Optimizing Plant Density and Plastic Film Mulch to Increase Maize Productivity and Water‐Use Efficiency in Semiarid Areas

• DOI: 10.2134/agronj13.0582
• Publication Date: 2014-05-29T13:55:21Z
• Authors: Jianliang Liu; Lingduo Bu; Lin Zhu; Shasha Luo; Xinping Chen; Shiqing Li
• Keywords: Water Use Efficiency; Plastic film; Growing season; Water use

Increasing crop productivity in semiarid areas is essential for ensuring future food security. We hypothesized that yield could be increased by using plastic film mulching to reduce evaporation and increase plant density. A 3‐yr field experiment was conducted on the Loess Plateau of China evaluate effects soil temperature water content maize ( Zea mays L.) grain (GY) water‐use efficiency (WUE). Film promoted growth development increasing content, particularly during early season. At harvest, mulched treatments had higher kernel numbers per ear (KN) greater 1000‐kernel weight (KW) than non‐mulched treatment. Furthermore, allowed optimum population from 65,000 85,000 plants ha −1 . Compared with entire growing season, removing at silking stage decreased senescence rate slightly final KN KW, thus further GY 0.6 1.2 Mg Although WUE showed no significant difference among three (34.0–47.2 kg mm ), these values were markedly treatment (20.3–29.6 ). conclude together density can yields efficiency.