Effects of rotation of strip planting and fallow on soil water and crop yield in sloping farmland

In order to seek the response of soil water dynamics and crop yields under the rotation of planting and fallow patterns, a four-year field study was conducted between 2007 and 2010 to determine the effects of the interval rotation of strip planting and fallow on soil water and crop yields in semi-arid areas of southern Ningxia, China. Results showed that compared with the interval rotation of no strip planting and fallow (CK), the interval rotation of strip planting and fallow contributed to improving the capacity of soil water conservation to collect rainfall, and significantly increased the soil water storage (0-200 cm) through the four-year experiment. During the jointing and heading stage, the vertical change of soil water content in 0-200 cm layers under different treatment showed different trends, which was significant higher in the rotation of strip planting and fallow than that in the interval rotation of no strip planting and fallow patterns. Crop yields with the interval rotation of strip planting and fallow patterns were significantly different from the interval rotation of no strip planting and fallow patterns. Compared with the interval rotation of no strip planting and fallow patterns, the millet yields increased by 8.79%-15.25% in the interval rotation of strip planting and fallow patterns, and the winter wheat yields increased by 6.33%-14.69%. These results have important significances for soil amendment and crop production in the slopping land of arid areas.