Abstract: 【Objective】The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in soil moisture content in spring corn fields under different mulching methods,and to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for water-saving and high-yield planting of spring corn in arid and semi-arid regions of northern China.【Methods】In the experiment,three kinds of mulching methods were used：open-field-cultivation,half-plastic film mulching,and whole-plastic film mulching after spring irrigated. The dynamic changes of soil moisture in the soil layer of spring corn are 0-10,10-20,and 20-30 cm during the whole growth period. A systematic study was carried out.【Results】The results showed that during the whole growth period of spring corn,the soil moisture content of the whole-plastic film mulching with 0-10,10-20,20-30 cm was better than open-field-cultivation and half-plastic film mulching,74.77%,73.39%,40.43% and 39.89%,36.79%,33.47%. Compared with the sowing period,the soil water content in each soil layer under different mulching methods has been reduced to varying degrees of 4.03%-13.19%;in the full maturity period compared with the sowing stage of spring corn during the full growth period,the soil water content in the soil layer of 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm decreased by the order of the whole-plastic film mulching>open-field-cultivation>half-plastic film mulching,and the soil moisture content in the 20-30 cm soil layer was reduced by the order of the whole-plastic film mulching>half-plastic film mulching>open-field-cultivation.【Conclusion】The spring irrigated full mulching method can make more use of the water in each layer of the soil,while the spring irrigated open field makes more use of the water in the upper layer. It suggests that the whole-plastic film mulching is more conducive to the growth of spring corn in the northern arid and semi-arid areas.

Key words: Film mulch patterns, Soil moisture content, Spring corn