Colored plastic mulches affect soil temperature and tuber production of potato

Abstract

The main crops on which plastic mulch is widely used in Mexico include tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, melons, watermelons, and strawberry; however, very little research has been performed on potato. One of the main benefits associated with plastic mulching is the modification of the microclimate around the plant. To obtain a positive microclimate modification studies are required to understand how plastic mulch affects growth and yield of a given species. Previous field research assessing the response to colored plastic mulching in potato shows no consistent results on yield, maybe because it has been performed under different geographical latitudes. Potato in Mexico is conventionally cultivated on bare soil combined with various irrigation systems. The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of colored plastic mulches on soil temperature, growth, yield and photosynthetic response of potato plants. The experiment was conducted in Northeast Mexico and the treatments included were: black plastic mulch (BPM); white-on-black plastic mulch (W/B), silver-on-black (SPM), aluminum-on-black plastic mulch (APM) and a control that consisted of bare soil cultivated plants. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Results suggest that average daily mean soil temperature was linearly and negatively correlated with total yield and yield of first-quality tubers. Total yield and yield of first-quality tubers of plants mulched with W/B, SPM and APM was significantly higher (p≤0.05) than those of control plants. Leaf area and shoot dry weight were increased when soil temperatures were higher due to the effect of radiation transmission to the soil, however, this decrease was associated with a decrease in tuber production. The results of our study indicate that plants grown under BPM, which induced the highest soil temperature, showed marginal difference in yield compared with control plants, suggesting that colored plastic mulches have a positive effect on yield through decreased rise in soil temperature.     

Changes induced by plastic film mulches on soil temperature and their relevance in growth and fruit yield of pickling cucumber

Purpose: The aim of this study was to realize whether soil mulching, with different plastic mulch colors, is a suitable practice for the culture of pickling cucumber.

Materials and Methods: The crop was cultured or not with black, silver/black, white/black, and aluminum/black plastic films, treatments were evaluated in randomized complete block design, to determine their effect on soil temperature, gas exchange, nutrient concentration, growth, and fruit yield.

Results and Conclusions: Black, silver/black, and aluminum/black plastic mulches were higher (p?≤?0.05) in plant height, leaf area, and shoot dry weight than bare soil at 15 days after sowing, whose results were similar than using white/black film. Maximum, minimum, and mean soil temperatures were higher with all plastic mulches except for aluminum/black, in which the maximum soil temperature was similar to the one in bare soil. There was no difference in net photosynthesis and there was very little difference in nutrient concentration between plants in plastic mulches and plants in bare soil; however, early and total yield showed a higher (p?≤?0.05) yield in all plastic mulches, and lower with bare soil and white/black plastic mulch. Our results confirm that soil mulching impacts the pickling cucumber yield. We suggest a carefull selection of the color plastic mulch.     

Photosynthesis,growth, and fruit yield of cucumber in response to oxo-degradable plastic mulches

The use of plastic mulch is associated with a higher increase in yield of vegetables. However, at the end of the growing season for each crop, plastic mulching can create environmental pollution that can cause negative impacts on the environment that could be solved by the use of degradable plastics. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of oxo-degradable plastic mulches on soil temperature, growth, gas exchange, and cucumber crop yield. The study was conducted in two locations in the northeast of Mexico during the spring and summer of 2013. The plastic mulch colors with additives were blue, green, and red and each color having 8% and 12% of pigment and 22% and 23% of Titanium dioxide (Rutile). The resultant treatments were compared with the black plastic mulch, which is the standard plastic in the world, and bare soil in a randomized complete block design with three replications in two locations. The mean soil temperature at both locations was statistically higher in black plastic mulch, followed by the oxo-degradable plastics mulches and lowest in the control. Gas exchange was not affected by plastic mulches. SPAD units as the index of chlorophyll content in leaves were very little affected by plastic mulch. Both, commercial and total yield were statistically similar in the oxo-degradable plastic mulches and the black plastic mulch, and lowest in the control. Plastics with higher concentrations of pigment registered higher degradation in both locations. Our results suggest that different plastic mulches impact positively on the yield of cucumber crop. The benefit in yield by the different plastic mulches in the conditions of this study was due to their soil warming ability that results in improved soil temperature, leaf area, and plant dry weight.     

