Analysis of Maize Planting Mode and Simulation and Optimization of Ridging and Fertilization Components in Arid Area of Northwest China

Abstract

The arid area of Northwest China belongs to the rain-fed agricultural area of the Loess Plateau, and water resources have become one of the important factors limiting agricultural development in this area. This study employed the AquaCrop model to predict the yield advantages and environmental adaptability of maize in Dingxi City from 2016 to 2020 under two cultivation practices: ridge tillage (100% film coverage with double ridge-furrow planting) and flat planting (81.8% film coverage with wide-film planting). The numerical simulation of the tillage and fertilization process of the double-ridge seedbed was carried out by EDEM, and the key components were tested by the Box–Behnken center combination test design principle to obtain the optimal parameter combination. The results showed that ridge planting was more suitable for agricultural planting in rain-fed arid areas in Northwest China. The simulation analysis of ridging and fertilization showed that the forward speed of the combined machine was 0.50 m/s, the rotation speed of the trough wheel of the fertilizer discharger was 39 rmp, and the rotary tillage depth was 150 mm. The qualified rate of seedbed tillage was 93.6%, and the qualified rate of fertilization was 92.1%. The research shows that the whole-film double ridge-furrow sowing technology of maize is more suitable for the rain-fed agricultural area in the arid area of Northwest China. The simulation results of the ridging fertilization device are consistent with the field experiment results. The research results provide a certain technical reference for the optimization of the whole-film double ridge-furrow sowing technology.