Explore the vast range of titles available.

Aims :Plastic films efficiently control weed development in agriculture but may have environmental impacts, including alterations of the soil functioning and its microbiota. Canvases made of plant fibres are promising biodegradable alternatives showing uniform soil covering like plastic films, unlike straw mulching which is often laid unevenly on the ground. Hemp is particularly interesting for its resistance and possible effects on the soil microbiota. We tested the effect of several mulches differing in their biodegradability and homogeneity (uniform/uneven soil covering) on soil functioning and crop yield.Methods :In greenhouse, we assessed the effects of different mulching on lettuce yields, soil properties (temperature, moisture, enzymatic activities) and the soil microbiota. We cropped lettuces either on bare soil (control), a homogeneous non-biodegradable mulch (plastic film), a biodegradable heterogeneous mulch (hemp straw) and a biodegradable and homogenous mulch (hemp canvas).Results :Plastic film increased soil temperature, decreased most enzymatic activities, and altered the soil microbiota composition. The hemp canvas decreased fungal diversity, while increasing soil moisture, laccase activity, and the abundance of specific Ascomycota, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria taxa. Plastic and hemp canvas gave similar lettuce yields.Conclusions :Mulching with plastic films and hemp canvases changed soil functioning (C cycle enzymatic activities) and the soil microbiota. Although similar lettuce yields were obtained, effects of the plastic film were likely mediated by the increased soil temperature and accelerated organic matter degradation, while effects of the hemp canvas resulted from increased soil moisture and recalcitrant matter degradation, combined with the stimulation of potentially beneficial soil microorganisms.

Mulching practices (M), which conserve soil water and improve water productivity (WP), are receiving increasing attention worldwide However, so far, little attention has been given to investigating the effects of the integrations of mulching and planting patterns (IMPPs) on spring wheat performance under arid regions conditions. A two-year field study was conducted to compare the effects of eight IMPPs on growth parameters at 80 and 100 days after sowing (DAS), growth indicators, physiological attributes, grain yield (GY), and WP of wheat under adequate (1.00 ET) and limited (0.50 ET) irrigation conditions. The IMPPs included three planting patterns (PPs), that is, flat (F), raised-bed (RB), and ridge–furrow (RF), in combination with three M, that is, no-mulch (NM), plastic film mulch (PFM), and crop residues mulch (CRM). The results indicated that PPs mulched with PFM and CRM significantly increased growth indicators, different growth parameters, physiological attributes, GY, and WP by 6.9–39.3%, 8.2–29.2%, 5.2–24.9%, 9.9, and 11.2%, respectively, compared to non-mulched PPs. The F and RB patterns mulched with CRM were more effective in improving growth parameters at 100 DAS (2.7–13.6%), physiological attributes (0.2–20.0%), GY, and WP (9.7%) than were the F and RB patterns mulched with PFM under 1.00 ET, while the opposite was true under 0.50 ET conditions. Although the RFPFM failed to compete with other IMPPs under 1.00 ET, the values of different parameters in this PP were comparable to those in F and RB patterns mulched with PFM, and were 1.3–24.5% higher than those in F and RB patterns mulched with CRM under 0.50 ET conditions. Although the RFNM did not use mulch, the values of different parameters for this PP were significantly higher than those of F and RB patterns without mulch. Irrespective of irrigation treatments, the heatmap analysis based on different stress tolerance indices identified the different PPs mulched with PFM as the best IMPPs for the optimal performance of wheat under arid conditions, followed by PPs mulched with CRM. The different growth indicators exhibited second-order and strong relationships with GY (R2 = 0.78 to 0.85) and moderate relationships with WP (R2 = 0.59 to 0.79). Collectively, we concluded that using PPs mulched with CRM is the recommended practice for achieving good performance and production for wheat under adequate irrigation, whereas using PPS mulched with PFM is recommended as a viable management option for sustainable production of wheat and improving WP under limited irrigation in arid countries.

