| This paper investigated the effects of whole plastic-film mulching of double ridges and planting in catchment furrows on soil moisture and temperature of dryland maize. The study was conducted in a typical semiarid area and measured the variations of soil moisture and temperature at the different growth stages under the three treatments, including whole plastic-film mulching on double ridges and planting in catchment furrows (T1), flat film (T2), and non-covering flat planting (CK). The results showed that: (1) The water content of T1 was 0.3 percentage points and 0.5 percentage points higher than T2 and CK during the whole growth period, respectively. The largest difference of 0～200 cm soil layer water content appeared between emergence and seven-leaf stage, T1 was 0.7 and 3.2 percentage points higher than T2 and CK, respectively. By contrast, the smallest difference occurred at silking stage, with T1 only increased by 0.4 percentage points compared with T2 and being similar to CK. T1 was 0.4 percentage points higher than T2 but 0.5 percentage points lower than CK at the milky maturity stage. (2) At soil layer of 0～40 cm, water content of T1 was 0.5 and 0.9 percentage points higher than T2 and CK during the whole growth period, respectively. The largest difference was detected in the 20～40 cm soil depth, with T1 being 0.5 percentage points and 1.3 percentage points higher than T2 and CK, respectively. At the 40～80 cm soil layer, T1 was 0.4 percentage points and 0.5 percentage points higher than T2 and CK. At the 80～200 cm soil layer, T1 was 0.5 percentage points higher than T2 but 0.4 percentage points lower than CK. (3) The soil temperature of T1 was 0.7℃ and 2.5℃ higher than T2 and CK during the whole growth period at the 0～40 cm soil layer, respectively. The maximum difference was observed at seedling stage, with T1 being 0.8℃ and 4.9℃ higher than T2 and CK, and the minimum difference at silking stage, with T1 0.8℃ and 0.7℃. It was concluded that the techniques of whole plastic-film mulching on double ridges and planting in catchment furrows significantly improved the soil temperature and water content, suggesting that is a highly efficient cultivation pattern of dryland corn. |