[Effects of soil wetting pattern on the soil water-thermal environment and cotton root water consumption under mulched drip irrigation].

Abstract: To explore the effects of soil wetting pattern on soil water-thermal environment and water consumption of cotton root under mulched drip irrigation, a field experiment with three drip intensities (1.69, 3.46 and 6.33 L · h(-1)), was carried out in Shihezi, Xinjiang Autonomous Region. The soil matric potential, soil temperature, cotton root distribution and water consumption were measured during the growing period of cotton. The results showed that the main factor influencing the soil temperature of cotton under plastic mulch was sunlight. There was no significant difference in the soil temperature and root water uptake under different treatments. The distribution of soil matrix suction in cotton root zone under plastic mulch was more homogeneous under ' wide and shallow' soil wetting pattern (W633). Under the 'wide and shallow' soil wetting pattern, the average difference of cotton root water consumption between inner row and outer row was 0.67 mm · d(-1), which was favorable to the cotton growing trimly at both inner and outer rows; for the 'narrow and deep' soil wetting pattern (W169), the same index was 0.88 mm · d(-1), which was unfavorable to cotton growing uniformly at both inner and outer rows. So, we should select the broad-shallow type soil wetting pattern in the design of drip irrigation under mulch.

[Influences of different kinds of water retentive agents on water use efficiency and root mor- phology of winter wheat].

The effects of 5 different kinds of water retentive agents at 2 application levels on yield, water use efficiency and root morphology of winter wheat were studied through field experiments. The results showed that there were significant differences in tiller number, flag leaf area, yield and water use efficiency (WUE) among the water retentive agent treatments of different varieties and application levels. Compared with the control, the yield increased by 1.3%-7.9%, and the WUE increased from 17.1 kg · hm⁻² · mm⁻¹ to 18.0-20.7 kg · hm⁻² · mm⁻¹ under these 5 different kinds of water retentive agent treatments. The influences of water retentive agents on average root diameter, total root length and total root surface of winter wheat all reached a significant level. The total root length increased by 3.7%-19.1% and 6.3%-27.3%, and the total root surface area increased by 6.5%-21.7% and 2.9%-18.5% in the 0-20 and 20-40 cm soil layers, respectively. The root morphology characteristics were significantly positively correlated with both yield and WUE of winter wheat. The compound water retentive agent of acrylamide/inorganic mineral had the most significant influence on the increase of WUE and the promotion of root growth of winter wheat.