Biochar as an organic soil conditioner has colossal application potential. Many recent studies revealed the influence of biochar on the soil during the crop growth period. However, few studies considered the effect of seasonal freeze-thaw on biochar’s improvement effect. Therefore, we conducted a field experiment to observe the impact of biochar on soil and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). We used four biochar application rates (0.33%, 0.66%, 1.00%, and 1.33% of soil mass fraction) and applied biochar in the cotton field before and after seasonal freeze-thaw, respectively. The results showed that applying biochar after freeze-thaw was more effective on soil water storage and soil temperature preservation during the cotton growth period. Moreover, applying biochar with 0.66% soil mass fraction after freeze-thaw improved the cotton biomass by 5.31~36.13%, leaf area index by −10.82~32.52%, and seed cotton yield by 3.88~21.98%. Based on the principal component analysis of cotton fiber quality, we found that 0.66% biochar application after freeze-thaw improved cotton fiber most significantly. In total, applying biochar at 0.66% soil mass fraction after freeze-thaw was the most optimal application mode for improving soil hydrothermal conditions, cotton growth, and fiber quality. Our study can provide a scientific reference for applying biochar in northern Xinjiang, China.

To address residual plastic film in fields in which mulched drip irrigation technology is applied, a sprayable degradable film (consisting of 1–5% clay, 5–20% humic acid, 0.5–5% crosslinker, and 0.5–5% auxiliary and water) can be used as a superior alternative to the plastic film applied in drip-irrigated fields. A field experiment was conducted in Xinjiang, Northwest China, to test the impacts of five different mulching treatments (SF1, sprayable degradable film applied at 1900 kg ha⁻¹; SF2, sprayable degradable film applied at 1900 kg ha⁻¹; SF3, sprayable degradable film applied at 2500 kg ha⁻¹; PF, plastic film; and NF, no film mulching) on cotton growth and development, yield, and water use efficiency. The results showed that, compared to the NF treatment, sprayable degradable film mulching (SF1, SF2, and SF3) positively impacted the soil hydrothermal environment, promoted root growth, significantly increased plant height and leaf area, and enhanced physiological characteristics, which, in turn, increased yield and water use efficiency by 11.79–15.00% and 21.88–30.21%, respectively. The maximum yield and water use efficiency were observed in the PF treatment, amounting to 5345 kg ha⁻¹ and 1.28 kg m⁻³, respectively, and they had no significant differences from those in the SF3 treatment. In general, applying moderate amounts of sprayable degradable film at a rate of 2500 kg ha⁻¹ represents an effective agronomic strategy for managing residual film contamination while maintaining stable cotton yields.

Agricultural greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise year after year, contributing significantly to global warming—an escalating crisis that demands urgent attention. In order to address this issue, it is crucial to investigate the relationship between greenhouse gas emissions from farmland and crop yield and quality through comprehensive regulation of the soil micro-environment by inputting water, fertilizer, gas, and heat. Therefore, we conducted field experiments in 2024 to examine the effects of different water, fertilizer, gas, and heat conditions on the yield, quality, greenhouse gas emissions, net global warming potential (NGWP), and greenhouse gas emission intensity (GHGI) of processing tomatoes in Xinjiang, China. This study established two irrigation water temperatures (T0: the local irrigation water temperature, approximately 10–15 °C; and T1: warming irrigation, 20–25 °C), two humic acid application rates (H0: 0% and H1: 0.5%, % as a percentage of total fertilizer application), and three aeration methods (A0: no aeration, A1: Venturi aerated, and A2: micro–nano aerated) during the growth period. The results showed that the number of fruits per hectare (NP), vitamin C (VC) content, titratable acidity and lycopene content were all significantly increased with increasing temperature, application of 0.5% humic acid, and aeration. Warming has little effect on GHGI, while humic acid application and aeration have significant and extremely significant effects on GHGI. The GHGI of humic acid treatment was 7.70% lower than that of H0, and the GHGI of micro–nano aeration and Venturi aeration treatment was 18.95% and 6.85% lower than that of A0, respectively. We employed a comprehensive evaluation model that focused on overall differences to assess yield, quality, economic benefits, and environmental impact (GHGI, global warming potential). The optimal strategy identified comprised 20–25 °C irrigation, micro–nano aeration, and 0.5% humic acid, which collectively achieved the highest scores in yield, quality, and emission reduction. This study establishes a theoretical and technical foundation for the sustainable and efficient production of tomatoes in the arid regions of Northern Xinjiang.

Precipitation data is a primary influencing factor in hydrological modeling. However, the sparse distribution of surface hydrological stations and the lack of available data constrain the development of watershed models and the management and allocation of water resources. This study employs statistical metrics to evaluate discrepancies between observed precipitation data and multi-source precipitation products (CMADS, ERA5, GPM IMERG, and TRMM). It identifies highly sensitive parameters in the SWAT model established using observed hydrological data and quantitatively assesses runoff simulation performance in the Manas River Basin using the coefficient of determination and Nash index. Results indicate the following: (1) CMADS and TRMM exhibit good overall trends within a year. For multi-year monthly precipitation averages, CMADS performs best at monthly and seasonal scales (CC > 0.7), while TRMM performs best at the annual scale (CC > 0.75). (2) At spatial scales, IMERG shows the poorest performance compared to observed stations, and ERA5 exhibits anomalous points. (3) TRMM achieved the best monthly runoff simulation performance in the Manas River Basin, with an average NSE value of 0.73, average R² of 0.80, and average KGE of 0.80. This study provides valuable scientific support for hydrological forecasting in data-scarce regions with complex topography and similar climate variability.