Effects of plastic film mulching of millet on soil moisture and temperature in semi-arid areas in south Ningxia

Chinese. 对不同覆膜方式降水后土壤水分的变化趋势进行定位观测，并观测了谷子生育期土壤水分动态，结合作物产量分析了农田水分利用效率。研究表明，降水后微集水种植技术的沟内有较好的集水作用，水分可以储备在垄下部位，表层土壤水分变化剧烈。微集水种植技术在生育期间有集水保墒作用，季末土壤供水能力明显改善。冬闲田处理秋平膜与秋垄沟播前贮水量分别较对照高24.9、7.1 mm，且增产效果显著。覆膜处理的谷子产量得到明显提高和农田水分得到高效开发利用。作物各个生育时期以微集水种植技术的集水保墒效果最佳、生育期耗水量较低，表现出良好的社会和生态效益。

English. The effects of film mulching of millet on soil water content were studied in semi-arid areas in loess plateau of South Ningxia. Different mulching methods including water micro-collecting farming(WF), water micro-colleting farming in winter fallow(WW)，hole seeding on film(HF), hole seeding on film in winter fallow(HW) were compared to determine the effects of mulching methods on soil water collecting and conservation during millet growth periods of 2003-2004, the variation tendency of water after rainfall, output of millet and water use efficiency(WUE). The experimental results in successive two years indicated that water micro-collecting farming had the function of better collecting water after rainfall, and side infiltrated water was stored under its ridge and the top layer 0-40 cm soil water changes were greater. WF had obvious water collection and preservation of soil moisture f. WF effectively improved the water supply capacity by about 19.05% in the end of growth seasons. The storage of HW and WW increased by 24.9 and 7.1 mm compared with CK, and output of yield were obviously increased. Film mulching increased the yield of millet and enhanced water use efficiency (WUE). During different growth periods, WF had better water storage, the lower amount of water consumption, and demonstrated better social and ecological benefits.