Straw with added ammonia can help maize plants grow better and use water more efficiently in dry areas like the Loess Plateau in China. By adding this special straw to the soil, maize plants had higher grain yields and used water more effectively. The plants also had more leaves, better canopy cover, and more aboveground biomass. This means that using ammoniated straw can be a good way to improve maize growth and yield in regions with limited water.