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Mulching increases water-use efficiency of peach production on the rainfed semiarid Loess Plateau of China

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  • Wang, Hong
  • Wang, Chenbing
  • Zhao, Xiumei
  • Wang, Falin

Abstract

We examine the water-use balance, fruit yield and water-use efficiency of five-year-old peach trees with two different mulching systems: plastic film mulched ridge, with furrows (PFM) and straw mulched (SM). Compared with the clean tillage (CT) water management method, PFM increased, and SM significantly decreased, the soil temperature (P<0.05). Both mulching systems increased the gravimetric soil water content (1.9–2.9%) with a reduction in the average annual evapotranspiration (ET) of 82.5mm and 49.3mm through SM and PFM, respectively. The water-use efficiency (WUE) was improved from 5.7 (CT) to 8.1 (PFM) and 9.0kgm−3 (SM), resulting in a reduction in ET and an increase in fruit yield from 25.2 (CT) to 32.2 (PFM) and 32.5tha−1 (SM). Thus, both mulching systems could serve as models for peach production in semiarid rainfed areas, due to the high soil water content during bloom and fruit expansion.

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  • Wang, Hong & Wang, Chenbing & Zhao, Xiumei & Wang, Falin, 2015. "Mulching increases water-use efficiency of peach production on the rainfed semiarid Loess Plateau of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 20-28.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:154:y:2015:i:c:p:20-28
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2015.02.010
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    11. Liao, Yang & Cao, Hong-Xia & Xue, Wen-Kai & Liu, Xing, 2021. "Effects of the combination of mulching and deficit irrigation on the soil water and heat, growth and productivity of apples," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    12. Li, Cheng & Feng, Hao & Luo, Xiaoqi & Li, Yue & Wang, Naijiang & Wu, Wenjie & Zhang, Tibin & Dong, Qin’ge & Siddique, Kadambot H.M., 2022. "Limited irrigation and fertilization in sand-layered soil increases nitrogen use efficiency and economic benefits under film mulched ridge-furrow irrigation in arid areas," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).

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