Effects of Tillage and Mulch Methods on Soil Moisture inWheat Fields of Loess Plateau, China

Effects of different methods of tillage and mulch on soil moisture at fallow stage were studied in rainy andrain-deficient years. Soil moisture content per 20 cm was measured vertically within 0-300 cm soil layers in anexperiment with five treatments: deep-loosening tillage (DLT), traditional tillage (TT), plastic mulch (PM),straw mulch (SM) and plastic plus straw mulch (PSM). All mulch treatments were under no tillage conditions.Total storage of precipitation in soil from 0 to 300 cm was determined before sowing. Results showed thatthe new methods of tillage and mulch were the basic ways to improve water condition in dryland wheat fields.In a rainy year, PM with no tillage played a significant role in storing and conserving precipitation, while ina rain-deficient year, the role was not significant. Due to evaporation, DLT did not promote the storage ofsoil moisture. SM was the best way to store and conserve soil moisture. In SM treatment the wheat yieldsincreased by more than 20%.