Regular Article
In-situ rainwater harvesting and gravel mulch combination for corn production in the dry semi-arid region of China

https://doi.org/10.1006/jare.2000.0705Get rights and content

Abstract

A field study was conducted to determine the effect of a combination of ridge and furrow method of in-situ rainwater harvesting with gravel mulch on corn production, soil moisture storage, and water-use efficiency in the dry semi-arid region of China. Results showed that plastic-covered ridges had an average runoff efficiency (runoff/rainfall) of 87% as compared to 7% for bare ridges, and could generate runoff at a threshold value of 0·8±0·2 mm rainfall. Bare ridges produced runoff only under high intensity rainfall events, and was ineffective for harvesting rainfall in the study area. The plastic-covered ridge and gravel-mulched furrow method of rainwater harvesting was effective in conserving moisture and increasing yield and water-use efficiency. The grain yield in this treatment was 1·9 times that of the conventional flat soil cultivation (control), and the water-use efficiency was 1·8 times that of the control. The good performance of the film-covered surface ridges and gravel-mulched furrows is attributed to the better utilization of light rains, improvement of infiltration in the root zone, and suppression of evaporation losses.

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    Corresponding author: Xiao-Yan Li, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Donggang West Road 260, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China. E-mail: [email protected]

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