Work

The response of wheat yield, water productivity, and partial factor productivity of nitrogen to straw return and biochar application: a global meta-analysis

Year: 2026

Type: article

Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis

Abstract: Straw return (SR) and biochar application (BA) are widely used organic amendments with potential to improve wheat productivity and resource-use efficiency. However, their responses across environmental and field-management conditions remain poorly synthesized. We conducted a global multilevel meta-analysis of 2,242 yield, 1,239 water productivity (WP), and 1,988 partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPN) observation pairs from 385 publications. SR increased wheat yield, WP, and PFPN by 8.31%, 8.76%, and 8.28%, respectively, whereas BA increased them by 10.34%, 11.48%, and 9.96%. Subgroup and Random Forest analyses showed that the magnitude of these benefits was mainly associated with soil properties and field management. Lower nitrogen inputs favored the yield and PFPN responses to SR, whereas increasing biochar application rate strengthened yield and PFPN responses to BA. Water supply was an important predictor of WP under both amendments. These results demonstrate that SR and BA can simultaneously enhance wheat productivity and water and nitrogen use. Their agronomic benefits can be further improved by matching amendment practices with local soil fertility, water availability, and nutrient-management conditions.

Source: Frontiers in Plant Science

DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2026.1923733