Arid Zone Research ›› 2021, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (3): 665-671.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2021.03.08

• Soil Resources • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of liquid film mulching on the soil structure and infiltration characteristics of drylands

BAI Xiumei1(),ZHANG Yao1,ZHANG Yong2,DU Yi3   

  1. 1. Collge of Forestry, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China
    2. Shanxi Soil and Water Conservation Institute of Science, Taiyuan 030013, Shanxi, China
    3. College of Resource and Environment, Shanxi Agriculture University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China
  • Received:2020-07-21 Revised:2020-11-20 Online:2021-05-15 Published:2021-06-17

Abstract:

The experiment was conducted using a randomized block design in the forestry test station of Shanxi Agricultural University from 2015 to 2018 to study the effects of long-term liquid film mulching on the soil structure and infiltration characteristics of drylands. The experimental design included the liquid or plastic film mulching in ridge and furrow planting or conventional tillage conditions. Liquid film mulching improved the soil physical and chemical properties. Compared with the other treatments, the content of organic matter and the soil capillary porosity were increased significantly in the liquid film mulching treatment. Compared with the control, the soil bulk density of the other treatments was remarkably reduced. Liquid film mulching improved the soil structure characteristics. Compared with the other treatments, the soil aggregate compositions and the water stability soil aggregate compositions of >0.25 mm particle size were markedly increased in the liquid film mulching and ridge and furrow planting conditions. The soil aggregate breakage rate was reduced and the soil aggregate water stability index was improved remarkably by liquid film mulching. Liquid film mulching improved the stable soil infiltration performance. Compared with the other treatments, the stable infiltration rates and the accumulative infiltration rates in 120 min were increased markedly in liquid film mulching. In the same kind of coverage condition, compared with the conventional tillage method, the ridge and furrow planting method was beneficial to improve the soil structure characteristics. There was no significant difference between the two planting methods in the steady infiltration rates. Correlations showed that there was no significant correlation between the initial infiltration rate and the soil physical and chemical index. The soil aggregate compositions of >0.25 mm particle size, MWD, the soil aggregate breakage rate, and soil aggregate water stability index significantly affected the stable and accumulative infiltration rates in 120 min.

Key words: liquid film, ridge and furrow planting, soil structure, infiltration, dryland