This study aimed to explore the combined effects of micro-nano bubble water drip irrigation and different phosphorus (P) application rates (P0: 0 kg·hm⁻²; P1: 86 kg·hm⁻²; P2: 172 kg·hm⁻²; P3: 258 kg·hm⁻²) on maize growth, soil phosphorus dynamics, and phosphorus use efficiency to optimize irrigation and P fertilizer use efficiency. Through a field column experiment, the impact of micro-nano bubble water drip irrigation on maize plant height, stem diameter, leaf SPAD values, biomass, and yield was evaluated. The results showed that (1) irrigation methods significantly affected maize growth indicators such as plant height, stem diameter, and root dry weight. Micro-nano bubble water drip irrigation consistently promoted growth during all growth stages, especially under higher P application. (2) P application significantly increased the dry weight and P concentration in maize roots, stems, leaves, ears, and grains. Under micro-nano bubble water drip irrigation, the P concentrations in roots and grains increased by 59.28% to 92.59%. (3) Micro-nano bubble water drip irrigation significantly enhanced P uptake efficiency, partial factor productivity of P, and agronomic P use efficiency. Particularly under P1 and P2 treatments, the increases were 134.91% and 45.42%, respectively. Although the effect on apparent P recovery efficiency was relatively small, micro-nano bubble water drip irrigation still improved P utilization under moderate P levels. (4) Structural equation modeling indicated that P supply under micro-nano bubble water drip irrigation primarily regulated alkaline protease and alkaline phosphatase, enhancing soil P availability, which in turn promoted maize P accumulation and increased yield. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the combination of micro-nano bubble water drip irrigation and appropriate P application can effectively promote maize growth and nutrient utilization, providing a theoretical basis for optimizing irrigation and fertilization strategies in maize production.

The contradiction between increased irrigation demand and water scarcity in arid regions has become more acute for crops as a result of global climate change. This highlights the urgent need to improve crop water use efficiency. In this study, four irrigation volumes were established for drip-irrigated maize under plastic mulch: 2145 m³ ha⁻¹ (W1), 2685 m³ ha⁻¹ (W2), 3360 m³ ha⁻¹ (W3), and 4200 m³ ha⁻¹ (W4). The effects of these volumes on soil moisture, maize growth, water consumption, crop coefficients, and yield were analyzed. The results showed that increasing the irrigation volume led to a 2.86% to 8.71% increase in soil moisture content, a 24.56% to 47.41% increase in water consumption, and a 3.43% to 35% increase in the crop coefficient. Maize plant height increased by 16.34% to 42.38%, ear height by 16.85% to 51.01%, ear length by 2.43% to 28.13%, and yield by 16.96% to 39.24%. Additionally, soil temperature was reduced by 1.67% to 5.67%, and the maize bald tip length decreased by 6.62% to 48%. The irrigation water use efficiency improved by 6.57% to 28.89%. A comprehensive evaluation using the TOPSIS method demonstrated that 3360 m³ ha⁻¹ of irrigation water was an effective irrigation strategy for increasing maize yield under drip irrigation with plastic mulch in the southern border area. Compared to 4200 m³ ha⁻¹, this strategy saved 840 m³ ha⁻¹ of irrigation water, increased the irrigation water use efficiency by 23.96%, and resulted in only a 0.84% decrease in yield. The findings of this study provide a theoretical foundation for optimizing production benefits in the context of limited water resources.

The salt distribution characteristics in arid areas are directly related to the sustainable development of agriculture. We study the characteristics of spatial changes of soil water and salt in farmland under the full anniversary of different culvert pipe arrangements and optimize the salt drainage parameters of underground drains suitable for the local area so as to promote the management of saline and alkaline land in Xinjiang. A subsurface drainpipe salinity test was conducted in the Yanqi Basin (Bayingoleng Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China) to analyze changes in soil water and salt dynamics before and after irrigation-induced salt flushing, assessing the impact of drainpipe deployment parameters. It was found that at a 1.4 m depth of burial, the maximum desalination rates of soil in different soil layers from the subsurface drainpipes in 20, 30, and 40 m spacing plots were 78.28%, 50.91%, and 54.52%, respectively. At a 1.6 m depth of burial, the maximum desalination rates of soil in different soil layers from the subsurface drainpipes in 20, 30, and 40 m spacing plots were 70.94%, 61.27%, and 44.12%. Reasonable deployment of subsurface drainpipes can effectively reduce soil salinity, increase the desalination rate, and improve soil water salinity condition. This study reveals the influence of the laying parameters of subsurface drainpipes on soil water salinity distribution characteristics in arid zones, which provides theoretical support and practical guidance for the management of soil salinization in arid zones.

The salinization of cultivated soil in arid zones is a core obstacle restricting the sustainable development of agriculture, particularly in regions like Xinjiang, China, where extreme aridity and intensive irrigation practices exacerbate salt accumulation through evaporation–crystallization cycles. Conventional drip irrigation, while temporarily mitigating surface salinity, often leads to secondary salinization due to elevated water tables and inefficient leaching. Recent studies highlight the potential of integrating drip irrigation with subsurface drainage systems to address these challenges, yet the synergistic mechanisms governing ion transport dynamics, hydrochemical thresholds, and their interaction with crop physiology remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the effects of spring irrigation during the non-fertile period, soil hydrochemistry variations, and salt ion dynamics across three arid agroecosystems in Xinjiang. By coupling drip irrigation with optimized subsurface drainage configurations (burial depths: 1.4–1.6 m; lateral spacing: 20–40 m), we reveal a layer-domain differentiation in salt migration, Cl⁻ and Na⁺ were leached to 40–60 cm depths, while SO₄²⁻ formed a “stagnant salt layer” at 20–40 cm due to soil colloid adsorption. Post-irrigation hydrochemical shifts included a 40% decline in conductivity, emphasizing the risk of adsorbed ion retention. Subsurface drainage systems suppressed capillary-driven salinity resurgence, maintaining salinity at 8–12 g·kg⁻¹ in root zones during critical growth stages. This study establishes a “surface suppression–middle blocking–deep leaching” three-dimensional salinity control model, providing actionable insights for mitigating secondary salinization in arid agroecosystems.