Analysis and Research on Production Effects of Full-Film Double Ridge-Furrow Mulching with Polyethylene Film and Biodegradable Film Based on AquaCrop

Abstract

Water is an important factor limiting the development of arid rain-fed agriculture. Film mulching is an effective way to ensure yield in arid areas. However, whether biodegradable film can be used instead of polyethylene film for agricultural production in arid areas is a matter of contention. In this study, AquaCrop model simulation and field experiment were used to analyze the production effect of corn whole film double ridge furrow sowing technology covering polyethylene film (PM) and biodegradable film (BM) in Dingxi City from 2016 to 2020. The results showed that the AquaCrop simulation data have a high fitting with the field test data, and the model was suitable for simulating dry farming in Dingxi City. The best sowing time in Dingxi City is to select the average temperature to be stable at about 15 °C (around 15 April to 25 April each year), and the yield is the highest after sowing during this period. Although BM can achieve environmental protection and energy saving, it is weaker than PM in water storage and soil evaporation inhibition in arid areas. The average yield, aboveground biomass, water productivity, and harvest index of PM were 63.95%, 18.57%, 76.35%, and 38.22% higher than those of BM, respectively. In drought years, BM water stress on leaf expansion, induced stomatal closure, and premature senescence were 61%, 17%, and 9.5% higher than PM, respectively, and the stress time was 28.5 d, 5 d, and 26 d, respectively. The maximum canopy coverage and effective root zone water content were 24.5% and 30.49% lower, respectively. In the wet year, water stress under BM only had a certain effect on the leaf expansion of crops but had no effect on the induction of stomatal closure and premature senescence. The maximum canopy coverage and effective root zone water content were 13.56% and 31.35% lower, respectively. The above studies show that BM has a certain ability to store water and preserve moisture, but the parameters of PM are better than BM. Especially in dry years, the crop production efficiency of PM is more significant. It can be seen that in rain-fed agricultural areas with rainfall less than 500 mm, biodegradable film can not replace polyethylene film.