Influence of different mulching materials on biological the characteristics of corn

[Objective] The study compared with rainfall harvesting effects among different covering materials,to provide theoretional basis for selecting highly effective rain collection and environmental protection covering material.[Method] Three covering materials of common plastic film,biodegradable film and liquid film were chosen in the arid area of northern Wei River from 2008 to 2009 year at different periods(corn growth period and all year).Comparison of different mulch materials on soil moisture,temperature,the corn growth and development,biomass and yield was made.[Result] The treatment with common plastic film and biodegradable film covering increased,the soil emperature by 1.6 and 1.3 ℃ at the depth of 5-10 cm,improve the soil moisture storage by 7.8% and 7.3% at depth of 0-200 cm.The plant height and total biomass increased significantly(P0.05) compared with no covering treatment(CK),while the liquid film covering treatment showed an unstable influence;Treated with common plastic film,biodegradable film and liquid film in growth period,the economic yield of spring maize respectively increased by 19.96%,19.67%and 4.77% compared with no covering treatment(CK),WUE respectively increased by 30.67%,29.69% and 7.36%;When treated with the three covering materials all year,the improvement of economic yield of spring maize rose by 23.75%,23.90% and 5.31%,WUE respectively increased by 32.06%,31.59% and 8.44%;the common plastic film and biodegradable film showed a significant yield increase effect(P0.05) treated both in growth period and the whole year.[Conclusion] The treatment with plastic film and biodegradable film covering can improve crop yield and water use efficiency,and there is no difference between the two materials,so biodegradable plastic film can replace the common plastic film used in agricultural production.