Straw strip mulching affects soil moisture and temperature for potato yield in semiarid regions

Abstract

Straw mulching is widely used in agriculture to conserve soil water and improve crop productivity. The effects of straw strip mulching and film mulching on dryland soil water storage and temperature, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) growth and yield, and water use efficiency (WUE) were examined from 2014 to 2015 in the rainfed semi-arid regions of China. Field experiments were conducted with four treatments: (a) alternating strips mulched with maize (Zea mays L.) straw and bare plots with no ridges (SM); (b) alternating large ridges and small furrows with only the ridges mulched with black polyethylene film (PMP); (c) alternating narrows and wide ridges both mulched by black polyethylene film (PMF), and (d) traditional bare land planting without mulching (CK). The results indicated that film mulching had positive effects on soil water storage at the early stage of potato growth, while the SM significantly improved soil water storage at the late growth stage. Soil water storage (0-2-m depth) was 11.3-35.4 mm greater with the SM than that with the other treatments, especially during the tuber bulking in summer drought period. Compared with the CK, the SM significantly decreased soil temperature by 0.8-1.4 • C, and increased potato yield by 10.5-34.2%, WUE by 8.9-29.8%, and commodity rate by 14.7-38.8%. Compared with the PMP and PMF, the SM increased potato yield by 4.6-12.9 and 3.4-9.3%, respectively. This might be contributed to increased soil moisture and lower soil temperature, which promoted potato growth, yield, and commodity rates.Abbreviations: CK, traditional bare land planting without mulching; ET, evapotranspiration; PMF, narrow and wide ridges mulched by black polyethylene film; PMP, large ridges and small furrows only ridges mulched with black polyethylene film; SM, straw strip mulching; SWS, soil water storage; WUE, water use efficiency.

Maize Straw Strip Mulching as a Replacement for Plastic Film Mulching in Maize Production in a Semiarid Region

“…This is in agreement with Chang et al [53], who reported that straw strip mulching reduced soil temperature during the early growth of potato. The temperature reduction under straw strip mulching in some growth stages can have a positive value for the growth and development of potato [53]. Lower soil temperature during the grain-filling period is conducive to maize, as it results in smaller diurnal temperature fluctuations, leading to lower respiration and enhanced dry matter accumulation [68,69].…”

“…The other mechanism of soil temperature reduction under straw strip mulching was that, by regulating water with temperature, the vigorous growth period and peak water consumption of crops will move to the precipitation concentrated season, realizing water-temperature coupling. This is in agreement with Li et al [53] and Chang et al [57], who reported that straw mulching advanced soil moisture and decreased soil temperature in some growth stages of maize and potato, and the optimized soil microenvironment promoted crop reproductive growth and development. In the present study, compared with the DRWP treatment, the V2, V6, R2, and R6 stages of the MSSM treatment were delayed by 7, 3, 3 and 3 days in 2017, and by 7, 2, 3 and 3 days in 2018, respectively.…”

“…Meeting the temperature requirements at each crop stage can coordinate and promote maize growth and development to obtain high yield and net economic return. Our results show that the MSSM treatment significantly reduced mean soil temperature of the 5-25 cm soil layer by 1.27 and 2.03 • C throughout the growing season compared to that of the DRBP and DRWP treatments in 2017 and 2018, which is consistent with the results of Lu et al [62], Chen et al [52], and Chang et al [53], respectively. In 2017, the largest difference in mean soil temperature among treatments was at the 25 cm soil depth, with the MSSM and DRBP treatments being 2.57 and 1.54°C lower compared to the DRWP treatment, respectively.…”

“…Previous studies also reported that plastic mulching often increases soil temperature, whereas straw mulching has less of a soil warming effect for maize under low air temperatures [66,67]. This is in agreement with Chang et al [53], who reported that straw strip mulching reduced soil temperature during the early growth of potato. The temperature reduction under straw strip mulching in some growth stages can have a positive value for the growth and development of potato [53].…”

“…To address the environmental challenges posed by disposal of straw and plastic film, straw strip mulching could be developed for straw recycling in sustainable cropping. Straw strip mulching has significantly advanced winter wheat yield and decreased soil temperature when compared to traditional non-mulched flat planting, and it also increased potato yield and enhanced water use efficiency of dryland agriculture in northwestern China [51][52][53]. Straw mulch can also enhance soil aggregation, promote soil biological activity [42,43], stimulate plant growth and development [21], and improve crop productivity and quality [45].…”