Effect of Mulching and Fertilizer Application in Summer Fallow Period on Yield and Soil Water Use of Winter Wheat in Dryland

In order to improve water use efficiency of winter wheat in dryland,field trials was carried out to study the effect of different mulching and different fertilizer application in the summer fallow period on the soil water content,yield and water use efficiency(WUE) of winter wheat in dryland.The results showed that to apply fertilizer in the summer fallow period could significantly increase soil water storage at depth of 0~100 cm,100~200 cm before sowing,then could increase ear number,yield and WUE;regardless of applying fertilizer or not,both mulching of film and paper could increase soil water storage before sowing,especially at depth of 0~160 cm on condition of film mulching.Mulching could improve soil water storage at all growth stage,increase ear number and grain number per ear,and significant increase yield and WUE.The effects of film mulching was greater than that of paper mulching on holding water,increasing yield and WUE on condition of organic fertilizer.In a word,mulching and fertilization in the summer fallow period had the effects of improving soil water content,increasing yield and improving WUE.Therefore,film mulching and fertilization was recommended in the summer fallow period in dryland to reserve soil water moisture and provide a good condition for sowing in the autumn.