Effects of Wote super absorbent and PAM with different application methods on soil moisture and maize growth

In order to determine the effects of Wote super absorbent and PAM with various application methods, field experiments were conducted to investigate their effects on soil moisture and maize growth in the loess hilly and gully areas of northern Shaanxi Province. Wote super absorbent and PAM were applied with three treatments of broadcasting, furrowing, and holing. The results showed that the three treatments could increase soil moisture within 10 cm deep below soil surface, while soil moisture in 30～40 cm layer showed different regimes with various precipitations at the maize growing stage. At the maize growing stage, soil depth affected by the treatments extended from 50 cm at three leaves stage to 200 cm at the maturation stage. The application treatments, in terms of soil moisture, were ranked in the descendant order of furrowing and holing, broadcasting, and CK. The three application methods could hardly influence maize germination, but could increase maize biomass, kernel yield, and water use efficiency and decrease water consumption by maize. The effects of furrowing and holing treatments were better than that of broadcasting treatment. Wote super absorbent and PAM with the same application method did not significantly affect soil moisture and maize growth. There was no evident difference between furrowing and holing treatments as well. Yield per unit amount of application for Wote super absorbent was higher than that for PAM. Optimum application method of Wote and PAM should be furrowing or holing application in maize production.