Influence of Polyethylene Mulch,Irrigation Regime,and Potassium Rates on Field Cucumber Yield and Related Traits

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) was field grown from April 2001–July 2001 to determine the effects of mulch, irrigation regime, and potassium (K) rates on yield and related traits (i.e., leaf relative water content, water-use efficiency, and macronutrition). This was a factorial experiment with two irrigation levels (125% A pan daily versus 75% A pan every three days), two mulch levels (mulched versus unmulched), and three K₂O levels (20, 40, or 60 g/m²). Plants receiving reduced water application (75% A pan every 3 days) showed significant reductions in all parameters when compared with well-watered plants (125% A pan daily). The use of black polyethylene mulch (BPM) covers improved the plant dry matter, chlorophyll concentrations, fruit yield, and relative water content in leaves of well-watered plants and also improved K availability to the plants by keeping soil moisture higher than that of stressed plants without mulch. Using BPM increased plant water-use efficiency compared with that under the reduced water (RW) treatment. Reduced water application enhanced electrolyte leakage compared with that recorded under the well-watered (WW) treatment. Mulching decreased electrolyte leakage under the RW treatment. Increased K rates significantly enhanced leaf K in the mulched and WW plants. However, increased K rates did not increase leaf K in the RW plants. Reduced water application reduced leaf concentrations of all nutrients tested, i.e., nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), K, calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg). However, mulching enhanced the concentrations of these elements, although their concentrations were still lower than those under the WW treatment. These results clearly indicate that field-grown number plants under mulched treatments were less stressed under semi-arid conditions and also that mulched treatments increased K availability to the plants.     

不同地面覆盖对土壤性状和秋播大蒜产量及品质的影响

为探究秋播大蒜适宜的地面覆盖类型及其对大蒜产量的影响机制,从而为地面覆盖在大蒜高产高效栽培中的应用提供理论依据,以‘麻江红蒜’为试验材料,以不覆盖处理为对照,分别设置白色地膜、黑色地膜、银灰色地膜、1～2 cm和3～4 cm稻草、1～2 cm和3～4 cm稻壳共7种地面覆盖处理,分析不同处理对土壤含水量、温度和酶活性以及大蒜产量和品质的影响。结果表明:地面覆盖处理均可提高0～10 cm土层的含水量,而对10～20 cm土层的含水量影响不显著;3种地膜覆盖处理可不同程度地提高土壤温度,其中以白色地膜的增温效果最好,而稻草和稻壳覆盖处理的土壤温度与对照间差异不显著;不同处理均不同程度地提高了土壤酶活性,其中脲酶活性以白色地膜和1～2 cm稻草覆盖处理最高,酸性磷酸酶活性以白色地膜和银灰色地膜覆盖处理最高,蔗糖酶活性以白色地膜覆盖处理最高。与对照相比,白色地膜和黑色地膜覆盖处理可显著促进大蒜的植株生长,蒜薹产量和鳞茎鲜重产量均以白色地膜覆盖处理最高(367.63 kg/667m~2和653.57 kg/667m~2),黑色地膜覆盖处理次之(287.73 kg/667m~2和363.80 kg/667m~2),两者显著高于对照及其他处理;鳞茎品质总体上以白色地膜覆盖处理最好,与对照相比,其可溶性糖(192.1mg/g)、可溶性蛋白(23.67 mg/g)和大蒜素(5.13 mg/g)含量均显著提高。综合分析认为:地膜覆盖可以改善土壤含水量和温度,稻草和稻壳覆盖仅提高了土壤含水量,但不同处理均可提高土壤酶活性,促进大蒜产量和品质的提高,以白色地膜覆盖的效果最好,黑色地膜覆盖次之。     

生物降解地膜对黄土旱塬玉米产量及水分利用效率的影响

研究黄土旱塬不同厚度生物降解地膜对作物产量和水分利用效率的影响,为黄土旱塬区生物降解地膜应用提供参考依据。采用0.006、0.008、0.010 mm 3种厚度的生物降解地膜,以裸地为对照,测定不同处理土壤水分、植株性状、产量和水分利用效率等指标。结果表明,生物降解地膜厚度减薄会显著降低地膜对水分的保蓄能力,覆膜后150 d,0.006 mm生物降解地膜单株叶面积小于裸地,0.008、0.010 mm生物降解地膜单株叶面积较裸地分别增加20.2%、22.2%。覆膜后120 d,0.006、0.008 mm生物降解地膜叶片SPAD值与裸地没有明显差异,0.010 mm生物降解地膜叶片SPAD值较裸地增加4.2%。生物降解地膜厚度对春玉米产量和水分利用效率有显著影响,生物降解地膜越厚,春玉米产量和水分利用效率越高,但0.008、0.010 mm生物降解地膜在产量和水分利用效率上没有显著差异。     

