[Objective] The effects of plastic film mulching and hole sowing rate on soil water and soil salt distribution of spring wheat under hole sowing were studied in Hetao Plain

in order to provide scientific guidance for reducing soil salinization

improving soil water use efficiency

realizing precision sowing and promoting plastic film spring wheat production.[Methods] Spring wheat in open field with different hole sowing rate (8

10

12

14 and 16 seeds

respectively) was taken as control

to monitor the effect of spring wheat with film mulching on soil moisture

soil salt distribution and the yields of wheat.[Results] The soil moisture in both film mulched fields and open fields decreased with the increase of hole sowing rate

and the difference of soil moisture among different hole sowing rate from sowing to filling period increased with the growth of spring wheat. Under the same how sowing rate

the soil moisture in film mulched fields were higher than those in open fields before the booting period

while it was lower after flowering period. Soil water consumption of spring wheat with film mulching were slightly higher than those in open fields in the whole growing season. The soil salt in both open fields and film mulched fields decreased with the increase of hole sowing rate

however

there was no significant difference among different hole sowing rates. Soil salt in 0-30 cm soil layer in film mulched fields was significantly lower than those in open fields

but the soil salt below 30 cm soil layer was basically the same as those in open fields under the same hole sowing rate. The soil water use efficiency in both open fields and film mulched fields increased with the increase of hole sowing rate. The yields

water use efficiency and water output rate of spring wheat with film mulching were higher while the thousand grain weight and economic coefficient were lower than those in the open fields under the same hole sowing rate. The yield and water output rate in open fields were the highest with a hole sowing rate by 14 seeds

while the yield in film mulched fields was the highest with a hole sowing rate by 12 seeds

and the water output rate was the highest with a hole sowing rate by 10 seeds.[Conclusion] Film mulching can reduce soil salt in 0-30 cm soil layer and improve soil water use efficiency. The suitable hole sowing rate of spring wheat with film mulching should be 70% to 84% of the local conventional open field strip sowing rate

i. e. 10 to 12 seeds per hole sowing in salinized soil in Hetao Plain.