Synergistic optimization of mulching types and planting patterns: enhancing sustainable maize productivity via soil quality regulation in rainfed agricultural systems

• Planting patterns and mulch types regulate maize yield by influencing the soil microenvironment. • Straw mulching in the ridge-furrow system enhanced soil microbial activity and diversity, thereby improving carbon source utilization. • The ridge-furrow system with straw mulching represents the optimal planting pattern for achieving sustainable development of dryland agriculture. Optimized planting patterns and mulching practices are recognized as robust strategies for enhancing productivity in rainfed agriculture. However, the regulatory mechanisms of crop yield and soil microenvironment in dryland farming under different planting patterns combined with mulch types remain unclear due to a lack of long-term field experiments. In this study, a seven-years field experiment was conducted with two planting methods (R, ridge-furrow planting; C, conventional flat planting) and three mulch types (S, straw; B, biodegradable film; W, without mulch) to investigate the comprehensive effects of different treatments on the soil-crop system. Ridge-furrow planting pattern significantly increased soil water storage within the 0–200 cm profile by 2.02–9.63%, while straw mulching enhanced soil organic matter content. The RS (ridge-furrow planting combined with straw mulch) demonstrated higher soil microecological functioning as compared to CW (flat planting without mulch), microbial Shannon and Richness indices increased by 148.50–203.64, and 15.49–50.29%, respectively, while carbon source metabolic efficiency improved by 99.58–236.17%. In addition, the RS treatment achieved the highest yield. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) revealed that the integration of planting with mulching primarily enhanced crop yield indirectly by improving the soil quality index ( R 2 =0.98; path coefficient (pc)=0.70). Multi-objective decision analysis confirmed that RS represents the optimal strategy for concurrently maintaining soil health, improving resource use efficiency, and increasing crop yields. This study provides a novel strategy for optimizing spring maize cropping systems in the drylands of northern China and effectively promoting the sustainability of the soil-crop system.