Effects of organic fertilization on soil moisture and crop productivity in semi-arid areas of southern Ningxia

Effects of organic fertilization on soil moisture and crop productivity were studied using a two year field experiment in semi-arid areas of southern Ningxia. The results show that soil water storages at 0–100 cm layer for the high-fertilizer, middle-fertilizer and low-fertilizer treatments are about 13%, 10% and 0.9% higher than that of the CK at the maturity stage of oil flax, respectively, the oil flax yields of the three treatment are 11%, 10% and 5% higher than that of the CK, and the water use efficiencies are 30%, 29% and 11% higher than that of the CK in the first experiment year, 2007. For the 2008 crop year, the soil water storages are 16%, 14% and 7% than that of the CK at the maturity stage of winter wheat, the yields of winter wheat are 18%, 25% and 13% higher than that of the CK, and the water use efficiencies are 14%, 15% and 6% higher than that of the CK. The two-year study indicates that application of organic fertilizers can improve soil moisture, expand soil water storage capacity, and increase crop yield and soil water use efficiency significantly.