Effects of Different Micro-Catchment Mulching Methods on Growth and Water Use Efficiency of Corn

Abstract

The study on the effects of three unary and binary micro-catchment mulching methods including film mulching ridge and ditch plantation, film-mulching ridge and ditch film-mulching plantation and film-mulching ridge and ditch film-mulching straw plantation on growth of corn and different precipitation years was conducted in allusion to the low and unstable yield of corn in the western Liaoning province of China and in comparison with the traditional plantation model. Under the condition of this experiment, through film-mulching ridge and ditch film-mulching plantation and film-mulching ridge and ditch plantation, the time for seedling emergence of corn was shortened and the emergence rate of corn was increased. Through film-mulching ridge and ditch film-mulching straw plantation, the time for seedling emergence of corn was prolonged and the emergence rate of corn was increased in median water or dry years, but the emergence rate of corn was reduced in the high flow year. By contrast to traditional plantation model, film-mulching ridge and ditch film-mulching plantation and film-mulching ridge and ditch plantation boosted the increase in plant height and leaf area of corn and promoted dry matter accumulation in the early period of growth while the growth was slow, the plant height, leaf area and dry matter accumulation was always at he minimum value through film-mulching ridge and ditch straw mulching plantation in the early period of growth, but the growth rate was expedited in the late period during growth. Through film-mulching ridge and ditch straw mulching plantation, due to many reasons such as the growth process ahead of schedule and high temperature, the signs of precocity or premature senility come into being and leaf area and chlorophyll content decreases swiftly; through film-mulching ridge and ditch straw mulching plantation, the descent velocity of leaf area and chlorophyll content were reduced and the leaf senescence was postponed. In different precipitation years, the increases in water use efficiency of micro-catchment plantation were different, smaller in high flow year while larger in dry or median water year.