地表覆盖对日光温室黄瓜生长发育及生理特性的影响

试验研究了秸秆覆盖、地膜覆盖和秸秆加膜覆盖对结瓜期日光温室嫁接和未嫁接黄瓜生长发育与生理特性的影响。结果表明,地表覆盖可有效促进植株生长,有利于雌花分化、提高坐瓜率、降低畸形瓜比例、缩短成瓜时间以及增加单瓜重、早期产量和总产量,其中以秸秆加膜覆盖效果最明显,秸秆覆盖和地膜覆盖次之,嫁接效果优于未嫁接。秸秆覆盖、地膜覆盖和秸秆加膜覆盖均可不同程度提高黄瓜净光合速率、光能利用效率和水分利用效率,且以秸秆加膜覆盖效果最好,嫁接优于未嫁接。秸秆覆盖与秸秆加膜覆盖均可显著增加黄瓜叶片叶绿素含量,增强黄瓜根系活力,而地膜覆盖却使叶绿素含量低于对照,根系活力在结瓜后期低于秸秆覆盖与秸秆加膜覆盖处理,但仍高于对照。     

Tillage and plastic mulch effects on soil properties and growth and yield of cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) on an ultisol in southeastern Nigeria

Protected cultivation, mainly represented by plastic-film mulching, has greatly improved crop production worldwide since the 1950s. However, despite its widespread use in tropical USA, Europe and China, its use in sub-Saharan Africa is not widespread. A field experiment was conducted using cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott) to evaluate the effects of two tillage systems (tilled and no-till) and plastic-film mulch (black and clear plastic-film mulch) on soil properties and cocoyam growth and yield in 2003 and 2004 planting seasons on a Typic paleudult in southeastern Nigeria. The experiment comprised six treatments and was laid out in the field using randomized complete block design replicated three times. Results showed that 70–80% of the corms emerged 7–8 days (21 days after planting [DAP]) earlier in both tilled and no-till plastic-film mulched plots when compared to the unmulched plots. At later stages of crop development, the plants in the tilled black plastic-film mulched plots were taller by 61–67% than those in the unmulched no-till plots, which had the lowest plant height (27–30 cm). At 98 DAP, there were no significant treatment differences in leaf area index (LAI) between tilled and no-till mulched plots with LAI of 15.5–19.8. However, LAI was reduced in both unmulched plots by 35–54% when compared to the mulched plots. On the average soil temperature was higher in plastic-film mulched plots than that under plots without mulch by about 2 °C. Results show significantly lower soil bulk density (between 1.10 and 1.26 Mg m⁻³) in both tilled clear and black plastic-film mulched plots when compared to the corresponding no-till clear or black plastic-film mulched plots (1.40–1.45 Mg m⁻³). For the two seasons studied volumetric water content (VWC) in tilled black plastic-film mulched plots were significantly higher than VWC in other mulched plots by between 10 and 38% in 2003 and between 17 and 30% in 2004. At harvest (270 DAP) the highest corm yield was obtained in tilled black plastic mulched plots (29.1 Mg ha⁻¹). This was higher (P = 0.05) than yields obtained in no-till, no mulch plots by 72%. Yields were also higher in tilled black plastic mulched plots when compared to tilled clear plastic mulched plots, no-till black plastic mulched plots and no-till clear plastic mulched plots by 29, 47 and 59%, respectively. These findings suggest that plastic mulched plots provide a better soil environment for cocoyam than unmulched plots and that tilled mulched plots especially tilled black plastic mulched plots provide superior edaphic environment for cocoyam when compared to other treatments used.     

