The highest yield of 9.7 t ha−1 was achieved under well-irrigated practice (WI).
Ridge-furrow with plastic film mulching practice (RFPFM) resulted in up to 74% of the yield of WI.
RFPFM increased water-use efficiency by more than 50% compared with CK and WI.
RFPFM increased the N fertilizer productivity and N uptake efficiency by 53% and 44% compared with CK