Soil Water Change as Related to Position of Wheat Straw Mulch on the Soil Surface

Abstract Purpose Mulching is a practice recommended for soil moisture conservation in potato. The wheat straw and rice straw obtained as major crop residues were used as mulching materials to compare their effectiveness for soil moisture retention in potato crop. Methods The field experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design replicated thrice with three treatments viz. plots incorporated with wheat straw mulch, rice straw mulch at the rate of 10 tonnes per hectare each and no mulch serving as control. The soil moisture was determined using a soil moisture probe and data were recorded daily at 10 cm, 20 cm and 30 cm soil depths. The Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy was used to investigate moisture retention characteristics of the mulch materials. Results Soil moisture retention varied as wheat straw mulch > rice straw mulch > no mulch at 10 cm, 20 cm and 30 cm soil depths, respectively. Highest moisture retention in wheat straw mulch at 10 cm depth is attributed to better moisture absorption ability of wheat straw in comparison to rice straw. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope images indicated the presence of smaller sized micro tubes in wheat straw than rice straw, which resulted in more water retention, thereby substantiating the findings of the study. Conclusion Wheat straw mulch is more effective than rice straw mulch for shallow rooted crops like potato, due to better moisture absorption and retention in upper soil layer.

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The effect of straw mulch and compost application on the soil losses in potatoes cultivation

Plant Soil and Environment ◽

10.17221/330/2020-pse ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 66 (No. 9) ◽

pp. 446-452

Author(s):

Martin Král ◽

Petr Dvořák ◽

Ivana Capouchova

Keyword(s):

Soil Loss ◽

Soil Layer ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Soil Protection ◽

Straw Mulch ◽

Compost Application ◽

High Doses ◽

Wheat Straw Mulch ◽

Short Time ◽

Soil Losses

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of the straw mulch and compost application on the soil losses in potatoes cultivation. The three-year (2016–2018) exact field plot trials with the potato cv. Dicolora was carried out at the experimental station in Prague-Uhříněves. Wheat straw mulch in two doses 2.5 t/ha (SM1) and 4.5 t/ha (SM2) was applied on the soil surface; the compost in a dose of 20 t/ha (CM) was shuffled to the surface soil layer. Both straw mulch and compost application contributed to the significant reduction of the soil losses compared to control untreated (C). In the average of 2016–2018, the lowest soil loss 17.54 g/m<sup>2</sup> (amount of the soil sediment caught) was found for the variant with the straw mulch treatment (SM2); it means the decrease of soil losses by 71.9% compared to C. Variant SM1 (lower rate of straw mulch in dose 2.5 t/ha) showed the soil loss 18.6 g/m<sup>2</sup> (the decrease by 70.2% compared to C). The similar results for both variants indicate that for effective soil protection, it is not necessary to use the high doses of the straw mulch. Regarding the distribution of precipitation during the vegetation season, intensive precipitation during the short time, especially when they came after the longer period of drought led to higher soil losses compared to the precipitation distributed regularly.

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Evaluation of Biocontrol Agent and Wheat Straw Mulch on Yield and Yield Components of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Genotypes in Central Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

10.7176/jbah/9-13-04 ◽

2019 ◽

Keyword(s):

Wheat Straw ◽

Arachis Hypogaea ◽

Yield Components ◽

Biocontrol Agent ◽

Northern Ethiopia ◽

Straw Mulch ◽

Arachis Hypogaea L ◽

Yield And Yield Components ◽

Wheat Straw Mulch

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Influence of Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Straw Mulch and Metolachlor on Corn (Zea mays) Growth and Yield

Weed Science ◽

10.1017/s0043174500084307 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 141-147 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Gail A. Wicks ◽

Don A. Crutchfield ◽

Orvin C. Burnside

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Wheat Straw ◽

Great Plains ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Kernel Weight ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Straw Mulch ◽

