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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2013, Vol. 12 Issue (10): 1712-1721    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60342-1
Crop Genetics · Breeding · Germplasm Resources Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Application of Mulching Materials of Rainfall Harvesting System for Improving Soil Water and Corn Growth in Northwest of China
 HAN Juan, JIA Zhi-kuan, HAN Qing-fang , ZHANG Jie
Chinese Institute of Water-Saving Agriculture, Northwest A&F University/Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-Ecology and Tillage Science in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, P.R.China
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摘要  The ridge and furrow rainfall harvesting (RFRH) system is used for dryland crop production in northwest of China. To determine the effects of RFRH using different mulching materials on corn growth and water use efficiency (WUE), a field experiment was conducted during 2008-2010 at the Heyang Dryland Experimental Station, China. Four treatments were used in the study. Furrows received uncovered mulching in all RFRH treatments whereas ridges were mulched with plastic film (PF), biodegradable film (BF) or liquid film (LF). A conventional flat field without mulching was used as the control (CK). The results indicated that the average soil water storage at depths of 0-200 cm were 8.2 and 7.3%, respectively higher with PF and BF than with CK. However, LF improved soil water storage during the early growth stage of the crop. Compared with CK, the corn yields with PF and BF were increased by 20.4 and 19.4%, respectively, and WUE with each treatment increased by 23.3 and 21.7%, respectively. There were no significant differences in corn yield or WUE with the PF and BF treatments. The net income was the highest with PF, followed by BF, and the 3-yr average net incomes with these treatments were increased by 2 559 and 2 430 CNY ha-1, respectively, compared with CK. BF and PF had similar effects in enhancing the soil water content, crop yield and net income. Therefore, it can be concluded that biodegradable film may be a sustainable ecological alternative to plastic film for use in the RFRH system in northwest of China.

Abstract  The ridge and furrow rainfall harvesting (RFRH) system is used for dryland crop production in northwest of China. To determine the effects of RFRH using different mulching materials on corn growth and water use efficiency (WUE), a field experiment was conducted during 2008-2010 at the Heyang Dryland Experimental Station, China. Four treatments were used in the study. Furrows received uncovered mulching in all RFRH treatments whereas ridges were mulched with plastic film (PF), biodegradable film (BF) or liquid film (LF). A conventional flat field without mulching was used as the control (CK). The results indicated that the average soil water storage at depths of 0-200 cm were 8.2 and 7.3%, respectively higher with PF and BF than with CK. However, LF improved soil water storage during the early growth stage of the crop. Compared with CK, the corn yields with PF and BF were increased by 20.4 and 19.4%, respectively, and WUE with each treatment increased by 23.3 and 21.7%, respectively. There were no significant differences in corn yield or WUE with the PF and BF treatments. The net income was the highest with PF, followed by BF, and the 3-yr average net incomes with these treatments were increased by 2 559 and 2 430 CNY ha-1, respectively, compared with CK. BF and PF had similar effects in enhancing the soil water content, crop yield and net income. Therefore, it can be concluded that biodegradable film may be a sustainable ecological alternative to plastic film for use in the RFRH system in northwest of China.
Keywords:  corn growth       mulching materials       ridge and furrow rainfall harvesting       soil water       spring corn  
Received: 19 February 2013   Accepted:
Fund: 

This study was supported by the Key Technologies R&D Program of China during the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006BAD29B03), the 111 Project (B12007) and the Shaanxi Technology Project, China (2010K02-08-2).

Corresponding Authors:  Correspondence JIA Zhi-kuan, Tel: +86-29-87080168, E-mail: zhikuan@tom.com     E-mail:  zhikuan@tom.com

Cite this article: 

HAN Juan, JIA Zhi-kuan, HAN Qing-fang , ZHANG Jie. 2013. Application of Mulching Materials of Rainfall Harvesting System for Improving Soil Water and Corn Growth in Northwest of China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 12(10): 1712-1721.

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