title: Impacts of ridge-furrow rainfall concentration systems and mulches on corn growth and yield in the semiarid region of China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plastic-covered ridge-furrow farming systems for rainfall concentration (RC) improve the water availability for crops and increase the water use efficiency (WUE), thereby stabilizing high yields. In this study, we optimized the mulching patterns for RC planting to mitigate the risks of drought during crop production in semiarid agricultural areas. We conducted a 4-year field study to determine the RC effects on corn production of mulching in furrows with 8% biodegradable films (RCSB ), liquid film (RCSL ), bare furrow (RCSN ) and conventional flat (CF) farming.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that RC significantly (P > 0.05) increased the soil moisture in the top 0-100 cm layer and the topsoil temperature (0-20 cm) during the corn-growing period. Mulching with different materials in planting furrows further improved the rain-harvesting, moisture-retaining and yield-increasing effects of RC planting. Compared with CF, the 4-year average total dry matter amount per plant for RCSB , RCSL and RCSN treatments increased by 42.1%, 30.8% and 17.2%, respectively. The grain yield increased by 59.7%, 53.4% and 32.6%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plastic-covered ridge and furrow mulched with biodegradable film and liquid film is recommended for use in the semiarid Loess Plateau of China to alleviate the effects of drought on crop production. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.|Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Long
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.|Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.|Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.|Key Laboratory of Crop Physi-ecology and Tillage Science in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Kuan
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Jia
mesh_terms: D057914:Agricultural Irrigation / Q000379:methods*; D063566:Biodegradable Plastics / Q000009:adverse effects; D002681:China; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D000069599:Crop Production / Q000379:methods*; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000254:growth & development*; D003889:Desert Climate / Q000009:adverse effects; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development; D011891:Rain; D012621:Seasons; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis; D003313:Zea mays / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D063566:Biodegradable Plastics; D012987:Soil; D014867:Water
keywords: Loess Plateau of China; corn; growth and development; mulch; rainfall concentration; semiarid; soil moisture