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Granular straw amendment in improving soil structure and crop productivity in saline soil
Ting Fan1,2,3, Kexin Hu3, Guoshuai Wang1,2
1Institute of Pastoral Hydraulic Research, MWR, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China.
Frontiers in Plant Science
|July 25, 2026
Summary
Wheat straw amendments, especially granular (GW) and biochar (BW), significantly improve saline soil structure and wheat growth. These soil amendments enhance crop yield and nutrient uptake, offering sustainable solutions for agricultural land.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Soil Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Soil salinization is a major global threat to agricultural sustainability.
- Degraded arable land impacts food security worldwide.
- Effective soil amendments are crucial for reclaiming saline soils.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of different wheat straw forms (chopped, granular, biochar) on soil structure and wheat growth under varying salinity levels.
- To identify the most effective straw amendment for improving saline soil properties and crop productivity.
- To understand the relationship between soil properties, nutrient uptake, and wheat biomass accumulation.
Main Methods:
- Pot experiment using saline soil from the Yellow River Basin, Inner Mongolia.
- Application of wheat straw in chopped (CW), granular (GW), and biochar (BW) forms.
- Assessment of soil physical properties, wheat growth parameters, and nutrient uptake across mild (S1), moderate (S2), and severe (S3) salinity levels.
Main Results:
- Granular straw (GW) and biochar (BW) significantly improved soil structure, aggregate stability, and water retention.
- GW enhanced large macro-aggregates (>2 mm) and mean weight diameter; BW improved saturated hydraulic conductivity.
- All straw treatments increased wheat shoot biomass and nutrient (N, P, K) uptake, with GW and BW showing the most significant benefits.
- Wheat growth and soil properties were superior under mild salinity (S1) compared to moderate (S2) and severe (S3) levels.
Conclusions:
- Granular wheat straw and biochar are effective amendments for improving saline soil productivity.
- These amendments enhance soil structure, water relations, and nutrient availability, thereby mitigating salt stress.
- The findings support the use of straw-derived amendments for sustainable agriculture and ensuring grain security in salt-affected regions.
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