Effects of mulching methods on soil water dynamics and corn yield of rain-fed cropland in the semiarid area of China

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1258.2011.00825

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims A new drought-resistance farming technology of double ridges and furrows mulched with plastic film and furrow planting (PMF) is widely applied on rain-fed agriculture in the middle and eastern part of Gansu Province, China, to increase crop yield and water use efficiency. However, its impacts on seasonal and annual soil water dynamics are not well understood. Our objectives were to (a) investigate seasonal and annual changes in soil water content, corn yield and water use efficiency of different mulching methods and (b) evaluate the ecological impact of PMF on rain-fed cropland in semi-arid areas.

Methods We studied three treatments: PMF, whole field surface sand mulching and flat planting (SM) and uncovered and flat planting (CK). Using oven-drying and neutron-probe methods, we observed soil water in the 0-200 cm layer from 2009 to 2010.

Important findings PMF could improve soil water storage in the 0-200 cm layer significantly before corn jointing and improve corn development in the early growth period. With corn growth, there was a significant difference in water consumption among the three treatments in the sequence PMF > SM > CK. Conversely, the sequence of change of soil water storage was CK > SM > PMF. Under the same precipitation, soil water restoration depth of PMF was deepest and CK was shallowest (in the 0-200 cm soil layer). The quantity and depth of soil water consumption increased with increases of corn planting years in PMF treatment, e.g., depth of water consumption deepened from 20-120 cm to 120-200 cm from 2009 to 2010. After two years of continuous cropping of corn, soil water content in the 40-120 cm layer was <9.0% in all three treatments, the soil water content of PMF treatment decreased to 7.9% (which is close to the wilting coefficient of 7.2%) and corn development depended on rainfall in the growing season. This indicates that continuous corn cropping with PMF would result in a dry soil layer in semiarid areas. Water consumption, corn yield and water use efficiency were highest in PMF treatment, but lowest in CK in both years. Therefore, PMF could improve corn yield significantly, but continuous cropping may result in significant reduction of soil water storage and was disadvantageous to sustainable development capacity of cropland.

Key words: corn, double ridges and furrows mulched with plastic film and furrow planting, rain-fed cropland, soil water content, yield

WANG Hong-Li, ZHANG Xu-Cheng, SONG Shang-You. Effects of mulching methods on soil water dynamics and corn yield of rain-fed cropland in the semiarid area of China[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2011, 35(8): 825-833.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3724/SP.J.1258.2011.00825

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2011/V35/I8/825

Figures/Tables 6

Fig. 1 Distribution of precipitation during the trail stages in test areas.

Fig. 2 Planting model of double ridges and furrows mulched with plastic film and furrow planting.

Fig. 3 Seasonal dynamics of soil water storage in 0-200 cm profile in different mulching methods. CK, uncovered and flat planting; PMF, double ridges and furrows mulched with plastic film and furrow planting; SM, whole field surface sand mulching and flat planting.

Fig. 4 Vertical dynamics of soil water content in 0-200 cm profile in different mulching methods. A1 and A2, B1 and B2, C1 and C2, D1 and D2 is soil water content of corn jointing, large bell, filling and maturity in 2009 and 2010, respectively. CK, uncovered and flat planting; PMF, double ridges and furrows mulched with plastic film and furrow planting; SM, whole field surface sand mulching and flat planting.

Table 1 Annual changes of soil water storage in 0-200 cm profile in different mulching methods (mm)

土层 Soil depth (cm)	2009						2010
	播前 Before sowing			收后 Harvest			播前 Before sowing			收后 Harvest
	PMF	SM	CK	PMF	SM	CK	PMF	SM	CK	PMF	SM	CK
0-20	32.9^a	32.9^a	32.9^a	33.8^b	35.9^a	32.4^b	28.2^a	27.6^b	25.5^c	26.9^a	27.5^a	23.1^b
20-40	35.9^a	35.9^a	35.9^a	25.7^c	30.0^a	27.3^b	33.1^a	30.6^b	30.1^b	22.9^a	20.3^b	21.3^b
40-60	39.1^a	39.1^a	39.1^a	28.3^b	33.5^a	32.7^a	31.0^a	24.2^b	25.9^b	18.6^b	18.9^b	19.5^a
60-80	39.6^a	39.6^a	39.6^a	28.4^c	31.3^b	34.8^a	25.0^a	21.8^b	25.0^a	18.2^b	18.0^b	20.1^a
80-100	36.3^a	36.3^a	36.3^a	26.6^c	30.7^b	33.5^a	28.0^a	24.8^c	27.2^b	18.2^c	19.7^b	22.4^a
100-120	36.1^a	36.1^a	36.1^a	32.7^b	33.3^b	34.7^a	24.8^b	24.4^b	27.6^a	20.5^b	21.2^b	25.1^a
120-140	42.7^a	42.7^a	42.7^a	39.8^b	39.7^b	40.1^a	34.7^c	39.9^a	38.9^b	28.1^c	34.1^b	37.1^a
140-160	45.5^a	45.5^a	45.5^a	43.1^b	44.4^a	44.6^a	35.1^b	33.9^c	37.7^a	29.6^c	33.0^b	36.6^a
160-180	52.1^a	52.1^a	52.1^a	50.5^a	48.5^c	49.1^b	39.6^b	40.6^a	39.8^b	34.4^c	41.1^a	39.5^b
180-200	52.0^a	52.0^a	52.0^a	48.6^a	48.9^a	48.8^a	41.0^a	39.9^b	39.8^b	35.1^b	42.5^a	42.5^a

Fig. 5 Water consumption, corn yield and water use efficiency (WUE) in different mulching methods (mean ± SE). CK, uncovered and flat planting; PMF, double ridges and furrows mulched with plastic film and furrow planting; SM, whole field surface sand mulching and flat planting. Different letter mean significant difference at p < 0.05 level.

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