The Effects of Mulch and Nitrogen Fertilizer on the Soil Environment of Crop Plants

The demand for food is expected to significantly increase with continued population growth over the next 50 years, indicating that agricultural efficiency should be simultaneously stabilized and enhanced. Here, we discuss the effects of mulching and nitrogen (N) fertilizer on the soil environment and crop yield to inform food security. The use of mulch in agriculture provides many benefits to the soil by reducing evaporation, improving temperatures, adjusting the microbial biomass, maintaining the soil organic carbon balance, increasing nutrient cycling, promoting soil enzyme activity, enhancing soil aggregate stability and suppressing weed infestation. Nitrogen fertilization can markedly improve soil fertility and crop yield. However, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and the environment may be negatively affected by the improper application of N fertilizers. The improvement of NUE has been an important focus in field management for the more sustainable use of valuable N fertilizers. A better understanding of the interaction between N and mulch may improve NUE and crop yields. Inorganic mulches more efficiently alter the soil environment to enhance the NUE and crop yield, while organic mulching materials are more environmentally friendly and inexpensive. The selection of appropriate mulching materials should be combined with effective N management strategies, crop species, crop management practices and climatic conditions. In the future, precise nitrogen fertilizer management on farms and the development of relatively high-NUE and high-yielding crops will be highly feasible.