| The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different planting patterns on soil moisture,temperature and yield of spring maize on dryland.The results showed that the treatments of whole fallen-down stalk mulching and crushed stalk mulching cultivation decreased the water wastage significantly during the winter fallow period,as compared with the conventional pattern.Among the four planting patterns,the fallen-down stalk mulching beside plastic film was the best one to conserve water and rise ground temperature, and consequently to achieve high production and high economic benefits.As for the treatments of crushed stalk mulching and fallen-down stalk mulching,the soil temperature was lowered during the early growth period of maize,but in the latter period the plants grew much more flourishingly than that of the conventional pattern.To some extent,these two patterns were also effective in conserving water and increasing production benefits,and were more feasible in operation. |