[Soil moisture dynamics of apple orchard in Loess Plateau dryland].

The soil moisture of 0-500 cm soil layer in a dryland orchard at its full fruit period was measured from 2009 to 2013 to explore the soil moisture dynamics. Results indicated that soil water consumption mainly occurred in the soil layer of 0-300 cm in normal rainfall year and below the 300 cm soil layer when the annual rainfall was less than 400 mm. The soil moisture in the 200-300 cm soil layer fluctuated most and was affected by rainfall and apple consumption. Seasonal drought usually happened between April and late June, while the accumulation of soil moisture mainly occurred in the rainy season from July to mid-October to alleviate the drought effectively in next spring.

[Effects of plastic film mulching and rain harvesting modes on chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics, yield and water use efficiency of dryland maize].

The differences on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, yield and water use efficiency of dryland maize were compared among full plastic film mulching on double ridges and planting in catchment furrows (FFDRF), half plastic film mulching on double ridges and planting in catchment furrows (HFDRF), plastic film mulching on ridge and planting in film-side (FS), and flat planting with no plastic film mulching (NM) under field conditions in dry highland of Loess Plateau in 2007-2012. The results showed that fluorescence yield (Fo), the maximum fluorescence yield (Fm), light-adapted fluorescence yield when PS II reaction centers were totally open (F), light-adapted fluorescence yield when PS II reaction centers closed (Fm'), the maximal photochemical efficiency of PS II (Fv/Fm), the actual photochemical efficiency of PS II in the light (Phi PS II), the relative electron transport rate (ETR), photochemical quenching (qP) and non-photochemical quenching (qN) in maize leaves of FFDRF were higher than that of control (NM), and the value of 1-qP was lower than that of control, at 13:00, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters values of FFDRF was significantly higher than control, which were increased by 5.3%, 56.8%, 10.7%, 36.3%, 23.6%, 56.7%, 64.4%, 45.5%, 23.6% and -55.6%, respectively, compared with the control. Yield and water use efficiency of FFDRF were the highest in every year no matter dry year, normal year, humid year and hail disaster year. Average yield and water use efficiency of FFDRF were 12,650 kg x hm(-2) and 40.4 kg x mm(-1) x hm(-2) during 2007-2012, increased by 57.8% and 61.6% compared with the control, respectively, and also significantly higher compared with HFDRF and PS. Therefore, it was concluded that FFDRF had significantly increased the efficiency of light energy conversion and improved the production capacity of dryland maize.

[Effects of different tillage and fertilization modes on the soil physical and chemical properties and crop yield under winter wheat/spring corn rotation on dryland of east Gansu, Northwest China].

Based on the 7-year field experiment on the dryland of east Gansu of Northwest China in 2005-2011, this paper analyzed the variations of soil moisture content, bulk density, and nutrients content at harvest time of winter wheat and of the grain yield under no-tillage and conventional tillage and five fertilization modes, and approached the effects of different tillage and fertilization modes on the soil water storage and conservation, soil fertility, and grain yield under winter wheat/ spring corn rotation. In 2011, the soil moisture content in 0-200 cm layer and the soil bulk density and soil organic matter and available nitrogen and phosphorus contents in 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm layers under different fertilization modes were higher under no-tillage than under conventional tillage. Under the same tillage modes, the contents of soil organic matter and available nitrogen and available phosphorus were higher under the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers, as compared with other fertilization modes. The soil available potassium content under different tillage and fertilization modes decreased with years. The grain yield under conventional tillage was higher than that under no-tillage. Under the same tillage modes, the grain yield was the highest under the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers, and the lowest under no fertilization. In sum, no-tillage had the superiority than conventional tillage in improving the soil water storage and conservation and soil fertility, and the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers under conventional tillage could obtain the best grain yield.

[Effects of rape cropping in summer fallow period on dryland soil moisture content and winter wheat yield].

Taking the fallow land with wheat stubble after harvesting as the control, a 4-year field experiment was conducted in a dryland of east Gansu, Northwest China to investigate the effects of rape cropping in summer fallow period on the soil moisture content, wheat yield, and water use efficiency (WUE). The rape was sown at 6 dates. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the soil moisture content in summer fallow period when the rape was sown at different dates. When the rape was sown on August 5, the soil water storage efficiency was 58.5%, and the wheat yield and WUE were increased by 7.5% and 5.9%, respectively, as compared with the control. Averagely, cropping rape in fallow period could increase the wheat yield by 16. 1% in dry year and 6.8% in normal year. It was suggested that rape cropping in summer fallow period would benefit the wheat yield and drought resistance of drylands in Northwest China.