EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT MULCHING MODELS ON SOIL TEMPERATURE, MOISTURE, AND YIELD OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) IN HILLY RED SOIL UPLAND IN SOUTHERN CHINA

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT MULCHING MODELS ON SOIL TEMPERATURE, MOISTURE, AND YIELD OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) IN HILLY RED SOIL UPLAND IN SOUTHERN CHINA"

Transcription

1 NARDI FUNDULEA, ROMANIA ROMANIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, NO. 33, 16 Print ISSN ; Online ISSN EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT MULCHING MODELS ON SOIL TEMPERATURE, MOISTURE, AND YIELD OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) IN HILLY RED SOIL UPLAND IN SOUTHERN CHINA Himing Tng, Xioping Xio *, Wengung Tng, Lijun Guo, Ke Wng Hunn Soil nd Fertilizer Institute, 7 # Yund Rod, Furong Distrit, Chngsh , Chin *Corresponding uthor. E-mil: hntfsxxping@163.om ABSTRACT In the rin-fed res of southern Chin, mize (Ze mys L.) is min field rop, s it is well dpted to high tempertures nd right sunshine. However, low nd vrile rinfll nd high evpotrnspirtion rtes re ommon in wter limited environments during the growing seson, nd often mismthed rinfll events with the ritil growth stges, mking yield unstle. In this study, the field experiments were onduted from 12 to 13 in the Hurong County of Chin to determine the effets of ultivtion with flt mulhing on soil temperture, moisture, nd yield of mize. Different flt tretments were mulhed with plsti film (PE film) (PM), rie strw (RM), or left unovered (CK). Compred with CK, the soil wter storge nd soil temperture in flt were signifintly higher with the PM tretment during the whole growth stge of mize, evpotrnspirtion ws signifintly higher t dys fter plnting (DAP), ut signifintly lower t DAP. The RM tretment hd the seond highest soil wter storge nd the lowest temperture, while evpotrnspirtion ws signifintly lower t 0-15 DAP ut signifintly higher t DAP, when ompred with CK. Compred with the ontrol, the two yer men iomss yields with PM nd RM were signifintly inresed y 13.76% nd 3.58%, respetively. The two-yer men mize yields with PM nd RM were signifintly inresed y 26.% nd 9.50%, respetively, while wter use effiieny inresed y 21.58% nd 7.%, ompred with CK. Soil moisture nd temperture onditions were improved, while the mize yield ws inresed when flt were overed with plsti film. Therefore, this tretment my e onsidered the most effiient for mize prodution in the hilly red soil uplnd of southern Chin. Key words: plsti film mulhing; rie strw mulhing; soil temperture; soil moisture; mize yield. T INTRODUCTION he hilly red soil uplnd of southern Chin is hrterized y sutropil monsoonl humid limte, where limited wter resoures re ville for griulture irrigtion. Muh of the lnd in this region is hilly nd rinfed. Preipittion is the mjor wter resoure for griulture prodution; however, wter srity nd depletion of wter resoures in rinfed regions of southern Chin re the min onstrints to rop prodution, leding to vrile rop prodution, nd low rop wter use (Wng et l., 11). The sesonl drought with hevy winds often ours in etween July nd Septemer. Therefore, sving wter nd inresing wter use effiieny ( WUE) to hieve high yields re key gols in these res. Mize ( Ze mys L.) is the min rop grown in the spring seson, espeilly in the Hunn provines, where rinfed mize oupies more thn 80% of the totl mize prodution res. Poor germintion nd slow growth in ool spring wether re mjor limiting ftors to erly prodution for premium mrket pries. Over the yers, some innovtive frmers hve pioneered plnting ptterns to mke full use of rinwter, whih hs shown gret potentil to redue the impt of the severe wter limittions nd inrese WUE in rinfed griulturl regions (Zhou et l., 09). Plnts growing under the plsti mulh re more uniform sine they re proteted ginst old temperture nd dmge used y insets, irds nd rodents. Now it is widely used in rop prodution in rid, semirid nd su-humid res, espeilly where irrigtion is not ville nd Reeived 10 April 15; epted 7 Deemer 15; First Online: Mrh, 16. DII RAR 16-58

