全面论述了塑料薄膜覆盖农业的研究与应用。地膜覆盖对我国传统覆盖技术产生重大突破，近20年以来，由于地膜覆盖的应用使我国农业产生了许多重大变革：扩大了适种区，调整了作物布局，提高了复种指数，促进了干旱、半干旱和盐碱地区的农业发展。地膜覆盖的增产机理是：提高土壤温度，保蓄土壤水分，稳定土壤环境，提高光、热利用效率和促进作物根系发育。提出了塑料薄膜覆盖的问题与展望。

This article reviews studies and applications of mulching agriculture using thin plastic film in China. Plastic film mulching makes great effects on traditional mulching techniques of China. Over past 20 years with application of thin plastic film, some great changes have taken place in agricultural production of China, such as expanding suitable cultivated regions, regulating cropping distribution, increasing cropping index and promoting agricultural development in arid, semi-arid and salinized soil regions. Main mechanisms of yield increasing by plastic film mulching are： raising soil temperature, protecting soil water from evaporation, steadying soil environment, improving light and energy utilization efficiencies and promoting crop roots development. Problems and prospects of mulching agriculture using thin plastic film are reviewed at the end of the erticle.