Effects of mulching for water conservation on soil carbon,nitrogen and biological properties

The effect of mulching with straw, white plastic film and black plastic film for improving soil water storage and on the soil properties was examined in a wheat-maize rotation system on Loess soil in northwestern China. All the mulches improved the water storage to some extent and led to warmer soil...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inFrontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering Vol. 4; no. 2; pp. 146 - 154
Main Authors PI, Xiaomin, ZHANG, Tongxun, SUN, Benhua, CUI, Quanhong, GUO, Yun, GAO, Mingxia, FENG, Hao, HOPKINS, David W.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Higher Education Press 01.06.2017
Subjects
biomass
biomass|carbon|mulch|nitrogen|plastic films|soil|straw|water storage
carbon
mulch
nitrogen
plastic films
soil
straw
water storage
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Summary:The effect of mulching with straw, white plastic film and black plastic film for improving soil water storage and on the soil properties was examined in a wheat-maize rotation system on Loess soil in northwestern China. All the mulches improved the water storage to some extent and led to warmer soils. However, the organic C and total N contents of the soils declined significantly under the mulches, particularly the plastic film mulches,and this could have long-term detrimental effects on soil quality and the sustainability of the some mulching practices.
Bibliography:10-1204/S
Xiaomin PI;Tongxun ZHANG;Benhua SUN;Quanhong CUI;Yun GUO;Mingxia GAO;Hao FENG;David W.HOPKINS;Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China of Ministry of Agriculture/College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University;Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Areas of China, Northwest A&F University;College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University;Institute of Water and Soil Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources;The Royal Agricultural University
Document received on :2016-09-21
Document accepted on :2016-12-06
biomass
water storage
plastic films
carbon
nitrogen
soil
straw
mulch
ISSN:2095-7505
2095-977X
DOI:10.15302/J-FASE-2017136