Effects of mulch on soil moisture content of Haloxylon aphyllum seedlings in Semnan province

This study examined the effect of mulch to keep soil moisture of Haloxylon plants of Semnan province in a randomized complete block design with 2 main plots and sub-plots plastic mulch natural and artificial white, black, coarse and fine sand each with 3 replications in different areas. The seedlings of Haloxylon aphyllum separated by a distance of 3 km from the plots and planted in the pan to a thickness of 5 cm of mulch. Area without mulch was used as a control treatment. Watering operation was carried out in this regard that only the monthly irrigation control and other treatments didn’t irrigate during the experimental period. TDR sensors installed in each treatment and soil moisture, plant height, followed by the coefficient k were measured every other 10-day. The results showed that the effect of mulch on soil moisture factor was significantly (p>0.05). Black plastic, sand and coarse treatment had the lowest soil moisture, while the coarse sand control treatment had no significant difference (p<0.05). The highest coefficient k was obtained in the treatment of black plastic and the lowest found in the treatment of soft sand. In general, treatment of black plastic (synthetic mulch) showed significant difference between coarse and fine sand with natural treatments (p<0.05) and the coefficient k mulch treatments had no significant difference from the control group (p>0.05). Significant differences in term of soil moisture and k factor was found between the groups. The findings showed that natural mulch in all variables had less average soil moisture than synthetic mulch and, therefore, was more favorable.