Influence of Soil Moisture Conservation Techniques on Forestation Effect in the Dry-hot Valley Area of Panzhihua Prefecture, Sichuan Province

Hydrogel application and ground mulching with hays are the two key factors to promote soil moisture and simultaneously to assure survival rate in afforestation in the dry-hot valley area in Panzhihua Prefecture, Sichuan Province. Mulching with hays might significantly reduce soil evaporation and enhance the infiltration of ground water into the deep-layer of soil, The survival rate of afforestation was increased by 13% when each sapling was planted with 10 g hydrogel in the planting pit and then the hay mulching was applied. Similarly, the survival rate of afforestation was increased by 12% if the saplings were planted with 10 g hydrogel per plant and then the plastic film mulching was adopted.