Soil function reshaping and crop yield driving mechanisms in saline-alkali soil under freezing saline water irrigation

Introduction Freshwater scarcity and soil salinization constrain agricultural production in arid and semi-arid regions. Freezing saline water irrigation (FSWI) offers a potential strategy for using saline water during the freeze-thaw period, but the optimal irrigation amount and its yield-driving mechanisms remain unclear. Methods Here, a three-year field experiment was conducted from 2022 to 2024 in Dalad Banner, Inner Mongolia, China, with four FSWI treatments of 0, 90, 180 and 270 mm. We eval