2 170 Numer 33/16 ROMANIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH tempertures is low in spring (Zhng et l., 05). Use of rop residue mulh hs profound enefiil effets on soil properties, mirolimtes, nd gronomi produtivity (Zhou et l., 09). Applitions of mulhing for soil temperture, moisture, nd yield during the spring seson hs een reommended s potentil reserhle options in the hilly red soil uplnd of southern Chin. However, to dte very few field experiments hve een onduted on plsti film nd rie-strw (Oryz stiv L.) mulhing. Therefore, the ojetives of the present study were to: (1) investigte the effets of different flt mulhing ultivtion on soil temperture, wter use, nd yield of mize, to provide sientifi sis for improved rinwter hrvesting ultivtion; (2) single out n optimum flt mulhing wter hrvesting pttern for mize ultivtion in the hilly red soil uplnd of southern Chin. MATERIAL AND METHODS Site desription The experiments were onduted etween 12 nd 13 t the Hurong County experimentl sttion of the Institute of Soil nd Fertilizer Reserh, Hunn Ademy of Agriulturl Siene, Chin (29 45 N, E). The men nnul temperture ws 17.6 C. The totl nnul sunshine ws h nd the frost-free period ws 262 dys. The nnul men preipittion ws mm, with 50% flling etween April nd June, nd with % etween July nd Septemer. Rinfll during the experimentl period ws mesured using n utomti wether sttion (WS -STD1, Englnd) t the experimentl site. The dily preipittion nd dily men temperture dt in 12 nd 13 during the mize-growing seson re presented in Figure 1. The totl preipittion for 12, nd 13 ws , nd mm, wile the preipittion during the mizegrowing seson ws 599.1, nd mm, respetively. The soil type is Quternry red soil derived from Quternry red ly (ly lom). The hrteristis of the surfe soil (0- m) re s follows: ph 5.70, soil orgni mtter (SOM) 2.43 g kg -1, totl nitrogen 1.36 g kg -1, ville N 85.1 mg kg -1, totl phosphorous 0.78 g kg -1, ville P 6.10 mg kg -1, totl potssium 12.7 g kg -1, nd ville potssium 53.2 mg kg -1. All these vlues were tested efore the experiment ws onduted in 12. Preipittion (mm) ) Preipittion Dily men temperture Preipittion Dily men temperture Dte (month-dy) Dily men temperture ( ) Preipittion (mm) Dte (month-dy) Figure 1. Dily preipittion nd dily men temperture t the study site during the experimentl period ) Dily men temperture ( ) Experimentl design nd field mngement The experiment hd three tretments: plsti film mulhing on flt plot (PM), rie strw mulhing on flt plot (RM), or left unovered (CK). A four row of mize ws plnted in flt plot (Figure 2). Eh tretment hd three replites nd eh plot ws 9.0 m long nd 2.4 m wide, with ompletely rndomised rrngement. Fifteen dys efore plnting, flt plot were nked up with soil nd se fertilizer ontining kg N h -1, kg P 2 O 5 h -1, kg K 2 O h -1, ws spred evenly over the flt nd ploughed into the soil lyer. Mulhing ws then pplied to the soil

