Zhibin Li^1,2,3

1 Shandong Tree Mountain Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., Zhucheng, 262200, Shandong, China
2 Zhejiang Beile Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
3 Zhejiang Agronomist College, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Molecular Soil Biology, 2026, Vol. 17, No. 2   
Received: 12 Mar., 2026    Accepted: 15 Apr., 2026    Published: 29 Apr., 2026

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

To investigate the effects of different mulching methods on the dynamic changes of soil moisture in cherry orchards, a typical cherry-growing region was selected as the study site. Treatments involving plastic film mulching, straw mulching, and a bare-ground control were established to systematically monitor the spatiotemporal characteristics of soil moisture across different soil layers (0-20 cm, 20-40 cm, and below 40 cm). The results indicate that different mulching methods significantly influence soil moisture retention capacity and distribution patterns. Specifically, plastic film mulching proved most effective in inhibiting soil moisture evaporation, thereby effectively increasing the water content in the topsoil layer; conversely, straw mulching demonstrated advantages in regulating soil temperature and facilitating the slow release of moisture, which contributes to the stability of soil moisture in the middle and deep soil layers. Furthermore, these mulching measures improved soil moisture conditions, leading to enhancements in cherry growth parameters and water use efficiency. A case study further validated the practical value of adopting rational mulching strategies for improving water management levels in orchards. These findings provide a theoretical basis and technical support for scientific irrigation and mulching management in cherry orchards.

Cherry orchard; Mulching methods; Soil moisture; Moisture dynamics; Water use efficiency