The Ecological Effects and Improving Measures of Gravel-Mulched Field in Agricultural Development of the Arid Areas

Abstract

Gravel-mulched field is a unique mode of conservation tillage created by the working people with gravel as cover material and dependent on natural rainfall. However, with the growth of the planting years of the gravel-mulched field, the ecological effects gradually reduce. Thus, on the basis of the analysis to summarize the type and the thickness of gravel-mulched field, the insulation effect of gravel-mulched field to farmland, the water retention properties, the suppressing salinity function, anti-wind and water erosion capacity and increase production and income etc., we must attach importance to increase the replenishment fertilization to gravel-mulched field, improve the planting patterns of gravel-mulched field, select new varieties of drought-resistant crops, establish modern water-saving supporting system of the gravel-mulched field and other management measures and recommendations of ecosystem to provide a theoretical basis for sustainable development of gravel-mulched field agriculture.