title: Effects of straw mulch on soil water and winter wheat production in dryland farming.
abstract: The soil water supply is the main factor that limits dryland crop production in China. In a three-year field experiment at a dryland farming experimental station, we evaluated the effects of various straw mulch practices on soil water storage, grain yield, and water use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum). Field experiments were conducted with six different mulch combinations (two different mulch durations and three different mulch amounts): high (SM1; 9000 kg ha(-1)), medium (SM2; 6000 kg ha(-1)), and low (SM3; 3000 kg ha(-1)) straw mulch treatments for the whole period; and high (SM4), medium (SM5) and low (SM6) straw mulch treatments during the growth period only, where the control was the whole period without mulch (CK). Throughout the whole growth period of the three-year experiment, the average soil water content in the 0-200 cm soil layer increased by 0.7-22.5% compared with CK, while the WUE increased significantly by 30.6%, 32.7% and 24.2% with SM1, SM2, and SM3, respectively (P < 0.05). The yield increased by 13.3-23.0% when mulch was provided during the growth period, while the WUE increased by 15.2%, 17.2% and 18.0% with SM4, SM5, and SM6, respectively, compared with CK.
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute of Water-saving Agriculture in Arid Area of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China [2] Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Minister of Agriculture, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute of Water-saving Agriculture in Arid Area of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China [2] Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Minister of Agriculture, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China [3] Colloge of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ting
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute of Water-saving Agriculture in Arid Area of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China [2] Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Minister of Agriculture, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Haixia
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute of Water-saving Agriculture in Arid Area of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China [2] Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Minister of Agriculture, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute of Water-saving Agriculture in Arid Area of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China [2] Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Minister of Agriculture, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China [3] Colloge of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xiangping
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute of Water-saving Agriculture in Arid Area of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China [2] Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Minister of Agriculture, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China [3] Colloge of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Mou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siwei
authors.affiliation: 1] Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Minister of Agriculture, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China [2] Colloge of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rui
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute of Water-saving Agriculture in Arid Area of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China [2] Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Minister of Agriculture, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China [3] Colloge of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhikuan
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute of Water-saving Agriculture in Arid Area of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China [2] Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Minister of Agriculture, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China [3] Colloge of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qingfang
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000069599:Crop Production; D012987:Soil; D014908:Triticum; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D014867:Water