Land degradation is one of the world’s most pressing environmental problems and a constraint to agricultural production. Application of diverse organic amendments provides a management strategy to compensate for soil organic carbon depletion and reduce land degradation. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different organic amendments on soil properties, crop growth and water-fertilizer productivity under arid conditions. Soil in a maize field located in the upper reaches of Yellow River was amended with sheep manure compost and maize stover respectively. Five different application rates (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 t ha^-1) were carried out for the compost, and maize stover (6 t ha^-1) combined with two different decomposing agents were implemented. Main component of the decomposing agent was Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum, respectively. Soil aggregation and physical-chemical properties were generally improved with the incorporation of compost and maize stover. The addition of compost and maize stover reduced the bulk density and increased the field capacity, soil organic matter, aggregate stability and the saturated hydraulic conductivity. The emergence rate and maize growth properties improved in the organic materials amended plots. However, soil properties and crop growth non-monotonically varied with application rate of compost. The addition of different decomposing agents in maize stover amended plots did not show significant impact on most soil properties, but improved soil nutrient status, crop growth and yield with different levels compared with maize stover alone. Comprehensive analysis of yield, crop water productivity and partial factor productivity for nitrogen, incorporation of compost at a rate of 5–6 t ha^-1 or 6 t ha^-1 maize stover combined with Bacillus subtilis was recommended as a proper strategy in loamy soil under arid conditions.

土地退化是世界上最紧迫的环境问题之一，也是农业生产的制约因素。多种有机改良剂的应用提供了一种管理策略，以补偿土壤有机碳消耗并减少土地退化。本研究的目的是调查干旱条件下不同有机改良剂对土壤性质、作物生长和水肥生产力的影响。黄河上游玉米田土壤分别用羊粪堆肥和玉米秸秆改良。对堆肥和玉米秸秆（6 t ^{ha -1}) 结合了两种不同的分解剂。分解剂的主要成分分别为枯草芽孢杆菌和哈茨木霉。随着堆肥和玉米秸秆的掺入，土壤团聚和理化性质普遍得到改善。堆肥和玉米秸秆的添加降低了容重，增加了田间持水量，土壤有机质，集料稳定性和饱和导水率。有机材料改良地块的出苗率和玉米生长特性得到改善。然而，土壤性质和作物生长随堆肥施用量的变化呈非单调变化。在玉米秸秆改良地块中添加不同的分解剂对大部分土壤性质没有显着影响，但与单独使用玉米秸秆相比，不同程度地改善了土壤养分状况、作物生长和产量。综合分析氮的产量、作物水分生产力和部分因素生产力，以 5-6 t ha ^-1或 6 t ha ^-1玉米秸秆与枯草芽孢杆菌的比例掺入堆肥被推荐为干旱条件下肥沃土壤中的适当策略。