Mulching materials improve soil properties and maize growth in the Northwestern Loess Plateau, China

Soil Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong Li ◽  
Xianqing Hou ◽  
Zhikuan Jia ◽  
Qingfang Han
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiment ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Polymer Film ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Biodegradable Polymer ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Polyethylene Film ◽  
Use Efficiency

Water deficiency is the main limiting factor for crop growth in rain-fed areas. Mulching can affect the soil microclimate (soil water and temperature) and influence the grain yield of crops. A field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different mulching materials on soil temperature, soil water, crop growth and yield, and water use efficiency (WUE) in spring maize (Zea mays L.) between 2009 and 2011 in Heyang County, Shaanxi, China. The field experiment used five mulch treatments: polyethylene film (PM), biodegradable polymer film (BM), maize straw (MM), liquid membrane (LM), and an uncovered control (CK). In the early stage of maize growth, the topsoil temperatures (0–10cm) in the PM and BM treatments were significantly (P<0.05) higher than CK, whereas the soil temperature in the MM treatment was significantly (P<0.05) lower than CK. The PM, BM, and MM treatments also significantly increased soil water during the early growth stage. However, soil water (0–200cm) in the PM and BM treatments was lower than in the CK treatment during the middle and later growth stages. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in soil temperature or soil water in the LM treatment during the entire growing season. Maize yield increased significantly (P<0.05) in both the PM and BM treatments by 26.1% and 27.5% during the experimental period compared to the CK treatment. Water use efficiency also significantly increased in these two treatments by 25.1% and 27.6%. These results show that both PM and BM had significant effects on soil temperature, water conservation and maize yield, but no significant (P>0.05) differences were observed between these two treatments. Biodegradable polymer film is useful in reducing environmental pollution caused by polyethylene film and could potentially replace polyethylene film during agricultural production in the Northwestern Loess Plateau, China.

scholarly journals Biodegradable mulch controls weeds and increases water use efficiency in lettuce crops

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 330-334
Author(s):  
Agnaldo Roberto de J Freitas ◽  
Francisco Claudio L de Freitas ◽  
Caetano Marciano de Souza ◽  
Fabio T Delazari ◽  
Paulo Geraldo Berger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Soil Cover ◽  
Polyethylene Film ◽  
Water Volume ◽  
Recycled Paper ◽  
Biodegradable Mulch ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Weed Removal

ABSTRACT Vegetable cultivation requires high water use and weed control. Soil cover using recycled paper, can be an alternative to polyethylene film to reduce weed incidence, soil temperature and increase water use efficiency beyond reduces costs and environmental pollutions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of biodegradable mulch in weed management and water use efficiency (WUE) in lettuce crop. The treatments were composed of brown recycled paper (RP), black polyethylene film (PF) and soil without cover with weed removal (WR) and without weed removal (WW). RP and PF were efficient to control weeds. The soil temperature with RP was 8.2 and 2.1ºC lower than with PF and WR, respectively. The lettuce yield with RP was 14.5 and 28.3% higher than WR, and with PF, respectively. The water volume applied with RP was 26.5% lower, and WUE was 55.6% higher compared to WR. Soil cover with recycled paper controlled weeds, reduced soil temperature and water consumption and increased yield and water use efficiency in lettuce crop.

Effects of zinc fertilizer on maize yield and water-use efficiency under different soil water conditions

2020 ◽  
Vol 248 ◽  
pp. 107718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Zhang ◽  
Minfei Yan ◽  
Hongbing Li ◽  
Yuanyuan Ren ◽  
Kadambot HM Siddique ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Water Conditions ◽  
Zinc Fertilizer ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Soil Water Conditions

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

Soil Research ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 105 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Optimizing Grain Yield and Water Use Efficiency Based on the Relationship between Leaf Area Index and Evapotranspiration

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 313
Author(s):  
Guoqiang Zhang ◽  
Bo Ming ◽  
Dongping Shen ◽  
Ruizhi Xie ◽  
Peng Hou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Leaf Area Index ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Irrigation Level ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
The Relationship

Achieving optimal balance between maize yield and water use efficiency is an important challenge for irrigation maize production in arid areas. In this study, we conducted an experiment in Xinjiang China in 2016 and 2017 to quantify the response of maize yield and water use to plant density and irrigation schedules. The treatments included four irrigation levels: 360 (W1), 480 (W2), 600 (W3), and 720 mm (W4), and five plant densities: 7.5 (D1), 9.0 (D2), 10.5 (D3), 12.0 (D4), and 13.5 plants m−2 (D5). The results showed that increasing the plant density and the irrigation level could both significantly increase the leaf area index (LAI). However, LAI expansion significantly increased evapotranspiration (ETa) under irrigation. The combination of irrigation level 600 mm (W3) and plant density 12.0 plants m−2 (D4) produced the highest maize yield (21.0–21.2 t ha−1), ETa (784.1–797.8 mm), and water use efficiency (WUE) (2.64–2.70 kg m−3), with an LAI of 8.5–8.7 at the silking stage. The relationship between LAI and grain yield and evapotranspiration were quantified, and, based on this, the relationship between water use and maize productivity was analyzed. Moreover, the optimal LAI was established to determine the reasonable irrigation level and coordinate the relationship between the increase in grain yield and the decrease in water use efficiency.

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