Effects of different plastic film mulching modes on soil moisture, temperature and yield of dryland maize.

Objective The objective of this experiment was to study the effects of different plastic film mulching modes on the change pattern of the soil moisture and temperature,high-efficient utilization of precipitation resource and yield of dryland maize.Method Six plastic film mulching modes were compared to determine the change of topsoil temperature in day and night,the soil moisture dynamics in 0-2m depths at growth stages of spring maize,grain yield of maize and water use efficiency.ResultThe results showed that ridge film mulching and furrow seeding,including full plastic film mulching on double ridges and planting in catchment furrows (FFDRF) and half plastic film mulching on double ridges and planting in catchment furrows (HFDRF),prevented topsoil temperature excessive rise at daytime and excessive drop at nighttime at seedling stage,mean temperature of topsoil was lower than other treatments at filling stage.The average topsoil temperature of ridge film mulching and furrow seeding increased by 2.4℃ in comparison with non-mulching in whole growth period.It promoted the transform of precipitation less than 5mm each time into available soil water resources,and improved rainfall use efficiency.In a normal precipitation year,the highest yield and water use efficiency of FFDRF respectively increased by 91% and 85% compared with non-film cover,in the dry year,the highest yield and water use efficiency of HFDRF respectively increased by 34% and 33% compared with non-film cover.Conclusion Ridge film mulching and furrow seeding could improve soil moisture and temperature,and increase water use efficiency.In a normal precipitation year,the yield-increasing of FFDRF was the best,and in the dry year,HFDRF was the best.They were effective ways to further exploit rainfall productive potential and create high-yielding fields in dry farming areas.