Abstract: Maize yield and soil temperature will be changed in different color film mulchings and plant densities. In recent years, maize yield is increasing mainly due to using of plastic mulching and high tolerant maize hybrids. However, the understanding of effects of plastic mulching and plant density on soil temperature and maize yield still need improvement. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of plastic film mulching and plant density on maize yield and soil temperature. The field experiment was conducted in main plots under three types of mulching (nonmulching, black plastic film mulching and transparent plastic film mulching), which were divided into three subplots with different plant densities (60000, 75000 and 90000 plants·hm^-2) at Shenyang Agricultural University, Shen-yang, Northeast China, during maize growing season of 2016. The daily variation of 0-25 cm depth average temperature of different treatments all showed a normal distribution trend. Average temperature of 0-25 cm soil depth was higher under transparent film treatments than under black film and nonmulching treatments, and increased with the decrease of plant density. Combination of black film mulching and the density of 9000 plants·hm^-2 reached a maximum yield of 14264.6 kg·hm^-2. The soil temperature in heading stage had negative influence on maize yield. These results can help smallholders to choose reasonable agricultural techniques to improve maize yield in rainfed area of Northeast China.

Key words: MCR model, Changli County, ecological sensitivity, ecological corridor, ecosystem service value