3 171 HAIMING TANG ET AL.: EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT MULCHING MODELS ON SOIL TEMPERATURE, MOISTURE, AND YIELD OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) IN HILLY RED SOIL UPLAND IN SOUTHERN CHINA surfe. The soil surfe of the PM were overed with plsti film (LLDPE/LDPE lend resin, the expeted life spn is 1-2 yer; 250 m wide nd mm thik, otined from the Nong wngd Plsti Plnt, Jingsu, Chin), while the soil of the RM plots were overed with rie strw, respetively. Rie strw ws ut into 15 m long segments nd uniformly pplied t rte of 7500 kg h -1 in soil surfe with the RM tretment. Mize (Xing kngyu 1) ws sown t rte of 49, 500 plnts h -1 on 25 Mrh 12, nd 21 Mrh 13 using hole-sowing (3 m in dimeter) mhine. An dditionl 25.0 kg h 1 N nd 50.0 kg h -1 N ws pplied s top dressing in middle April nd erly My. Crops in the plots were hrvested on 14 July 12, nd 10 July 13. The soil onfigurtion nd mulhes were retined in the sme lotion fter the urrent rop ws hrvested nd reused in the following yer. Weeds were ontrolled mnully s required, during eh rop growth seson. Figure 2 A shemti digrm of the field lyout. Smpling nd mesurement Soil temperture A set of merur-in-lss geothermometers with ent stems (Hongxing Therml Instruments, Wuqing County, Heei Provine, Chin) were pled in the middle of flt plot with every tretment plot, t soil depths of 5, 10, 15,, nd 25 m. In 12 nd 13, the soil temperture ws reorded t 9:00-10:00 h t the seedling stge (15 dys fter plnting, DAP), the jointing stge ( DAP), the tsseling stge (75 DAP), nd the mturity stge (105 DAP) during the mize growth stges. The men dily soil temperture ws lulted s the men of the three redings. Soil moisture Soil moisture ws mesured grvimetrilly (g g -1 ) to depth of 0- m intervls t the time of plnting (0 DAP), the seedling stge (15 DAP), the jointing stge ( DAP), the tsseling stge (75 DAP), nd the mturity stge (105 DAP), in Soil smples were olleted rndomly using soil drill t three lotions in the middle of the flt plot for eh tretment. Soil moisture (soil ores, evpotrnspirtion) nlysis ws sed on the methods of Chinese Ademy of Sienes Nnjing Soil Reserh Institute, (1983). The wter use effiieny ( WUE) ws lulted sed on the methods of Hussin nd Al-Jloud (1995). Crop iomss umultion, yield nd the yield omponents The oveground nd underground iomss ws mesured t the seedling stge (15 DAP), the jointing stge ( DAP), the tsseling stge (75 DAP), nd the mturity stge (105 DAP) throughout the growing seson in Mize iomss umultion, yield nd the yield omponents ws lulted sed on the methods of Li et l. (01). Sttistil nlysis The SAS pkge (SAS Institute In., North Crolin, USA) ws used to ondut nlysis of vrine tests (ANOVA). Lest signifint differenes (LSD) were used to detet differenes etween the mens of tretments. Differenes were onsidered sttistilly signifint when p 0.05 (MCullough nd Wilson, 02). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Rinfll during the experimentl period The rinfll during the growing seson for mize ( Ze mys L.) (Mrh July) ws mm in 12 nd mm in 13 (Figure 1). Soil temperture The temporl vritions in soil temperture with ll the tretments during re shown in Figure 3. The soil temperture ws

4 172 Numer 33/16 ROMANIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH onsistently highest with PM ( C in 12, C in 13) nd lowest with RM ( C in 12, C in 13) in eh soil lyer. PM produed signifintly higher soil tempertures thn CK from plnting to hrvesting, t 5-25 m soil depths. The soil temperture t 5-25 m depths ws signifintly lower with RM thn CK, up to ( DAP). After DAP, there were no differenes in soil temperture etween RM nd CK. Soil temperture ( ) PM RM CK 15 DAP DAP 75 DAP 105 DAP 15 DAP DAP 75 DAP 105 DAP 15 DAP DAP 75 DAP 105 DAP 15 DAP DAP 75 DAP 105 DAP 15 DAP DAP 75 DAP 105 DAP 5 m 10 m 15 m m Growing seson 25 m Soil temperture ( ) PM RM CK 15 DAP DAP 75 DAP 105 DAP 15 DAP DAP 75 DAP 105 DAP 15 DAP DAP 75 DAP 105 DAP 15 DAP DAP 75 DAP 105 DAP 15 DAP DAP 75 DAP 105 DAP 5 m 10 m 15 m m 25 m Growing seson PM plsti film mulhing on flt plot; RM rie strw mulhing on flt plot; CK left unovered. *LSD, lest signifint differene t 