干旱年份地膜覆盖模式对春小麦土壤水分和产量的影响

在西北半干旱雨养条件下,采取不同地膜覆盖方式,研究了春小麦地膜覆盖的水分效应。结果显示,覆膜可显著提高土壤表层（0-20cm）墒情,但在拔节后土壤深层墒情覆膜明显不如露地。从200cm土体全生育期平均水分状况来看,地膜覆盖的耗水量比对照少;6种模式中,甘谷模式和甘肃模式的秋覆膜的土壤水分状况明显优于露地;覆膜的春小麦产量高于露地（平均增产率44.45%,增产711.45kg·hm^-2）,且秋覆膜的平均产量略高于春覆膜。试验表明,覆膜春小麦在更干旱土壤上获得更高产量的水分保障和增产机制是能有效利用深层土壤水分,同时把深层的水分输送到表层。     

Film fully-mulched ridge-furrow cropping affects soil biochemical properties and maize nutrient uptake in a rainfed semi-arid environment

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of plastic mulched ridge-furrow cropping on soil biochemical properties and maize (Zea mays L.) nutrient uptake in a semi-arid environment. Three treatments were evaluated from 2008 to 2010: no mulch (narrow ridges with crop seeded next to ridges), half mulch (as per no mulch, except narrow ridges were mulched), and full mulch (alternate narrow and wide ridges, all mulched with maize seeded in furrows). Compared to the no mulch treatment, full mulch increased maize grain yield by 50% in 2008 and 25% in 2010, but reduced yield by 21% in 2009 after low precipitation in early growth. Half mulch had a similar grain yield to no mulch in the three cropping years, suggesting half mulch is not an effective pattern for maize cropping in the area. Mulch treatments increased aboveground nitrogen (N) uptake by 21?34% and phosphorus (P) uptake by 21?42% in 2008, and by 16?32% and 14?29%, respectively, in 2010; but in 2009 mulching did not affect N uptake and decreased P uptake. Soil microbial biomass and activities of urease, β-glucosidase and phosphatase at the 0?15 cm depth were generally higher during vegetative growth but lower during reproductive growth under mulch treatments than no mulch. Mulching treatments increased carbon (C) loss of buried maize residues (marginally by 5?9%), and decreased light soil organic C (15?27%) and carbohydrate C (12?23%) concentrations and mineralizable C and N (8?36%) at harvest in the 0?20 cm depth compared with no mulch, indicating that mulching promotes mineralization and nutrient release in soil during cropping seasons. As a result of these biological changes, mineral N concentration under mulch was markedly increased after sowing in upper soil layers compared with no mulch. Therefore, our results suggest that mulched cropping stimulated soil microbial activity and N availability, and thus contributed to increasing maize grain yield and nutrient uptake compared with no mulch.     

Influence of colored plastic mulch on soil temperature,growth, nutrimental status,and yield of bell pepper under shade house conditions

The aim of this study was to determine if plastic mulch films may have positive effects on bell pepper plants grown under shade house conditions. The experimental design was split-plot, where large plots contained four plastic mulch films (black, aluminum, silver, and white) compared to bare soil and small plots contained two bell pepper cultivars. Plant shoot dry weight was higher in plastic mulch treatments than in bare soil. The net photosynthesis rate in the cultivar SWG-46 exceeded in net photosynthesis with respect to the cultivar SWG-42 in one of three sampling dates. Nutrients in leaf showed a similar behavior in plastic mulch treatments than the control but the total content of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) was increased. The total yield was higher in black plastic mulch than in the other plastic mulch colors and lowest in the control.     

旱地垄沟覆膜栽培对土壤硝酸盐时空分布和玉米产量的影响

通过大田试验,考察了旱地垄沟覆膜栽培对土壤硝酸盐时空分布和玉米生物性状及产量的影响。试验设计了垄沟覆膜、平作不覆膜、平作覆膜和裸地对照4个处理,并对其土壤水分、硝酸盐的时空分布和玉米产量进行研究。结果表明:在整个玉米生长季,垄沟覆膜栽培模式下土壤0~40 cm土层含水量显著高于平作不覆膜;NO_3~--N主要集中在0~40 cm土层,且垄沟覆膜-垄上NO_3~--N表聚现象比其它处理更明显,10 cm处垄上NO_3~--N含量是沟内的1.6倍、平作不覆膜的2倍;垄沟覆膜和平作覆膜比平作不覆膜处理单株干物质量分别增加了36.15%、16.11%;单株含氮量分别增加了13.97%、3.59%;垄沟覆膜产量高于其他处理。垄沟覆膜栽培能够在保持作物生长状况良好,获得较高产量的同时,增加作物对氮素的吸收利用,同时增加NO_3~--N的表层累积,将其保持在根区,从而降低了NO_3~--N淋洗的发生,降低环境风险,是旱区获得经济和环境双重效益的玉米栽培模式。     