Living grass mulching (LGM) is an important orchard floor management that has been applied worldwide. Although LGM can effectively enhance soil nutrient availability and fertility, its effects on microbial-mediated soil nutrient cycling and main drivers are unclear. Meanwhile, the variation of enzyme activities and soil nutrient availability with LGM duration have been rarely studied. This study aims to explore the effects of mulching age and soil layer on enzyme activities and soil nutrients in citrus orchards. In this study, three LGM ( Vicia villosa ) treatments were applied, i.e., mulching for eight years, mulching for four years, and no mulching (clean tillage). Their effects on the enzyme activities and soil nutrients were analyzed in different soil layers of citrus orchards in subtropical China, i.e., 0-10, 10-20, and 20-40 cm. Compared to clean tillage, mulching for four years had fewer effects on enzyme activities and soil nutrients. In contrast, mulching for eight years significantly increased available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) nutrients, β -glucosidase, and cellobiohydrolase activities in the soil layer of 0-20 cm. In the soil layer of 0-40 cm, microbial biomass carbon (C), N, P, N-acetylglucosaminidase, leucine aminopeptidase, and acid phosphatase activities also increased ( P < 0.05). Mulching for eight years significantly promoted C, N, and P-cycling enzyme activities and total enzyme activities by 2.45-6.07, 9.29-54.42, 4.42-7.11, and 5.32-14.91 times, respectively. Redundancy analysis shows that mulching treatments for eight and four years had soil layer-dependent positive effects on soil enzyme activities. Microbial C and P showed the most significant positive correlation with enzyme activities, followed by moisture content, organic C, and available N ( P < 0.05). Available nutrients contributed almost 70% to affect enzyme activities significantly and were the main drivers of the enzyme activity variation. In summary, LGM could improve soil enzyme activities by increasing available nutrients. The promotion effect was more significant under mulching for eight years. Therefore, extending mulching age and improving nutrient availability are effective development strategies for sustainable soil management in orchard systems. Our study can provide valuable guidelines for the design and implementation of more sustainable management practices in citrus orchards.

Plastic film (FM) and gravel mulching (GM) have been used extensively to increase dryland agricultural productivity. Understanding mulching effects on nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) and soil nitrogen dynamics is important for optimizing N management strategies. A 3-year field experiment was performed on the Loess Plateau of China to investigate the GM and FM effects on plant N accumulation, N translocation, N harvest index (NHI), NUE and soil NO₃⁻-N dynamics in dryland maize fields. Compared with the control (CK, non-mulching), the mulching treatments markedly promoted plant N accumulation and especially maintained higher N uptake rates during the post-silking stage. At harvest, the total N accumulation was 12.8–41.2 and 33.2–55.8 % higher in the GM and FM treatments, respectively, than in the CK treatment. The NHIs of the mulching treatments were significantly higher by 9.6–32.4 % than the CK treatment, primarily due to greater N translocation and N accumulation post-silking. Overall, compared with the CK treatment, the GM and FM NUEs increased significantly by 17.1 and 28.3 % in 2010, 70.3 and 87.6 % in 2011, and 16.7 and 38.2 % in 2012, respectively. In the wet years of 2010 and 2011, the increased amount of soil NO₃⁻-N in the 100–200 cm layer after harvest was 27.1–57.1 and 47.9–85.7 % lower in the GM and FM treatments, respectively, than in the CK treatment, indicating a lower NO₃⁻-N leaching loss. These results suggest that mulching (especially FM) is an effective measure for increasing NUE and grain yield and decreasing N leaching loss in dry farmland.

Water scarcity is a critical constraint limiting potato production in semi-arid rainfed areas. Mulching practices are recognized as effective water conservation strategies; Here, we investigated the effects of mulching practices on soil moisture and their impact on potato yield. A two-year field experiment (2018 - 2019) was conducted with five treatments, traditional bare-land planting without mulching (CK); large ridges and small furrows with only ridges mulched with black plastic film in fall (FPM); a partial-field mulching using whole cornstalks in straw mulching strips that alternate with planting strips without mulch in fall (FSM); large ridges and small furrows with only ridges mulched with black plastic film in spring (SPM); a partial-field mulching using whole cornstalks in straw mulching strips that alternate with planting strips without mulch in spring (SSM). We measured soil water storage (0-200 cm), yield, water-use efficiency (WUE), and stage-specific water consumption (WC). Study results demonstrated that SSM and SPM significantly increased soil water storage (0-200 cm) by 6.7% and 8.4%, yield by 14.7% and 25.1%, and water-use efficiency (WUE) by 9.2% and 14.3%, respectively, compared to CK. Compared to spring mulching, the fall mulching outperformed in improving soil water retention and yield, increasing soil water storage by an average of 10.2% vs. 4.9%, and fresh potato yield by 17.8% vs. 11.8%. SSM and SPM reduced water consumption (WC) during the early growth stage (planting-to-budding) by 8.2-9.8%, conserving water for later use. This conserved water was then available during the critical yield-forming period, leading to increased WC during budding-to-tuber expansion by 10.3-11.3%. SSM increased WC more than FSM (12.3% vs. 10.2%), while FPM increased WC more than SPM (20.3% vs. 13.1%). The findings indicated that both the straw strip mulching (SM) and plastic film mulching (PM) optimized the water consumption structure. Fall mulching generally outperformed spring mulching because it captured and conserved autumn and winter precipitation more effectively, resulting in higher soil water storage at planting. Both straw and plastic film mulching improve water use and potato yields, with fall application were most effective. However, for sustainable production, straw strip mulching is recommended, as it offers both high crop yields and significant environmental benefits.