5% level; NS, not signifint. Figure 3. Effets of different tretments on soil temperture t different soil depths nd times in 12 nd 13 We found tht the use of vrious mulhing mterils in flt hd different effets on soil temperture, whih greed with the findings of Surhmniyn nd Zhou (08) where it ws shown tht soil temperture were highest under trnsprent film mulh, followed y degrdle heriidl film, nd lk polyethylene film mulhes. In ontrst, the soil temperture with strw mulh ws lower thn non-mulhed ontrol in some growth stges of winter rpeseed ( Brssi npus L.). The PM tretment inresed the soil temperture, generting the highest soil tempertures oserved in 12 nd 13. This ws euse tht polyethylene film mulh rised the soil temperture with the suppression of ltent het loss through evportion (Surhmniyn nd Zhou, 08). The temporl vritions in soil temperture with RM were similr to CK nd the temperture vlues were lwys slightly lower with RM ompred with CK, whih ws proly due to the lower light trnsmission of strw mulhing (Lü et l., 08). Severl investigtors reported tht the soil therml regime under strw mulhing ws different from tht of re soil, with soil tempertures often eing lower under mulhed surfes thn in non mulhed soils (Srkr et l., 07). Our field experiment demonstrted tht soil tempertures were redued under RM. This ws euse strw overing of the soil surfe hs higher ledo nd lower therml ondutivity thn re soil, whih onsequently redues the solr energy rehing the soil therey reduing the mgnitude of temperture inreses in wrm onditions (Horton et l., 1996).

5 173 HAIMING TANG ET AL.: EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT MULCHING MODELS ON SOIL TEMPERATURE, MOISTURE, AND YIELD OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) IN HILLY RED SOIL UPLAND IN SOUTHERN CHINA Soil wter ontent Soil wter storge Norml vritions in the rinfll, temperture, soil evportion, nd rop wter onsumption led to ovious differenes in soil wter storge (0-0 m) with the PM nd RM tretments nd the CK t vrious mize growth stges (Figure 4). PM nd RM tretments hd the highest soil wter storge t min growth stges of mize. Compred with CK, the verged soil wter storge (0-0 m) over the 2 yers ws signifintly inresed with PM nd RM y nd mm t 15 DAP, nd y nd mm t DAP, respetively. From 75 to 105 DAP, the soil wter storge deresed grdully with ll the tretments. PM hd the highest soil wter storge t 75 nd 105 DAP throughout the two yer experiment. Menwhile, PM hd the highest soil wter storge during the whole growth stge, nd the differene ws signifint. The RM tretment hd slightly higher soil wter storge ompred with CK from 15 to DAP, ut the differene ws not signifint. From 75 to 105 DAP, differenes in soil wter storge were signifint etween RM nd CK. Plsti film mulh on flt n improve the soil moisture ondition y olleting wter from light rinfll, reduing unprodutive evportion, nd promoting rinfll infiltrtion (Li et l., 01). Compred with the CK, we found tht the flt mulhing tretments further inhiited soil evportion from the flt where mize ws plnted nd the soil wter storge ws inresed y mm during the erly growth stge. The soil wter storge with PM ws lwys higher thn tht with RM nd CK. There re two possile explntions for this differene, i.e. RM produed lower soil temperture so plnts grew slowly nd onsumed less wter, or flt mulhed with plsti film inhiited soil evportion in the PM tretment ut some soil moisture might hve evported diretly from the flt surfe of the film therey preventing the infiltrtion of light rin (Zhou et l., 09). Soil wter storge (mm) PM RM CK 550 PM RM CK Soil wter storge (mm) 0 15 DAP DAP 75 DAP 105 DAP Growing seson 0 15 DAP DAP 75 DAP 105 DAP Growing seson Figure 4. The soil wter ontent dynmis in 0-0 m lyers with