Effects of Different Irrigation Regimes and Mulches on Yield and Macronutrition Levels of Drip-Irrigated Cucumber Under Open Field Conditions

ABSTRACT

The effectiveness of different mulch types on fruit yield, leaf-nutrient composition, and normal plant growth parameters was investigated in order to maximize water use efficiency (WUE) in cucumber grown under water stress. Treatments were (1) bare soil + water stress (WS), (2) bare soil + unstressed (control, C), (3) black polyethylene mulch + water stress (BPM + WS), (4) wheat straw mulch + water stress (WSM + WS), and (5) wheat straw mulch plus black polyethylene mulch + water stress (WSM + BPM + WS). Seasonal crop evapotranspiration was between 492 and 960 mm. Seasonal irrigation water amounts were 965 and 485 mm for the C and WS treatments, respectively. The WUE ranged from 3.40 to 5.78 kg m^?3, while irrigation water-use efficiency (IWUE) was between 3.39 and 6.08 kg m^?3. IWUE and WUE were increased under WS treatments with mulching compared with the control treatment, as mulching significantly reduced the amount of irrigation water required. Both BPM and WSM improved the fruit yield, fruit size, plant dry matter, total leaf area, and chlorophyll and nutrient concentrations in leaves under the stressed treatments, while these two mulches in combination (BPM + WSM) caused further increases in these parameters. This study confirms that limiting soil evaporation with mulches is a key action to take to save irrigation water and to improve WUE and IWUE. Because use of drip irrigation with mulching can increase WUE, this strategy might be used for vegetable production in semi-arid regions where irrigation water is limited.     

不同覆盖方式下减氮对玉米生长与氮素吸收、运转和分配的影响

以玉米正红505为试验材料,采用两因素随机区组设计,设置3个氮肥水平(常规施氮、减氮20%和减氮40%)和3种覆盖方式(地膜覆盖、秸秆覆盖和无覆盖),以不施氮肥无覆盖为CK,研究不同覆盖方式和氮肥水平对土壤水分与全氮含量、玉米干物质积累、氮素吸收、运转和分配及产量的影响。结果表明:(1)与CK和减氮40%处理相比,耕层土壤水分和全氮含量以覆盖处理和较高氮肥水平处理较高;(2)与减氮40%处理相比,较高氮肥水平处理玉米株高、茎粗、叶面积和单株干物质积累量均较高;较高氮肥水平下,覆盖处理株高、茎粗、单株叶面积和单株干物质量高于无覆盖处理,尤其是地膜覆盖处理;(3)较高氮肥水平有利于玉米植株氮素积累、转运,减氮20%下地膜覆盖处理和常规施氮下覆盖处理玉米籽粒和植株氮素积累总量较高,并能促进茎叶氮素向籽粒运转,进而提高氮收获指数、氮肥偏生产力、氮农学利用率;(4)玉米籽粒产量随氮肥水平的提高而增加,但增产的幅度逐渐降低;地膜覆盖有明显增产作用,在减氮40%条件覆盖秸秆有一定增产效果;在减氮20%条件覆盖地膜可获得全氮不覆盖处理同等以上产量。综合上述结果,减氮20%下地膜覆盖处理存在玉米高产和氮肥减施并行的可能。     

Effects of ridge‐furrow and plastic mulching planting patterns on microflora and potato tuber yield in continuous cropping soil

Planting patterns have distinctive effects on the soil micro‐ecological environment and soil quality. To explore the effects of film mulch ridge‐furrow (FMRF) cropping on soil microbial properties and potato yield, a study was conducted in 2013 and 2014 in a continuously cropped field under nonfilm‐mulched flat plot (CK), half‐mulched flat plot (T1), fully mulched ridge cropping (T2), fully mulched furrow cropping (T3), half‐mulched ridge cropping (T4) and half‐mulched furrow cropping (T5) planting patterns. Our results indicate that T3 increased the average bacteria/fungi (B/F) ratio by 253% compared to CK. On average, half‐mulched ridge cropping increased the bacteria population and aerobic Azotobacter by 9 and 19%, respectively, compared with CK. On average, T3 had the greatest inhibitory effect on fungi populations. Half‐mulched furrow cropping had the most anaerobic Azotobacter and nitrifying bacteria. The study showed that FMRF increased soil bacteria, especially Azotobacter but reduced fungi and actinomycetes. Treatment T2 gave the greatest potato yield, followed by T4, whereas the greatest biomass yield was recorded in T4. Full‐mulch furrow cropping methods produced the greatest nutrient use efficiency. The findings of this study enhance our understanding of soil microbe and plant responses to plastic mulch and planting patterns under semi‐arid conditions.     

