Abstract: Straw mulching is one of the cultivation measures for drought resistance, moisture conservation, and efficient water use in dryland agriculture. It is a technology for green agriculture to increase production and meet the needs of sustainable development. Straw mulching is an important way of recycling straw resources. It alleviates the haze pollution caused by the illegal incineration of straw and weakens the residual film pollution caused by long-term mulching. However, the effects of straw mulching depend on climatic conditions and crop types. In this review, we expound the effective mechanisms of straw mulching to promote crop yield and water-efficient use from the perspectives of water storage, temperature regulation, moisture retention, and evapotranspiration change of farmlands. Meanwhile, we propose that researches on straw mulching pattern, prevention and control of crop diseases and insect pests, agricultural machinery and agronomy matching, and greenhouse gas emission reduction in straw mulching cultivation should be strengthened, so as to improve relevant techniques and methods, and provide a reference for the improvement and promotion of straw mulching technology.

Key words: straw mulch, soil moisture, soil temperature, yield, crop species.