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

2017, Volume 4, Issue 2

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Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering >> 2017, Volume 4, Issue 2 doi: 10.15302/J-FASE-2017136

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

. 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, Yangling 712100, China.. Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Areas of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.. College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.. Institute of Water and Soil Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China.. The Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL76JS, UK

Accepted: 2017-03-01 Available online: 2017-06-07

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Abstract

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.

Keywords

biomass ; carbon ; mulch ; nitrogen ; plastic films ; soil ; straw ; water storage

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