Effects of Different Mulching Modes on Soil Moisture,Grain Yield and Water Use Efficiency in a Corn Field

To understand the mechanisms of soil moisture conservation and crop yield increasing by soil surface mulching deeply,soil water dynamic,crop yield formation and water use efficiency in a corn field under straw mulching and plastic film mulching were studied by a field experiment conducted in the dryland of the southern Loess Plateau.In the years of the experiment,compared with the contrast without mulching,soil water storage under straw mulching treatment in corn growth stage increased by 5.2%~8.4%(P0.05) and grain yield and water use efficiency under straw mulching treatment decreased by 7.8% and 3.5%,respectively.The difference of soil water storage induced by plastic film mulching was not significant,but plastic film mulching remarkably raised yield formation index and increased grain yield and water use efficiency by 14.1% and 10.6% over the contrast(P0.05),respectively.This suggests that the soil moisture increment by the inhibition of plastic film mulching on soil surface evaporation was absorbed by crop roots,more largely and more effectively.In terms of yield formation and water use efficiency,the adoption of plastic film mulching in dry-farming corn fields of the region may induce better effects of soil moisture conservation and crop yield increasing