Efficacy of black plastic film mulching as a cultivation strategy to cope with leaf senescence and increase yield of rainfed spring maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

AbstractLong‐term use of white plastic film mulching is an important reason for premature leaf senescence of spring mulch maize in the Weibei Plateau area of China. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of black plastic film mulching on leaf senescence characteristics and yield of spring maize. In 2017 and 2018, a field experiment was conducted in Changwu County, China. The experiments included three treatments: black film mulching (BFM), white plastic film mulching (WFM) and bare land (BL), and two varieties: Shandan 609 (green keeping variety sd609) and Shandan 902 (early maturing variety sd902). A split‐plot experimental design was used to research the effects of different mulching techniques on leaf protective enzyme activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, chlorophyll content of leaves as represented by the SPAD value, dry matter quality and yield of spring maize. The results indicated that the SPAD value, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity of maize leaves under the BFM treatment were significantly higher than that under the WFM or BL treatment. The MDA content was also lower than that in the WFM and BL treatments. There were differences in the degree of influence among the varieties. Compared with WFM and BL, BFM significantly increased aboveground biomass and yield of the two maize varieties. In the dryland area, which had intense light and high temperature, using BFM helped to slow down leaf senescence in the late maize stage and increase yield; it was especially effective for the early maturing maize variety.