| Whole field surface plastic mulching is an efficient way to inhibit evaporation, and increase crop yield and water use efficiency, which has been applied widely in wheat and maize cultivation in semiarid on northwest loess plateau. However, only few theoretical investigations and approaches on yield related with pea cultivation were conducted. To understand the effect of different mulching methods on water consumptive characteristics and yield of pea, a two-year term field experiment was carried out with three treatments including whole field surface plastic mulching and soil covered on plastic film (PMS), whole field surface plastic mulching (PM) and uncovered treatment (CK). The growth stages, seasonal change of soil water content in 0～200 cm soil layer, dynamics of aboveground biomass, and grain yield and water consumption of pea were measured in this field experiment. The results showed that the plastic mulching shortened the vegetative growth stage, elongated reproductive development stage, caused a prolonged whole growth stage. The growth stage of pea with PMS treatment was elongated by 7～12 days and 13～17 days in 2011 and 2012, compared with CK and PM treatment respectively. The soil water content in 0～200 cm layer was increased with PM and PMS treatments before pea flowering and the vegetative growth of pea was also promoted, compared with the CK. With the growth of pea, there was no significant difference in water consumption between the three treatments. Before pea flowering, the aboveground biomass with PM treatment was higher than that with PMS treatment, and was the lowest in CK. However, the aboveground biomass with PMS treatment was significant higher than that with PM and in CK, and it was also lowest in CK at the harvest stage. The yield of pea with PM and PMS treatments was increased by 50.8% and 27.2% in 2011, and 70.3% and 30.3% in 2012 respectively, compared with CK. Additionally, the yield of pea with PMS treatment became increased by 12.9% and 5.6% in 2011 and 2012, respectively, compared with PM treatment. However, the soil water consumption was not significantly different between PMS and PM treatments during both experimental years. Especially, the soil water storage in 0～200 cm layer with PM and PMS treatments was increased by 89.3 mm and 95.7 mm respectively after two years pea cultivation with plastic mulch. It was indicated that plastic mulching decreased soil surface evaporation, which was an efficient way to increase pea yield and water use efficiency (WUE). Selecting appropriate mulching method could regulate pea development and water consumptive process, which was also important for yield and water use efficiency. Additionally, pea cultivation with plastic mulch ameliorated soil moisture status, a very important practice for sustainable development of regional agriculture. |