Effect of bio-organic fertilizer derived from agricultural waste resources on soil properties and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield in semi-humid drought-prone regions

Water stress, improper fertilization practices, and agricultural waste pollution severely reduce soil fertility and limit agricultural sustainability on the Loess Plateau. Organic fertilizer application is an efficient method for improving soil water and nutrient availability and grain yield in semi-arid and arid areas. However, the impact of bio-organic fertilizer derived from agricultural waste on soil characteristics and wheat yield and the optimum bio-organic fertilizer substitution rate in semi-humid drought-prone areas remain unclear. A two-year field study was conducted to explore the effect of combined bio-organic and chemical fertilizer application on soil moisture, hydraulic properties, soil structure, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), grain yield, and water productivity (WP). Six different treatments were designed: no fertilization (CK), conventional chemical fertilization (CF), and bio-organic fertilizer treatments substituting 25% (OF25%), 50% (OF50%), 75% (OF75%), and 100% (OF100%) of the chemical N fertilizer. From the seedling to over wintering stage, the OF75% and OF100% treatments generally improved soil water storage (SWS) and soil water content (SWC) within the 0–100 cm soil layer compared to the CK and CF treatments across both growing seasons. Bio-organic fertilizer substitution significantly reduced soil bulk density by 4.0–5.6% and enhanced soil porosity by 4.2–5.9% in the 0–40 cm soil layer. Moreover, bio-organic fertilizer substitution significantly increased soil saturated hydraulic conductivity and water content, improved aggregate size distribution, and enhanced SOC and TN contents in both years. The OF75% treatment produced the highest aboveground biomass, yield components, grain yields, and WP, attributed to the improved soil physical environment and nutrient contents. Notably, the OF75% treatment increased the average wheat yield and WP by 21.1% and 24.9%, respectively, relative to the CF treatment across both growing seasons. The measured soil properties strongly correlated with wheat yield, yield components, and WP. Thus, the OF75% treatment is an appropriate and promising fertilization management strategy to alleviate water stress, improve soil properties, and promote crop production in semi-humid drought-prone regions.