Effects of Film-Mulched Rock Outcrops on Rainwater Redistribution and Maize Growth in the Cropland of a Rocky Karst Area
Film-mulched rock outcrops are a proven way to effectively prevent preferential flow at the rock–soil interface in rocky karst areas, but the impact on rainwater redistribution and maize growth in farmland areas has never been studied. This paper used the dye tracer method at a sprinkling intensity...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | Water |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/2/254 |
| _version_ | 1797342367146049536 |
|---|---|
| author | Zhimeng Zhao Jiabin Deng Jin Zhang Youxin Shen |
| author_facet | Zhimeng Zhao Jiabin Deng Jin Zhang Youxin Shen |
| author_sort | Zhimeng Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Film-mulched rock outcrops are a proven way to effectively prevent preferential flow at the rock–soil interface in rocky karst areas, but the impact on rainwater redistribution and maize growth in farmland areas has never been studied. This paper used the dye tracer method at a sprinkling intensity of 1 mm min<sup>−1</sup> to study the rainwater redistribution in soils for three different treatments: away from rock (AR), close to rock (CR), and close to film-mulched rock (CFMR). The growth situation of maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) according to the different treatments was also studied. It was shown in the study that the rainwater gathered by rock outcrops was mainly confined only within a narrow flow path at the rock–soil interface in the CR treatment, with a preferential flow fraction of 35.78~55.54% and dyeing depth of 15.37~20.00 cm across the three dye application amounts (850 mL, 1700 mL, and 3400 mL) in contrast to the uniform distribution of the rainwater in the soil of the AR treatment, with a preferential flow fraction of 12.31~37.15% and dyeing depth of 6.93~14.00 cm. Interestingly, in the CFMR treatment, there was no preferential flow at the rock–soil interface benefiting from the film’s blocking action, and the redistribution of rainwater was mainly based on the matrix flow, with a preferential flow fraction of 24.93~39.62% and dyeing depth of 10.27~18.00 cm, indicating that the film-mulched rock outcrops improved the rock’s output capability for gathering rainwater into the surrounding soil. In addition, film-mulched rock outcrops can promote the growth of maize, as indicated by the results for plant height, stem diameter, maximum leaf area, SPAD value, and floral development of maize, which increased in order from AR, CR, to CFMR. Our study suggests that film-mulched rock outcrops have important implications for the efficient use of rainwater and the growth of crops in rocky karst areas, as well as in regions with similar geological characteristics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:32:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-31b1208e51e547ffb575149223ac920a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:32:16Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-31b1208e51e547ffb575149223ac920a2024-01-26T18:51:05ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412024-01-0116225410.3390/w16020254Effects of Film-Mulched Rock Outcrops on Rainwater Redistribution and Maize Growth in the Cropland of a Rocky Karst AreaZhimeng Zhao0Jiabin Deng1Jin Zhang2Youxin Shen3Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Geographic State Monitoring of Watershed, School of Geography and Resources, Guizhou Education University, Guiyang 550018, ChinaGuizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Geographic State Monitoring of Watershed, School of Geography and Resources, Guizhou Education University, Guiyang 550018, ChinaSchool of Mathematical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaFilm-mulched rock outcrops are a proven way to effectively prevent preferential flow at the rock–soil interface in rocky karst areas, but the impact on rainwater redistribution and maize growth in farmland areas has never been studied. This paper used the dye tracer method at a sprinkling intensity of 1 mm min<sup>−1</sup> to study the rainwater redistribution in soils for three different treatments: away from rock (AR), close to rock (CR), and close to film-mulched rock (CFMR). The growth situation of maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) according to the different treatments was also studied. It was shown in the study that the rainwater gathered by rock outcrops was mainly confined only within a narrow flow path at the rock–soil interface in the CR treatment, with a preferential flow fraction of 35.78~55.54% and dyeing depth of 15.37~20.00 cm across the three dye application amounts (850 mL, 1700 mL, and 3400 mL) in contrast to the uniform distribution of the rainwater in the soil of the AR treatment, with a preferential flow fraction of 12.31~37.15% and dyeing depth of 6.93~14.00 cm. Interestingly, in the CFMR treatment, there was no preferential flow at the rock–soil interface benefiting from the film’s blocking action, and the redistribution of rainwater was mainly based on the matrix flow, with a preferential flow fraction of 24.93~39.62% and dyeing depth of 10.27~18.00 cm, indicating that the film-mulched rock outcrops improved the rock’s output capability for gathering rainwater into the surrounding soil. In addition, film-mulched rock outcrops can promote the growth of maize, as indicated by the results for plant height, stem diameter, maximum leaf area, SPAD value, and floral development of maize, which increased in order from AR, CR, to CFMR. Our study suggests that film-mulched rock outcrops have important implications for the efficient use of rainwater and the growth of crops in rocky karst areas, as well as in regions with similar geological characteristics.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/2/254film mulchmaizerainfall redistributionrocky desertification farmlandgrowth and development |
| spellingShingle | Zhimeng Zhao Jiabin Deng Jin Zhang Youxin Shen Effects of Film-Mulched Rock Outcrops on Rainwater Redistribution and Maize Growth in the Cropland of a Rocky Karst Area Water film mulch maize rainfall redistribution rocky desertification farmland growth and development |
| title | Effects of Film-Mulched Rock Outcrops on Rainwater Redistribution and Maize Growth in the Cropland of a Rocky Karst Area |
| title_full | Effects of Film-Mulched Rock Outcrops on Rainwater Redistribution and Maize Growth in the Cropland of a Rocky Karst Area |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Film-Mulched Rock Outcrops on Rainwater Redistribution and Maize Growth in the Cropland of a Rocky Karst Area |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Film-Mulched Rock Outcrops on Rainwater Redistribution and Maize Growth in the Cropland of a Rocky Karst Area |
| title_short | Effects of Film-Mulched Rock Outcrops on Rainwater Redistribution and Maize Growth in the Cropland of a Rocky Karst Area |
| title_sort | effects of film mulched rock outcrops on rainwater redistribution and maize growth in the cropland of a rocky karst area |
| topic | film mulch maize rainfall redistribution rocky desertification farmland growth and development |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/2/254 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zhimengzhao effectsoffilmmulchedrockoutcropsonrainwaterredistributionandmaizegrowthinthecroplandofarockykarstarea AT jiabindeng effectsoffilmmulchedrockoutcropsonrainwaterredistributionandmaizegrowthinthecroplandofarockykarstarea AT jinzhang effectsoffilmmulchedrockoutcropsonrainwaterredistributionandmaizegrowthinthecroplandofarockykarstarea AT youxinshen effectsoffilmmulchedrockoutcropsonrainwaterredistributionandmaizegrowthinthecroplandofarockykarstarea |