Soil Temperatures ◽

Wheat Straw Mulch

The presence of wheat straw mulch in no-tillage systems can increase corn yields in the central Great Plains, but information is needed on the optimal mulch level and the toxicity of metolachlor on corn growth. Research was conducted to determine the effect of winter wheat straw mulch levels of 0, 1.7, 3.4, 5.1, and 6.8 t ha–1and metolachlor rates of 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5X-rates on corn growth and yield in a winter wheat-ecofallow-corn-fallow rotation at three locations across Nebraska. Response of corn to different mulch levels and metolachlor rates varied with climate and location. In general, early corn growth was retarded by increasing amounts of mulch due to reduced soil temperatures, but after tasseling corn grew taller under increasing mulch levels because of increased soil moisture. Soil water content, kernel moisture at harvest, stover dry matter, total dry matter, ears per plant, and kernel weight increased with increasing mulch level. Corn grain yield reached a maximum at a mulch level of 5.1 t ha–1. Kernel weight, kernel number, and grain yield increased with higher mulch levels and 0.5 and 1.0X metolachlor rates as weed competition was reduced, but decreased at the 1.5X-rate of metolachlor due to corn injury. Lack of sufficient growing degree-days to compensate for lower soil temperatures or corn injury reduced corn yields at the higher mulch levels and 1.5X-rate of metolachlor in west-central and western Nebraska. From a practical standpoint, a mulch level of 3.4 to 5.1 t ha–1and a metolachlor rate near the X-rate should increase corn yield (14 to 15%) over unmulched corn in the central Great Plains.

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The Effect of Straw Mulch on Simulated Simazine Leaching and Runoff

Weed Science ◽

10.1614/ws-d-10-00103.1 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 59 (4) ◽

pp. 580-586 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Linjian Jiang ◽

Imed Dami ◽

Hannah M. Mathers ◽

Warren A. Dick ◽

Doug Doohan

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Laboratory Experiment ◽

Wheat Straw ◽

Bare Soil ◽

Simulated Rainfall ◽

Effective Practice ◽

Midwestern United States ◽

Straw Mulch ◽

Wheat Straw Mulch

In the Midwestern United States, winter hilling, consisting of two tillage activities per year, is required in vinifera-grape vineyards for winter protection. However, this practice often leads to severe soil erosion and pesticide offsite movement. The effectiveness of wheat straw mulch as a replacement for soil mounding was investigated as a way of providing winter protection and to mitigate pesticide leaching and runoff. A laboratory experiment was conducted where simazine was applied to wheat straw or bare soil and then followed by simulated rainfalls. When compared with bare soil, straw reduced simazine leaching and runoff by 40 and 68%, respectively. Adsorption or interception, or both, of simazine by straw were responsible for this effect. Additionally, straw reduced soil erosion by 95% and would largely reduce simazine runoff associated with sediment displacement. The first simulated rainfall contributed 70 and 34% of total simazine runoff from bare soil and straw, respectively. In conclusion, mulching with straw during winter months to provide winter protection could be an effective practice for controlling simazine offsite movement and soil erosion in vinifera vineyards.

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Optimization of wheat straw pretreatment process parameters for straw mulch mat

BioResources ◽

10.15376/biores.16.2.3827-3839 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 3827-3839

Author(s):

Ying Zhang ◽

Dian-Ming Ju ◽

Zhen-lei Xing ◽

Hao Zong ◽

Long-Hai Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Water Temperature ◽

Wheat Straw ◽

Process Parameters ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Soaking Time ◽

Straw Mulch ◽

Tensile Index ◽

Plastic Mulching ◽

Wheat Straw Mulch

Straw mulch mat is a promising alternative to petroleum-based plastic mulching film. The straw pretreatment process parameters influence the mechanical properties of the mat. To explore the effect of pretreatment process parameters on physical properties of wheat straw mulch mat, a five-factor and five-level central composite design (CCD) methodology was studied. With response surface methodology (RSM) analysis, the effects of parameters (soaking water temperature, soaking time, processing speed, manufacturing temperature, and manufacturing pressure) on dry tensile index and wet tensile index of original film, and initial beating degree of the straw pulp were reported. The optimal technical parameters were optimized as soaking water temperature 90 °C, soaking time 1.5 h, manufacturing pressure 1.5 MPa, processing speed 83.5 to 87.8 r/min, and manufacturing temperature 95 to 100 °C. With the optimal condition, the dry tensile index, wet tensile index, and initial beating degree were higher than 8 N·m/g, 4 N·m/g, and 17 °SR, respectively. With this pretreatment of raw materials, the wheat straw mulch mat would meet the demands of mechanical properties for agriculture mulching after adding chemical additives.

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