Application of Mulching Materials of Rainfall Harvesting System for Improving Soil Water and Corn Growth in Northwest of China

The ridge and furrow rainfall harvesting（RFRH） system is used for dryland crop production in northwest of China.To determine the effects of RFRH using different mulching materials on corn growth and water use efficiency（WUE）,a field experiment was conducted during 2008-2010 at the Heyang Dryland Experimental Station,China.Four treatments were used in the study.Furrows received uncovered mulching in all RFRH treatments whereas ridges were mulched with plastic film（PF）,biodegradable film（BF） or liquid film（LF）.A conventional flat field without mulching was used as the control（CK）.The results indicated that the average soil water storage at depths of 0-200 cm were 8.2 and 7.3%,respectively higher with PF and BF than with CK.However,LF improved soil water storage during the early growth stage of the crop.Compared with CK,the corn yields with PF and BF were increased by 20.4 and 19.4%,respectively,and WUE with each treatment increased by 23.3 and 21.7%,respectively.There were no significant differences in corn yield or WUE with the PF and BF treatments.The net income was the highest with PF,followed by BF,and the 3-yr average net incomes with these treatments were increased by 2 559 and 2 430 CNY ha-1,respectively,compared with CK.BF and PF had similar effects in enhancing the soil water content,crop yield and net income.Therefore,it can be concluded that biodegradable film may be a sustainable ecological alternative to plastic film for use in the RFRH system in northwest of China.

Effect of Nitrogen on Growth and Yield of Pineapple Grown on BRIS Soil

The physical and chemical properties of BRIS （beach ridges interspersed with swales） soil are unsuitable for agricultural purposes. A proper fertilizer and crop management practices are required. The relationship between different level of nitrogen fertilizer, growth and pineapple fruit yield vary N36 were studied. The experiment was conducted using randomized complete block design of seven treatments with four replicates, Prior to artificial flower induction, seven different rates of nitrogen fertilizer at 0, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1,000 and 1,200 kg-ha^-1 were applied in four equal split doses. As the level of nitrogen fertilizer was increased, a decrease in acidity of fruits and an increase in crown weight were observed. However an increase in mean length of D leaf, mean fruit length, mean fruit weight, mean fruit to crown ratio were obtained as the rate of nitrogen fertilizer was increased from 0-600 kg.N-ha^-1. Further increase however led to a decrease in the same parameters.