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This experiment was conducted to study the effects of polyethylene film (P.E., black color) and rice straw mulches on vegetative growth and mineral element contents of young jujube (Zixyphus jujuba Miller) trees. Soil water potential(ø) in P.E. film and rice straw mulch plots were decreased slowly but maintained above -0.01 MPa on 12 days after rainfall. Water potential of soil in control plot, however, decreased rapidly and measured below -0.06 MPa on 8∼10 days after rainfall. It also regarded as a water deficit condition. Soil temperature at 10cm depth showed no differences between control and rice straw mulch plots but that of P.E. film mulch was 2 ℃ higher than that of other plots at 10 a.m. On the other hand, soil temperature at 4 p.m. was 1∼2 ℃ lower in rice straw plot and 2∼5 ℃ higher in P.E. film plot than in control plot. Growth parameters of rice straw mulched plants were a little behind to those of control plants in the early growing season but they recovered the growth rapidly and exceeded control plants during the late growing season in the first year of planting. All the growth parameters of plants were the best growth in P.E. film plot throughout the growing season. No differences were observed among the plots on the mineral contents such as P, K, Ca, and Mg. But in nitrogen content plot was higher and that of P.E. film was lower than that of rice straw plot in the first year of planting. In the second year of planting, new growth rate was highest in P.E film mulch, but no differences were observed in leaf growth, plant height, and main stem diameter among the treatments.
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