Effect of soil water content changes caused by ridge-furrow plastic film mulching on the root distribution and water use pattern of spring maize in the Loess Plateau

Abstract To compare the soil water balance, yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of spring maize under different mulching types in the Loess Plateau, a 7-year field experiment was conducted in the Changwu region of the Loess Plateau. Three treatments were used in this experiment: straw mulch (SM), plastic film mulch (PM) and conventional covering without mulch (CK). Results show that the soil water change of dryland spring maize was as deep as 300 cm depth and hence 300 cm is recommended as the minimum depth when measure the soil water in this region. Water use (ET) did not differ significantly among the treatments. However, grain yield was significantly higher in PM compared with CK. WUE was significantly higher in PM than in CK for most years of the experiment. Although ET tended to be higher in PM than in the other treatments (without significance), the evaporation of water in the fallow period also decreased. Thus, PM is sustainable with respect to soil water balance. The 7-year experiment and the supplemental experiment thus confirmed that straw mulching at the seedling stage may lead to yield reduction and this effect can be mitigated by delaying the straw application to three-leaf stage.

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Effects of rainfall harvesting and mulching technologies on soil water, temperature, and maize yield in Loess Plateau region of China

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr11331 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 105 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Rong Li ◽

Xianqing Hou ◽

Zhikuan Jia ◽

Qingfang Han ◽

Baoping Yang

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Content ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Water Use ◽

Loess Plateau ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Plastic Film ◽

Net Income ◽

Use Efficiency

Precipitation is the major factor limiting crop growth in the semi-arid Loess Plateau region of China. Ridge-and-furrow rainfall harvesting systems (RFRHS) with mulches are used to increase water availability to crops, thereby improving and stabilising agricultural production in the semi-arid region of China. We conducted a field experiment from 2007 to 2010 in the Weibei Highlands of China, to determine the influence of RFRHS with different mulching patterns on soil water content, temperature, water-use efficiency, and maize yield (Zea mays L.). Ridges were covered with standard plastic film in all RFRHS treatments, while different furrow treatments were mulched with standard plastic film (PP), biodegradable film (PB), maize straw (PS), or liquid film (PL), or left uncovered (P). A conventional flat treatment without mulching was used as the control. In the early stage of maize growth, the topsoil temperature (5–20 cm) under PP and PB was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than under the control, whereas the soil temperature under PS was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than under the control. Treatments PP, PB, and PS also significantly improved soil water content during early growth stages. There was no significant difference in soil water content between PS and the control during middle and late growth stages. However, the soil water content in the deep soil layers with PP and PB was less than that of the control. Soil temperature and soil water content of PL and P were slightly higher than the control during the whole growing season. Higher maize yield and water-use efficiency was found with PP, PB, and PS. Compared with the control, the 4-year average maize yield with PP, PB, and PS was significantly (P < 0.05) increased, by 35, 35, and 34%, while the average water-use efficiency increased by 30, 31, and 29%, respectively. Net income was highest with PS, followed by PB, where the 4-year average net income increased by 2779 and 2752 Chinese yuan (CNY) ha–1, respectively, compared with the control. Soil water and temperature conditions were improved, while the maize yield and net income were increased, when ridges were covered with standard plastic film and the furrows were mulched with either biodegradable film or straw. Therefore, these two treatments are considered most efficient for maize production in the drought-prone, semi-humid region of the Loess Plateau, China.

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Effects of plastic film mulching on soil water use efficiency and wheat yield in the Loess Plateau of China

Arid Land Research and Management ◽

10.1080/15324982.2020.1738593 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 405-418

Author(s):

Yajun Yang ◽

Wei Du ◽

Ziying Cui ◽

Shuang Lei ◽

Tong Lei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Soil Water ◽

Water Use ◽

Loess Plateau ◽

Wheat Yield ◽

Plastic Film ◽

The Loess Plateau ◽

Plastic Film Mulching ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Film Mulching

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Erratum: Spring maize yield, soil water use and water use efficiency under plastic film and straw mulches in the Loess Plateau

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/srep42455 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Wen Lin ◽

Wenzhao Liu ◽

Qingwu Xue

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Soil Water ◽

Water Use ◽

Loess Plateau ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Plastic Film ◽

