The study looked at how covering the soil with straw during the wheat growing season affects the amount of water in the soil and the yield of summer maize. The results showed that using straw mulch increased the yield of maize. While the straw mulch didn't save much water due to heavy rainfall, it did help the maize plants use water more efficiently. The straw mulch saved water in the top soil layer, especially at the beginning of the maize growing season. However, in deeper soil layers, there was less straw mulch compared to uncovered soil. Overall, using straw mulch can help maize plants make better use of rainfall during the summer.