[Microclimatic effect and soil moisture change of poplar-wheat intercropping systems in Huaibei Plain]

In this paper, the microclimatic effect and the soil moisture of poplar-wheat intercropping systems were studied. The results indicated that the strip intercropping, comparing with the contrast, could increase the relative humidity by 2-8%, decrease the surface temperature by 1-7 degrees C, and reduce wind speed. The illumination hours were decreased with the time and the distance between the rows, and the varying range was within 4.1-15.3%. In shelterbelt network, the relative humidity was increased by 6.4-11.6%, and the illumination hours were decreased by 8.5-11.7%. In strip intercropping, the intercropping systems could improve soil moisture, which was varied with the intensity of tree, and generally, the increase of soil moisture was about in a range of 0.67-3.87%. In shelterbelt network, the soil moisture was related to the orientation and the distance from the shelterbelt, and there existed negative correlation between the soil moisture and the distance in all orientations.