Cai, T. ， Zhang, C. ， Huang, Y. ， Huang, H. ， Yang, B. ， Zhao, Z. ， Zhang, J. ， Jia, Z.
2015 PLANT SOIL AND ENVIRONMENT 2015 61(卷), 6(期), (253-259页)
The effects of different modes of straw mulch on soil water storage, grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of spring maize (Zea mays L.) were evaluated from 2007-2010 at thc Dry Farming Base of Northwest A&F University, in the Loess Plateau of China. Seven treatments were conducted, including conventional tillage without straw mulch (CK), maize straw mulch for the whole year (WSM) at the rates of 4 500, 9 000 (S2) and 13 500 kg/ha (S3), and maize straw mulch only during growth period (GSM) at the rates of 4 500, 9 000 and 13 500 kg/ha. The results showed that the 3-year average soil water storage within the 200 cm soil depth for the WSM was increased when compared to the CK and GSM; the three-year average grain yield increased with straw mulch rate, and WSM and GSM increased the average grain yield by 4.4% and 2.0% when compared to CK; the WUE were also increased in straw mulch treatment; however, there were no significant differences in the grain yield and WUE between the S2 and S3. Therefore, the WSM mode with maize straw mulch rate of 9 000 kg/ha was preferable for the Loess Plateau of China with the precipitation lower than 390 mm during the growth period of spring maize.