbon Components; Insights from a Chinese Long-Term Conservation Field Study

Authors

  • Francis Azumah Chimsah University for Development Studies, Tamale Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6509-2116
  • Washidu Mohammed Sahel Agricultural Service
  • Liqun Cai Gansu Agriculture Univeristy, in Lanzhou China

Abstract

Since the return to straw management in conservation fields, it remains unknown the optimum quantity needed for good soil health and plant production. This study aims at highlighting the lessons from a study conducted on an existing long term-term conservation tillage field within the Gansu Province of China. Two main tillage types, conventional tillage with straw returns (TS) and no tillage with straw returns (NTS) with four different additional straw return treatment levels of spring wheat and field pea as test crops. NTS fields showed more sensitivity to treatment effect. NTS fields had significantly higher grain yield. NTS fields had significantly higher SOC content than TS fields with SOC ranging from 5.56 – 20.77 g kg-1. No straw addition (NSA 0x) and low straw addition (LSA 1x) levels recorded higher yields in wheat fields whiles for pea fields, it was LSA 1x and medium straw addition (MSA 2x). The observed trend in terms of increasing SOC content among the straw addition treatments was LSA 1x > NSA 0x > MSA 2x > high straw addition (HSA 3x). Highest accumulated SOC stocks was observed under LSA 1x while lowest SOC stocks was NSA 0x. The relative intensities of the C-H bonds were higher in LSA 1x and also, was more effective in increasing soil hydrophobicity. Straw addition to conservation fields has limit and lessons leant from this study can serve as guide to better understanding the complexities of our farming systems in our quest for sustainable agriculture production.

Author Biographies

Francis Azumah Chimsah, University for Development Studies, Tamale Ghana

Dr. Francis Azumah Chimsah: A Senior Lecturer and researcher at the Univerity for Development Studies (UDS) in Ghana. An agroecologies and horticulturist. Passionate in undertaking research and social interventions with local farmers and the rural poor to bring out sustainable food production. Has a good work relations with other private and non-governmental organizations in Ghana and outside the country.

Washidu Mohammed, Sahel Agricultural Service

Mohammed Wahsidu: A Senior field officer, at Sahel Agriculture Services (SAS), a local non-profit organization in Ghana. For the past few years, I have worked with this organization leading in some of the implementation of intervension in the area of agriculture, environment and natural resource management. We also collaborate with the Universities and other research institution in Ghana and beyound and taking up and implementing intervensions and technologies. As a local field officer, i have worked with farmers and community groups in bringing techniques to their level of understanding.

Liqun Cai, Gansu Agriculture Univeristy, in Lanzhou China

Liqun Cai: A Proffessor in Agroecological studies at the Gansu Agriculture Univeristy, in Lanzhou China. A passionate advocate of intervension to improve the natural ecosystem through conservation and susutainable ways of farming. Based on experince and connection, have collaborated with other institutions and univeristies outside China, conducting research with students and partrners.

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Published

26-12-2025

How to Cite

Chimsah, F. A., Mohammed, W., & Cai, L. (2025). Optimizing the Effects of Additional Straw Returning on Soil Organic Carbon Components; Insights from a Chinese Long-Term Conservation Field Study. I. International Digital Agriculture Congress. from https://www.indac.com.tr/index.php/TURSTEP/article/view/407

Congress

I. International Digital Agriculture Congress

Section

Presentations