The Loess Plateau ◽

Spring Maize ◽

Use Efficiency

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Evapotranspiration Measurement and Irrigation Scheduling for Several Tropical Fruit Crops Using the EnviroScan System

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.549f ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 549f-550

Author(s):

Mongi Zekri ◽

Bruce Schaffer ◽

Stephen K. O'Hair ◽

Roberto Nunez-Elisea ◽

Jonathan H. Crane

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Water Use ◽

National Parks ◽

Quantitative Information ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Management Tool ◽

Fruit Crops ◽

Tropical Fruit

In southern Florida, most tropical fruit crops between Biscayne and Everglades National Parks are irrigated at rates and frequencies based on experience and observations of tree growth and fruit yield rather than on reliable quantitative information of actual water use. This approach suggests that irrigation rates may be excessive and could lead to leaching of agricultural chemicals into the groundwater in this environmentally sensitive area. Therefore, a study is being conducted to increase water use efficiency and optimize irrigation by accurately scheduling irrigation using a very effective management tool (EnviroScan, Sentek Environmental Innovations, Pty., Kent, Australia) that continuously monitors soil water content with highly accurate capacitance multi-sensor probes installed at several depths within the soil profile. The system measures crop water use by monitoring soil water depletion rates and allows the maintenance of soil water content within the optimum range (below field capacity and well above the onset of plant water stress). The study is being conducted in growers' orchards with three tropical fruit crops (avocado, carambola, and `Tahiti' lime) to facilitate rapid adoption and utilization of research results.

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Heat Balance and Soil Water Content for Bare Soil Surfaces in the Loess Plateau, China

Journal of Agricultural Meteorology ◽

10.2480/agrmet.1013 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 60 (5) ◽

pp. 1013-1016

Author(s):

Reiji KIMURA ◽

Yuanbo LIU ◽

Naru TAKAYAMA ◽

Makio KAMICHIKA ◽

Nobuhiro MATSUOKA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Loess Plateau ◽

Heat Balance ◽

Bare Soil ◽

The Loess Plateau

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Environmentally Friendly Soil Water Conservation Techniques

International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology - Regular Issue ◽

10.35940/ijeat.a2045.109119 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 5513-5520

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Water Content ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Scarcity ◽

Water Retention ◽

Direct Method ◽

Environmentally Friendly ◽

Cultivated Plants

The conservation of water resources through their optimal use is a compulsory for countries with water shortages in the arid and semi-arid regions, and it should be in an environmentally friendly manner to avoid the serious consequences of the use of environmentally harmful substances, the implications of which are currently evident from climate change, pollution of water bodies, soils, etc. Since Egypt is one of those countries suffering from water scarcity and uses about 82.5 percent of its water consumption in agriculture, according to data of the Ministry of Irrigation in 2010, so this research is focusing on the use of new methods to increase the efficiency of irrigation water, to achieve high productivity of agricultural crops with less water use that will certainly help to alleviate or solve the water scarcity issue. The study used a physical based model, to simulate the methods used to increase sand soil properties to ensure larger water retention index. Within this work, soil have been sampled from different areas, to simulate the behavior of arid lands, under different water retention techniques. Soil was exposed to different techniques, as it was mixed with soil additives in different quantities and different types. Physical barriers of cohesive soil and polyethylene sheets were used in addition to studying the effect of mulch on water storage capacity in noncohesive soil. Water retention have been measured using the direct method of determination soil water content by oven drying and the volumetric water content (𝞱v ) with time graphs have been plotted in groups, as well as the cultivated plants have been monitored as to measure the influence on plants growing and irrigation efficiency. And the experiment showed that the use of rice straw (RS) and wheat straw (WS) in the powder condition have a significant effect in increasing in the soil water content and even to the plant growth, the WS obtained 𝞱v values approaching the loam soil at times and slightly less in the case of RS, when the percentage of RC and WS was 30% to the sandy soil volume/volume (v/v). Also the use of mulch of RS showed a noticeable increase in 𝞱v and significant improvement of plant growth to that without mulch. These proven technologies can be used in sandy land targeted for reclamation to reduce water use in agriculture.

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