Energy input-output, water use efficiency and economics of winter wheat under gravel mulching in Northwest China

Gravel mulching has long been used to conserve water and enhance crop yield in the Loess Plateau of China. The climate change and water scarcity in the Loess Plateau of China may have an impact on the phenological changes of plants, thus affecting the growth process, biomass yield, energy input-output and economics of crops. However, focuses on the effects of gravel mulching on energy input-output and agricultural economics are less. Therefore,...