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.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 146-154 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 2 |
Early online date | 1 Mar 2017 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Print publication - 7 Jun 2017 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Biomass
- Carbon
- Mulch
- Nitrogen
- Plastic films
- Soil
- Straw
- Water storage