different tretments t four mize growing stges in period Evpotrnspirtion There were ler differenes in evpotrnspirtion with different tretments during the mize growing seson (Tle 1). RM hd the lrgest effet on reduing evportion, nd over the two-yer period the men evpotrnspirtion ws deresed y 4.6 mm t 0-15 DAP, when ompred with CK. Mize growth ws more vigorous during the middle growth stges (15-75 DAP) (Tle 2) when the greter onsumption of wter resulted in higher rop trnspirtion. The flt mulhing tretments led to higher evpotrnspirtion thn CK. Evpotrnspirtion t 15- DAP ws signifintly inresed with the PM tretment, i.e., y 19.8 mm, when ompred with CK. There were no signifint differenes in evpotrnspirtion mong the RM nd CK tretments t DAP. In the lter growth stge ( DAP), the two-yer men

6 174 Numer 33/16 ROMANIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH evpotrnspirtion with PM deresed signifintly y 7.2 mm, when ompred with CK. However, the evpotrnspirtion with the RM tretment ws inresed signifintly, y 9.2 mm. During the entire growing seson, the two-yer men evpotrnspirtion with the PM nd RM tretments ws signifintly inresed y 23.6 nd 13.2 mm ompred with CK, respetively, wheres there were no differenes etween RM nd CK. Tle 1. Field evpotrnspirtion (ET, mm) in 0-0 m soil lyers under different tretments during the mize growing seson in period Yer Tretments 0-15 DAP >15- DAP >-75 DAP > DAP DAP PM 138.4± ± ± ± ±18.6 RM 135.2± ± ± ± ±18.4 CK 139.1± ± ± ± ±17.9 PM 140.2± ± ± ± ±18.9 RM 135.8± ± ± ± ±18.5 CK 141.0± ± ± ± ±18.3 Vlues followed y the sme upperse letter in the sme row re not signifintly different ording to Dunn s multiple rnge test (p< 0.05). PM nd RM ould redue the wter evportion from soil surfe nd redue the totl wter onsumption, ut it is not ovious (Fn et l., 02). In the urrent study, the tretments hd different effets on wter onsumption during the mize growing seson. With PM, the soil temperture ws higher, rops grew fster, nd evpotrnspirtion ws signifintly higher thn CK t DAP, ut signifintly lower thn CK t DAP. With RM, the soil temperture ws lower, rops grew slowly nd the growing seson ws extended, nd evpotrnspirtion ws signifintly lower thn other tretments t 0-15 DAP, ut signifintly higher thn other tretments t DAP. Crop iomss umultion Tle 2 shows tht the oveground nd underground iomss ws signifintly ffeted y different tretments in ll twoyers. The iomss ws signifintly higher t eh stges with PM nd RM when ompred with CK. The iomss ws no different with PM ompred with CK t 15 DAP, ut it ws higher thn CK t 75 nd 105 DAP, whih indited tht mize growth ws fster during the middle nd lter stges with this tretment. RM produed slightly higher iomss thn CK during the entire growing seson, ut the differene ws not signifint. Previous studies hve shown tht plsti film mulhing n inrese the soil temperture (Lü et l., 08) nd soil wter ontent (Li et l., 01), therey promoting rop development (Dun et l., 06). Our study lso found tht PM lerly inresed the temperture, therey promoting mize development. The RM tretment produed signifintly lower temperture thn CK, whih my e relted to etter soil wter onditions with RM (Li et l., 01). PM nd RM tretments produed higher oveground nd underground growth t different growth stges ompred with CK. Strw mulhing redued the soil temperture nd plnts grew slowly in the erly stge of the growing seson, whih promoted mize growth in the middle nd lte stge (Chen et l., 04). This ws lso refleted in vritions in the wter onsumption during different periods. There were no signifint differene in the mize growth progress nd the oveground nd underground iomss etween RM nd CK, whih n e ttriute to the similr soil temperture (Figure 3) nd wter onditions (Figure 4).