Straw mulching is an important strategy for regulating soil moisture, nutrient availability, and thermal conditions in agricultural systems. However, the mechanisms by which the mulching period, thickness, and planting density interact to influence yield formation in wheat–soybean rotation systems remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we systematically examined the combined effects of straw mulching at the seedling and jointing stages of winter wheat, as well as varying mulching thicknesses and soybean planting densities, on soil properties and crop yields through field experiments. The experimental design included straw mulching treatments during the seedling stage (T1) and the jointing stage (T2) of winter wheat, with soybean planting densities classified as low (D1, 1.8 × 105 plants·ha−1) and high (D2, 3.6 × 105 plants·ha−1). Mulching thicknesses were set at low (S1, 2830.19 kg·ha−1), medium (S2, 8490.57 kg·ha−1), and high (S3, 14,150.95 kg·ha−1), in addition to a no-mulch control (CK) for each treatment. The results demonstrated that (1) straw mulching significantly increased soil water content in the order S3 > S2 > S1 > CK and exerted a temperature-buffering effect. This resulted in increases in soil organic carbon, available phosphorus, and available potassium by 1.88−71.95%, 1.36−165.8%, and 1.92−36.34%, respectively, while decreasing available nitrogen content by 1.42−17.98%. (2) The T1 treatments increased wheat yields by 1.22% compared to the control, while the T2 treatments resulted in a 23.83% yield increase. Soybean yields increased by 23.99% under D1 and by 36.22% under D2 treatments. (3) Structural equation modeling indicated that straw mulching influenced yields by modifying interactions among soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, bulk density, soil temperature, and soil water content. Wheat yields were primarily regulated by the synergistic effects of soil temperature, water content, and available potassium, whereas soybean yields were determined by the dynamic balance between organic carbon and available potassium. This study provides empirical evidence to inform the optimization of straw return practices in wheat–soybean rotation systems.

Mulching is a widely adopted agronomic practice, often used as a water-saving strategy due to its effectiveness in reducing soil evaporation. However, effects vary depending on the materials used and the extent of mulch soil coverage. Consequently, the impacts of mulching may differ considerably across production systems, preventing the establishment of reliable guidelines for irrigation water management. The objective of this study is to comprehensively review existing literature that compares mulching versus no-mulching management, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of the effects of mulching on soil evaporation (Es), crop coefficients (Kc), and actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc act). 58 studies were selected. The impact of mulching was particularly notable in the early crop stages, when the soil is not fully covered. Data in literature shows that plastic films were more effective in reducing Kc than organic materials. However, this effect, while evident during the early crop stages, diminished throughout the rest of the season. Black plastic films were more effective during the early crop stages compared to other colored plastics, particularly relative to the decrease of Kc, but this effect also diminishes during the rest of the season. Building upon these findings, the study provides guidelines for expected reductions in Kc values based on the type of crop, crop stage, and the mulching material most used in each cropping system.

