In order to investigate on the effects of returning crop residual as mulch in addition to film mulching

field plot experiments were deployed in sloped lands of Jianping County

Chaoyang City

Liaoning Province.Five levels of residual returning(0

400

800

1 200 and 1 600 kg/hm2) were compared in terms of soil moisture retention and maize yield.The results show that the residual returning treatment of 800 kg/hm2 exhibited the best effect on soil moisture retention.The yields of the lands with residual returning of 400

800

1 200 and 1 600 kg/hm2 were 5 069.20

5 781.46

5 462.25 and 5 407.46 kg/hm2

with increases of 18.62%

35.28%

27.81% and 26.53%

respectively

in comparison of the control.The treatment of 800 kg/hm2 also displayed the best influences on maize growth in comparison of the others

as indicated by the statistically significant difference.