Effects of Different Mulch Types on Farmland Soil Moisture in an Artificial Oasis Area

Abstract

Different types of mulch are often used in agricultural production to enhance soil moisture and improve crop yields. The question of which mulch provides superior water retention in arid regions, where water resources are scarce, is a major concern for agricultural production. We conducted observations and studies at a typical irrigated experimental station in an arid zone with four types of mulch, including liquid mulch (LM), biodegradable mulch (BM), ordinary black mulch (OBM), and ordinary white mulch (OWM), and plots with no mulch. Samples were collected and analyzed at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after each rainfall or irrigation to obtain soil moisture changes and to analyze the effect of different mulches on soil moisture retention. The results showed that mulch cover was effective in retaining soil moisture compared to plots without mulch cover. Specifically, soil moisture was highest in the farmland with OWM during the observation period. OWM, OBM, and BM were all effective in reducing soil water evaporation and maintaining soil moisture. LM and BM were capable of utilizing rainfall to recharge soil water in a superior way, and polyethylene mulches (OBM and OWM) had a significant barrier impact on rainfall.

Quantifying the Spatial Distribution Pattern of Soil Diversity in Southern Xinjiang and Its Influencing Factors

“…During the 1990s, the Spanish researcher Juan José Ibáñez advocated an ecological approach for studying soil diversity [18]. The number of soil types can be assessed using the soil richness index (Pa), as illustrated in Equation (5).…”

“…Soil, being a fundamental element of land productivity, is among the most basic and significant components of land and the most vital life support within the biosphere [2][3][4]. However, a greater emphasis is placed on the perceived productivity of the soil rather than on its ecological significance, so the exploration of the inherent natural soil characteristics is often overlooked [5,6]. Soil diversity is a measure that is often used to investigate the spatial variability of non-renewable abiotic resources within ecosystems [7][8][9].…”