Meta‐Analysis‐Based Tillage Systems Optimization Promotes Synergy Among Crop Productivity, Water Use Efficiency and Carbon Emissions Under Changing Environments

Bibliographic Data

ID21649008
AuthorsMo Li (0000-0002-7068-2938, School of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering Northeast Agricultural University Harbin China, corresponding author), Min Xue (0000-0002-7600-859X, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Ecological Security and Green Development, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Quality Improvement and Ecological Restoration for Watersheds, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources Guangdong University of Technology Guangzhou China), Zhaomei Gai (School of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering Northeast Agricultural University Harbin China), Yingshan Chen (0000-0003-0463-9277, School of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering Northeast Agricultural University Harbin China), Yaowen Xu (0000-0002-3946-9987, School of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering Northeast Agricultural University Harbin China), Kaihua Cao (School of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering Northeast Agricultural University Harbin China), Qiang Fu (0009-0000-9606-6001, School of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering Northeast Agricultural University Harbin China, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume37
Issue2
Pages438-450
Publication date2026-01-30
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLand Degradation and Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1085-3278 • E-ISSN: 1099-145X
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ldr.70118
OpenAlexW4413843654
LanguageEN
References cited37

A tillage system (TS) is a fundamental strategic measure for increasing the comprehensive production capacity of land and food. In TS, the planting structure, tillage practices [no‐tillage (NT), shallow tillage (ST) and deep tillage (DT)] and water management practices interact and jointly influence economic benefits and environmental health. However, the sustainable optimization of TS under changing environments is challenging. In this study, a meta‐analysis‐based multi‐objective nonlinear model framework is proposed for TS optimization in Northeast China under changing environments, which is favorable for achieving synergy among the multiple goals of increasing agricultural economic benefits and water use efficiency and reducing carbon emissions through effective decision‐making related to water resource use, the planting structure, and tillage practices. The results revealed that TS optimization helps increase the synergy among the multi‐dimensional goals of the economy, carbon emissions, and resource use of TS by 37.5% compared with the status quo. The optimization of the planting structure (increasing the planting areas for rice and soybean by 3.1% and 0.7%, respectively, and decreasing that for maize by 2.8%) provided water savings of 12% and a reduction in carbon emissions of 11%. Water and planting area allocations are sensitive to the changing environments, with the SSP2‐4.5 scenario yielding the smallest amount of irrigation water and the SSP5‐8.5 scenario yielding the largest planting area. From the perspective of balanced attention to the economy, environment, and resource use efficiency, a weight ratio (DT:NT:ST) of 0.20:0.54:0.25 was obtained, indicating that NT is a more suitable tillage practice for Northeast China. This model can help decision‐makers manage water and land resources and tillage practices in TS in an efficient and environmentally friendly manner

Agricultural engineering · Agronomy · Biology · Carbon fibers · Crop · Crop Productivity · Economics · Greenhouse gas · Irrigation · Productivity · Tillage · Bioenergy crop production and management · Computer Science · Crop Yield and Soil Fertility · Engineering · Environmental Science · Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics · Ecology

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