Effects of Burial of Rice Straw in Furrows on Soil Environment of Wheat Field

A field experiment was carried out to have all the straws of the preceding rice crop returned to the field by burying them into furrows to the depth of 20,30,40 and 50 cm,sparately,at a rate of 2kg·m^-1.The experiment was designed to study effects of this practice on moisture,temperature,bulk density and porosity of the soil in the wheat field.It was found that 12 days after rainfall,soil moisture was significantly lower in the plots with straws buried into furrows 20 and 30 cm in depth than in the plot without straw buried,but not so significant in the plots of with straws buried into furrows 40 and 50 cm in depth.Temperaure of the soil underneath the straw did not vary much in all th straw burial plots,demonstrating that the buried straw has an insulating effect to the soil below.Straw burial could also significantly lower bulk density and increase totao porosity of the soil,expcept in the plot with straw buried only 20 cm in depth,thus making the plaw layer of the soil looser.