Abstract:

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of date of planting, differential planting methods and soil moisture on caster growth and development under climate and planting condition of Ningxia irrigation area. Some treatments are designed and tested in field condition. The conclusion is caster yield increased with using plastic mulching which keep the soil temperature and moisture, extend the vegetative growth and reproductive growth.. Compare with opening field cultivation, caster with plastic mulching have better characters in earlier emergence of seedlings, faster growth, earlier flowering and spike ,more ears and high yield. As far as date of planting concerned, earlier planting is better than later in yield with an average increase of 43.4 percent. The appropriate date of planting is in April 20 for open field cultivation and in mid-April for plastic mulching.