7 175 HAIMING TANG ET AL.: EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT MULCHING MODELS ON SOIL TEMPERATURE, MOISTURE, AND YIELD OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) IN HILLY RED SOIL UPLAND IN SOUTHERN CHINA Tle 2. Aoveground nd underground iomss (g plnt -1 ) umultion of mize under different tretments in period Yer Item Tretments 15 DAP DAP 75 DAP 105 DAP of root of stem of leves of root of stem of leves PM 4.03± ± ± ±0.80 RM 3.80± ± ± ±2.54 CK 2.86± ± ± ±0.31 PM 7.44± ± ± ±1.47 RM 6.81± ± ± ±5.41 CK 5.42± ± ± ±4.42 PM 13.19± ± ± ±1.04 RM 12.58± ± ± ±0.91 CK 9.16± ± ± ±0.83 PM 4.41± ± ± ±0.21 RM 3.68± ± ± ±0.67 CK 2.34± ± ± ±1.37 PM 7.25± ± ± ±4.57 RM 6.8± ± ± ±5.41 CK 5.76± ± ± ±2.08 PM 14.06± ± ± ±1.41 RM 12.58± ± ± ±1.28 CK 10.49± ± ± ±0.46 Mize yield nd wter use effiieny In 12 nd 13, no signifint (p>0.05) differenes etween PM, RM nd CK were found in er height, er length nd er dimeter. The kernel numer per row, grin numer per er, nd 100-kernel weight of mize in the PM ws higher thn tht of the other tretments. The rnking from high to low for kernel numer per row, 100-kernel weight nd grin numer per er were lwys PM, RM nd CK (Tle 3). Tle 3. Yield nd the yield omponents of mize with different tretments in period Yer Tretments Er height (m) Er length (m) Er dimeter (m) Bre top of mize er (m) Row numer Kernel numer (row -1 ) Grins numer (spike -1 ) 100-kernel weight (g) PM 92.± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±0.21 RM 93.33± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±0.23 CK 100.2± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±0.31 PM 82.21±2.80.7± ± ± ± ± ± ±0.59 RM 86.53± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±0.50 CK 90.01± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±0.66 The two-yer men mize yields for eh of the tretments were rnked s follows: PM>RM>CK (Tle 4). Compred with CK, the men mize yields with PM nd RM were inresed y kg h -1 (26.%), kg h -1 (9.50%), respetively. The iomss yields were rnked s follows: PM>RM>CK. Compred with CK, the men iomss yields with PM nd RM were signifintly inresed y kg h -1 (13.76%), kg h 1 (3.58%), respetively. During the two yers of the

8 176 Numer 33/16 ROMANIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH study, the hrvest index ( HI) ws similr for ll the tretments, rnging from 0.44 nd The men WUE with PM nd RM ws signifintly inresed y 2.54 kg h -1 mm -1 (21.58%), 0.84 kg h -1 mm -1 (7.%), ompred with CK, respetively. Our findings indited tht ultivtion with mulhing further improved the soil moisture nd temperture sttus, nd it inresed the mize yield nd WUE y % nd %, respetively. Strw mulhing tends to lower the soil surfe temperture, whih n led to redution in the yield (Go nd Li, 05). We found tht the soil temperture with RM ws lower ompred with CK, ut it hd no negtive impt on the inresed yield nd WUE. This ws proly euse the soil wter retention ws etter with RM, nd the inresed soil moisture ompensted for the effets of low temperture on mize growth to some extent. Tle 4. Effets of different tretments on grin yield nd hrvest index (HI), nd wter use effiieny (WUE) of mize in period Yer Tretments Grin yield (kg h -1 ) Biomss yield (kg h -1 ) HI ET (mm) WUE (kg h -1 mm -1 ) PM ± ± ± ± ±0.37 RM ± ± ± ± ±0.27 CK ± ± ± ± ±0. PM ± ± ± ± ±0.34 RM ± ± ± ± ±0.26 CK ± ± ± ± ±0.22 CONCLUSIONS Synhronizing mize growth with sesonl soil wter supply is often the first nd foremost step in rinfed griulturl prodution. Our