Soil physical changes and maize growth in a structurally fragile tropical soil due to mulching and duration between irrigation intervals

Under tropical meteorological conditions, the volume of soil explored by plant roots is crucial for crop growth as it allows increased water and nutrient use efficiency. We hypothesized that, under different irrigation intervals, leguminous mulch can extend the duration between irrigation events but maintain crop performance, because decreased evaporative fluxes also reduce constraints to root exploration imposed by mechanical stress. We evaluated the combined effects of leguminous mulch and irrigation intervals on soil physical properties to determine whether the growth and productivity of maize were modified in a structurally fragile tropical soil. The experiment involved the following treatments: 4‐day irrigation intervals with soil mulched (4C) or bare (4S), 6‐day irrigation intervals with soil mulched (6C) or bare (6S), 8‐day irrigation intervals with soil mulched (8C) or bare (8S) and 10‐day irrigation intervals with soil mulched (10C) or bare (10S). Mulch decreased soil penetration resistance and increased to 4 days the favourable time for root development in drying soil. Relative to bare soil, mulch with a 6‐day irrigation interval almost doubled nitrogen uptake post‐tasselling, which decreased nitrogen remobilization and increased the crop growth rate during this stage. These conditions had a positive effect on the transpiration rate and stomatal conductance as well as on the growth and yield of maize. A 6‐day irrigation interval with mulch compared to 4 days with bare soil resulted in similar conditions for root development, but greater uptake of nitrogen (102.73–78.70 kg/ha) and better yield (6.2–5.3 t/ha), which means greater efficiency in nitrogen and water use.     

Sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) Seeding Rate Additions to Forage Oat-Legume Mixtures in Newfoundland

Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis‐idaea L.) cvs “Sussi”; and “Sanna”; were cultivated on mineral soil with four different soil surface treatments (Sphagnum peat mulch, sand mulch, plastic mulch and herbicide 3‐syclohexyl‐5, 6‐trimethylenurasil (lenasil)). Amount of annual weeds, plant coverage and yield were observed over five years. Weeds were most abundant in the first two observation years. Sand mulch was the least efficient for the control of annual weeds for both cultivars, whereas lenasil was the most efficient for “Sussi”;, and peat mulch for “Sanna”;. The plant coverage increased steadily throughout the years in the “Sussi”; plots, especially in plots mulched with peat. The spreading of “Sanna”; was slower in all treatments. It was best in plots mulched with peat or sand. Overall, “Sanna”; was more productive, with the highest yield on sand mulch and the lowest on lenasil‐treated plots. “Sussi”;, instead, yielded best on lenasil plots and poorest on sand.     

Influence of mulch C/N ratio and decomposition stage on plant N uptake and N availability in soil with or without wheat straw

Mulches can improve soil properties, but little is known about nutrient availability in mulched soil that contains plant residues and the effect of mulching with manures. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of mulching with high or low C/N organic materials, in which low C/N materials differed in decomposability, and the presence of wheat straw in the soil on plant growth and N uptake, soil N availability and microbial biomass N within about four months after mulching. Three organic materials were used: mature wheat straw (W, C/N 80), young faba bean shoots (FB, C/N 7), and sheep manure (SM, C/N 8). There were eight treatments differing in amendment methods (mulching or mixing with W or both) and mulching materials (W, FB or SM). Treatments that were only mulched with W, FB or SM are referred to as m‐treatments. In m/s‐treatments, after W was mixed into the soil, W, FB or SM were placed on the soil surface as mulch. Two other treatments included an unamended control and soil mixed with W. Wheat was planted 0, 35 or 70 days after mulching (referred to as 0, 35, and 70 DAM) and grown for 35 days. Faba bean mulch increased shoot dry weight, shoot N uptake and available N compared to wheat or sheep manure mulch, particularly in the m‐treatments. Shoot dry weight was higher in m‐treatments than corresponding m/s‐treatments with the same mulch type. Shoot N uptake was higher in 70 DAM than in 0 DAM in all treatments and 0.3 to three‐fold higher in m‐treatments than the corresponding m/s‐treatments. Microbial biomass N was higher in 0 DAM than in 35 and 70 DAM in most treatments and up to two‐fold higher in m/s‐treatments than the corresponding m‐treatments. Available N in m/s‐treatments was two to six‐fold higher than m‐treatments in 0 DAM, but differed little in older mulch ages of W and SM. It can be concluded that compared to soil with only mulch, mixing of wheat straw into soil reduced plant growth and N uptake, particularly in the early stages of mulching (0 and 35 DAM). However, the presence of wheat in mulched soil may provide a longer lasting source of N for plants and reduce the risk of N leaching from rapidly decomposing low C/N mulch due to greater microbial biomass N uptake than only soil with mulch.     

