Moisture Conservation by Surface or Subsurface Barriers and Soil Configuration under Semiarid Conditions

Abstract

Conservation of moisture under field conditions using black, polyethylene film and soil ridging was studied during a 2-year period. Corn, in 42-inch rows, was used as an indicator crop. Results show a minor surface ridge, 90% film-covered, to be effective in conserving moisture and increasing yield and water use efficiency. Results also indicate that ridges without covering may conserve moisture. Subsurface barriers were not effective in moisture conservation or in increasing yields under the conditions studied. Good performance of the covered surface ridges is attributed to increased soil temperature in the spring, better utilization of light rains and suppression of evaporation losses. Supplementary laboratory studies of covered surface ridges substantiated the reasons given for improved moisture conservation.

Maize Yield Response to Nitrogen Rate and Plant Density under Film Mulching

“…However, the WUE in FM was significantly higher than it was in NM in both years. Under film mulching, increases in precipitation use efficiency and reduction in soil evaporation would increase the amount of water passing through the crop via transpiration (Gan et al, 2013;Willis et al, 1963), leading to higher WUE. Our results showed that, over the two growing seasons, the average grain yield ranged from 11.4 to 11.8 Mg ha −1 , and WUE ranged from 26.7 to 30.0 kg ha −1 mm −1 for FM maize.…”

Growth of Caragana korshinskii using runoff-collecting microcatchments under semiarid condition

“…The better response of water harvesting treatments to the growth of C. korshinskii was largely due to improved soil moisture conditions through better utilization of runoff. In water harvesting treatments, there was a deep penetration of moisture, such water would be available to the plant for a long time and would be less subject to evaporation (Willis et al, 1963;Gupta, 1994), thus maintained favorable moisture conditions than the control.…”

Subsurface Flow Barriers to Reduce Nitrate Leaching

“…Zonal compaction need not be detrimental to crop growth because plant roots are capable of compensating for the reduction of growth caused by unfavorable conditions, such as soil compaction, in part of the rootzone by proliferating in more favorable soil zones (Willis et al, 1963;Russel, 1977;Garcia et al, 1988). Thus, it is expected that com roots can encounter banded fertilizer by growing around a compacted soil zone.…”