抄録
Optimizing the interaction between irrigation and straw return is essential for improving maize productivity and water use efficiency, yet their synergistic effects under contrasting hydrological conditions remain insufficiently understood. Based on a long-term split-plot field experiment in Northeast China, this study evaluated the interactive effects of irrigation regimes and straw return rates on spring maize growth, yield formation, water use efficiency, and their underlying regulatory mechanisms. Appropriate irrigation significantly promoted canopy development and biomass accumulation, whereas straw return enhanced soil water retention and improved the soil environment, thereby strengthening crop growth and productivity. Their interaction markedly increased yield and water use efficiency compared with either practice alone, primarily through coordinated improvements in soil water availability, biomass production, and yield component development. Moreover, the optimal irrigation–straw return combination varied with hydrological conditions, indicating that adaptive management is required to maximize resource-use efficiency and crop productivity. These findings demonstrate that integrating irrigation with straw return provides an effective strategy for synchronizing soil water conservation with crop growth, offering a mechanistic basis for developing climate-resilient and water-efficient maize production systems.