study showed tht the flt with strw mulhing ws n effetive, simple, nd fesile mesure to onserve soil moisture y reduing rinfll wter loss nd soil surfe evportion. Compred with the onventionl frmers prtie of flt plnting, mulhing flt with plsti film n inhiit soil evportion, improve the soil moisture vilility in the flt, regulting the soil temperture, therey signifintly inresing the rop yield nd the wter use effiieny. In the long term, tretment with plsti overed flt (PM) will ring n inrese in the yield of mize. Therefore, this tretment should e populrised nd pplied s n effiient ultivtion pttern for mize prodution in the hilly red soil uplnd of southern Chin. Aknowledgements This study ws supported y the Chinese Ntionl Siene nd Tehnology Projet (12BADB05). REFERENCES Chen, S.Y., Zhng, X.Y., Pei, D., Sun, H.Y., 04. Soil evportion nd soil temperture in mize field mulhed with whet strw. J. Irrig. Dr., 23: Chinese Ademy of Sienes Nnjing Soil Reserh Institute, Soil physis nd hemistry nlysis. Shnghi Siene nd Tehnology Press, Shnghi, pp Dun, X.M., Wu, P.T., Bi, X.M., Feng, H., 06. Mirorrin wter thment nd plnting tehnique of ridge film mulhing nd furrow seeding of orn in drylnd. J. Soil Wter Conserv., : Fn, X.Y., Qi, X.B., Lng, X.D., Go, S.G., Zho, H., Wng, J.L., 02. A study on hrteristis of wter onsumption nd wys of rising wter use effiieny for spring mize under different mulhing. Agri. Res. Arid Ares, : Go, Y.J., Li, S.X., 05. Cuse nd mehnism of rop yield redution under strw mulh in dry lnd. Trns Chin So Agri Eng 21: Horton, R., Bristow, K.L., Kluitenerg, G.J., Suer, T.J., Crop residue effets on surfe rdition nd energy lne review. Theor. Appl. Climtol., 54: Hussin, G., Al-Jloud, A.A., Effet of irrigtion nd nitrogen on wter use effiieny of whet in Sudi Ari. Agr. Wter Mnge., 27: Li, X.Y., Gong, J.D., Go, Q.Z., Li, F.R., 01. Inorportion of ridge nd furrow method of rinfll hrvesting with mulhing for rop

9 177 HAIMING TANG ET AL.: EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT MULCHING MODELS ON SOIL TEMPERATURE, MOISTURE, AND YIELD OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) IN HILLY RED SOIL UPLAND IN SOUTHERN CHINA prodution under semirid onditions. Agr. Wter Mnge., 50: Lü, Q., Xiong, Y., Chen, M.C., Fu, G.Z., Li, Y.J., 08. Effets of different mulhing on root growth nd soil environment of too. Agri. Res. Arid, 6: MCullough, B.D., Wilson, B., 02. On the ury of sttistil proedures in Mirosoft Exel 00 nd Exel XP. Comput Stt Dt An 40: Srkr, S., Prmnik, M., Goswmi, S.B., 07. Soil temperture, wter use nd yield of yellow srson (Brssi npus L. vr. glu) in reltion to tillge intensity nd mulh mngement under rinfed lowlnd eosystem in estern Indi. Soil Till. Res., 93: Surhmniyn, K., Zhou, W.J., 08. Soil temperture ssoited with degrdle, non-degrdle plsti nd orgni mulhes nd their effet on iomss prodution, enzyme tivities nd seed yield of winter rpeseed (Brssi npus L.). J. Sustin. Agr., 32: Wng, T.C., Wei, L., Wng, H.Z., M, S.C., M, B.L., 11. Responses of rinwter onservtion, preipittion-use effiieny nd grin yield of summer mize to furrow-plnting nd strwmulhing system in northern Chin. Field Crop Res., 124: Zhng, D.Q., Lio, Y.C., Ji, Z.K., 05. Reserh dvnes nd prospets of film mulhing in rid nd semi-rid res. Agri. Res. Arid Ares, 23 (1): Zhou, L.M., Li, F.M., Jin, S.L., Song, Y.J., 09. How two ridges nd the furrow mulhed with plsti film ffet soil wter, soil temperture nd yield of mize on the semirid Loess Plteu of Chin. Field Crop Res., 113: