Abstract
Straw mulching is an effective conservation tillage tool that utilizes waste resources and reduces environmental pollution. To determine the optimal levels of quality, placement and quantity of straw mulching, we performed a field experiment that used the Box–Behnken design combined with response surface methodology. The treatments designed for walnut saplings (Juglans regia) considered three independent variables: quality, placement, and quantity of straw mulching. Tree height of walnut saplings (THW) and net photosynthesis rate (NPR) were used as the response variables in a full, quadratic polynomial model. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) results showed that the selected models were significant (P < 0.05), expressing ideal relationships between the independent and dependent variables (R2 ≥ 0.9225). The optimum conditions for the THW and NPR responses were determined to be a straw mulching quality which mixed rice and rapeseed straws, a straw mulching placement which covered the entire soil surface of experimental plots, and a straw mulching quantity applied as 3 kg/m2 (i.e., the low level). This optimized scheme of straw mulching combinations offers an alternate choice for optimizing the growth and potential yield of walnut saplings, but practical field experiments should also be carried out to obtain more site-specific results.
Highlights
Common walnut (Juglans regia L.) is tree species of economic importance well known throughout the world and one of the main fruit trees planted in China[1]
In component 1, the absolute value of tree height and leaf net photosynthesis rate was large, and the distance between each other was small, so it could represent the actual growth of walnut tree (Fig. 1)
Tree height and leaf net photosynthesis rate were selected as the main parameters for the growth of walnut saplings according to the components’ core coefficient matrix
Summary
Common walnut (Juglans regia L.) is tree species of economic importance well known throughout the world and one of the main fruit trees planted in China[1]. There are surprisingly few reports of how conservation tillage, such as the activity of straw mulching, affects the tree growth and yield of walnut saplings in plantations. To avoid the huge costs of transporting large amounts of straw over long distances around the country, we should take advantage of recycling crop straw that is near walnut orchards. Such an initiative would attract the attention and interest of the government, local people and ecologists. Most studies of straw mulching have mainly focused on its effects on crop fields rather than on tree orchards, much less on economically important orchards. It is worthwhile and timely to consider using straw mulching to improve the sustainable development of walnut orchards
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