深松条件下不同地表覆盖对马铃薯产量及水分利用效率的影响

水分不足是限制旱区作物生长的主要因素,覆盖耕作能够改善土壤的微环境,从而显著提高作物的产量和水分利用效率。为探讨深松结合地表覆盖对土壤物理性状、马铃薯生长、产量及水分利用效率的影响,2013-2015年在宁南旱区采用深松覆盖秸秆、深松覆盖地膜、深松不覆盖3种覆盖耕作模式,以传统耕作不覆盖为对照,对土壤体积质量、团聚体、水分、马铃薯产量和水分利用效率等方面的影响进行了研究。结果表明,与传统耕作相比,深松结合地表覆盖可有效降低耕层土壤体积质量,改善土壤孔隙状况,以深松覆盖秸秆处理效果最佳,深松覆盖秸秆处理0~40 cm平均土壤体积质量较传统耕作降低17.1%。与传统耕作相比,深松覆盖地膜和深松覆盖秸秆处理可使0~40 cm土层0.25 mm机械稳定性团聚体数量显著增加30.7%和17.4%。深松结合不同覆盖方式能有效改善马铃薯生育期0~200 cm土层土壤水分状况,深松覆盖地膜对作物生育前期土壤水分保蓄效果较好,深松覆盖秸秆对生育中后期土壤水分状况的改善效果最佳。深松结合不同覆盖方式下马铃薯植株株高、茎粗及地上部生物量均显著高于传统耕作。作物生育前期以深松覆盖地膜处理效果最佳,中后期以深松覆盖秸秆处理促进作用明显。深松结合地表覆盖能明显提高马铃薯的产量和水分利用效率,深松覆秸秆处理的马铃薯产量、商品薯率和水分利用效率分别较传统耕作处理平均提高37.3%、93.3%和41.2%。通过两年试验研究,在宁南旱区采用深松结合地表覆盖措施具有良好的蓄水保墒效果,对马铃薯生长有利,以深松覆盖秸秆处理的增产和提高水分利用效率效果最为显著。     

宁南旱区沟垄覆盖改善土壤水热状况提高马铃薯产量

垄覆塑料地膜沟内覆盖集雨种植模式可影响土壤水热状况,促进作物生长,提高作物的产量和水分利用效率。为探讨旱作条件下沟垄二元覆盖的土壤水热效应对马铃薯产量的影响效果,于2015年在宁南旱区设置垄覆地膜沟内覆盖不同材料(普通塑料地膜、玉米秸秆、生物降解膜、麻纤维地膜及液态地膜),以垄覆地膜沟不覆盖为对照,研究沟垄二元覆盖模式对土壤水分、耕层土壤温度、马铃薯生长、产量及水分利用效率的影响。结果表明:垄覆地膜沟覆地膜处理在马铃薯前期、中期土壤蓄水量较对照显著增加(P0.05),垄覆地膜沟覆秸秆处理在马铃薯生育后期土壤蓄水量最高(P0.05)。垄覆地膜沟覆地膜处理增温效果明显,马铃薯全生育期0~25 cm土壤温度较对照显著增加(P0.05),而垄覆地膜沟覆秸秆处理较对照显著降低(P0.05)。在马铃薯整个生育期,垄覆地膜沟覆秸秆处理植株株高和茎粗均明显高于对照处理(P0.05),在马铃薯生育后期垄覆地膜沟覆秸秆处理的地上部生物量显著高于对照处理(P0.05)。沟垄二元覆盖模式下马铃薯增产效果以垄覆地膜沟覆秸秆处理最为显著,较对照增产56.1%(P0.05),且水分利用效率最高(81.1kg/(hm2·mm))。总之,垄覆地膜沟覆秸秆处理对改善土壤水热状况,提高马铃薯水分利用效率和产量的效果显著,建议在宁南旱区进行推广应用。