The present field study was conducted to evaluate the effects of mulching and weed control methods on the nutrient and weed dynamics of Kharif Sorghum. The research was conducted in the Agronomy farm of Lovely Professional University in Phagwara, Punjab, during the summer of 2023. The experiment utilized a randomized block design with three replications. A total of six treatments were used, each with different amounts of treatment applied to assess the effects on the growth, yield, and weed characteristics of sorghum. The growth metrics, including plant height, leaf count, stem circumference, leaf area index, and chlorophyll content, saw significant improvement as a result of the amplified influence of mulching and weed management. Treatment T1, which excluded weeds, yielded the greatest plant height (134.69 cm), number of leaves (8.73), stem girth (10.14 cm) at harvest, leaf area index (7.78), and chlorophyll content (53.74) at 90 days after sowing (DAS). The T1 treatment, which was free of weeds, had the most favorable production characteristics. The grain yield was recorded at 2.15 t.ha-1, the straw yield at 4.59 t.ha-1, and the harvest index at 22.54%. The highest protein concentration was observed as 10.84% in T1 (Weed free) and 10.73% in T2 (Sugarcane trash). In addition, the characteristics of the weed, including the number of weeds, the effectiveness of weed management, and the weight of the weeds, were shown to be highest in dicots at 120 days after sowing (DAS). Treatment T1, which involved the complete removal of weeds, exhibited no weed population and achieved the maximum level of weed control effectiveness and dry weight. The study’s findings indicated that the use of T1 (Weed-free) treatment had a substantial influence on different growth, yield, and weed characteristics. Effective management of essential inputs, such as cultivation, fertilizers, and weed management, is vital for improving overall productivity and stability.

Aims Film mulching has been widely used for increasing crop yields in semiarid areas, but its long-term impact on crop performance and soil quality remains poor. This study aims at investigating the long-term effects of different mulching methods on the crop root growth and soil aggregates stability. Methods A continuous experiment for eight years was set to assess the effects on the soil aggregates stability, root traits, and yield under five different treatments: (i) control method comprising flat planting without mulching (CK), (ii) flat planting with half film mulching (P), (iii) film mulching on ridges and planting in narrow furrows (S), (iv) full film mulching on double ridges (D), and (v) film mulching on ridges and planting in wide furrows (R). Results The soil quality improved significantly after continuous film mulching for eight years. Compared with CK, mulching decreased the soil bulk density, and increased the soil porosity, soil macroaggregate content (7.39%-22.92% by dry-sieving, and 8.49%-21.67% by wet-sieving), and soil aggregate stability, especially under S and D. Mulching could promote the root growth (root length, root diameter, root surface area, and root volume) distinctly, while S and D increased the average root biomass by 17.27% compared with R and P. The improved soil structure and root traits under mulching increased the yield (29.98–63.96%), and the average yield under S was 1.32%, 25.7%, and 26.14% higher than those under D, R, and P, respectively. Conclusions In general, the best improved soil aggregate fractions and stability was found under film mulching on ridges and planting in narrow furrows (S), which was significantly associated with the root traits improvement, and thus increasing the crop yield. Therefore, it can be considered an effective mulching pattern for increasing and stabilizing the crop yield in the Loess Plateau region of China.

Methane (CH 4 ) uptake by dryland soils is an important part in the global CH 4 budget and is sensitive to the management practice. This research measured the annual CH 4 flux over 2 years at the rain-fed maize fields in semiarid northwestern China using the static chamber technique. Methane uptake was measured under three mulching practices with the same nitrogen (N) application: no mulching (NM), gravel mulching (GM), and plastic film mulching (FM). In addition, methane uptake was also measured under film mulching management and three different N fertilizer rates: 0 (N0), 250 (N250), and 380 (N380) kg N ha −1 . The results showed that the rain-fed maize fields acted as a sink for CH 4 , with the annual mean uptake rate of 21.3–40.8 μg CH 4 -C m −2  h −1 . The soil CH 4 uptake was positively correlated with soil temperature, but negatively correlated with soil moisture; these two factors together explained 35.5–50.9 % of the variance in CH 4 uptake. Compared to the NM treatment, the mulching treatments markedly increased the topsoil temperature, but the annual CH 4 uptake was significantly reduced by 5.2–6.7 % in the GM treatment and by 26.3 % in the FM treatment, most likely because the increased soil moisture restricted CH 4 oxidation and diffusion. The CH 4 uptake showed an increasing tendency with the N rate, probably because N fertilization decreased soil moisture and increased soil NO 3 − content. These results help in understanding the effects of agricultural managements on CH 4 uptake and to properly assess the role of dryland soils in the global CH 4 budget.