In order to explore the changing rules of soil water and salt movement under the condition of snow cover and surface mulching during the freezing and thawing season in Shihezi irrigation areas

we conducted a field plot test during 2015-2016 and investigated the temporal and spatial dynamic rules of water and salt in the soil with three different surface coverings

i.e. straw

plastic film

activated carbon

and bare land

during the whole seasonal freezing and thawing period. The results suggested that surface coverage was more effective in the preservation of soil moisture and salt reduction than the bare land. After the frozen soil was fully thawed

the deepest soil layer in which the water content increased was 0-30 cm and 0-40 cm for the soil covered with straw and activated carbon

respectively

indicating that the two kinds of coverings were more beneficial to the maintenance of soil moisture and the efficient use of snowmelt water after the freezing and thawing process. Compared with the initial value

the increase in salt content in the 0-30 cm soil layer in the soil covered with activated carbon

straw

plastic film

and bare land was 18.08%

20.30%

30.91%

and 32.81%

respectively

suggesting that the inhibition effect on the upward movement of salt by activated carbon coverage was the most significant

followed by straw mulching. During the process of freezing and thawing

the variability of soil moisture and salinity showed a decreasing tendency with the increasing of soil depth.