Plastic Film Mulch Performed Better in Improving Heat Conditions and Drip Irrigated Potato Growth in Northwest China than in Eastern China

Youliang Zhang,Fengxin Wang,Wei Nie,Shaoyuan Feng,Ren Feng

doi:10.3390/w12102906

Abstract

Plastic film (i.e., transparent and black films) is widely applied in mulching to improve thermal environments and plant growth in China. However, choosing suitable film for potato cultivation in different areas is still a problem. A four-year field experiment was conducted to explore the influences of plastic mulch on heat transfer (soil heat flux, G; soil temperature; and canopy net radiation, Rn) and potato growth in two typical areas of China: Experiment 1 in Northwest China (2014 and 2015) and Experiment 2 in Eastern China (2016 and 2017). Three mulch treatments were designed as follows: (1) transparent film (TF), (2) black film (BF), and (3) no film (NF). Results showed that the Rn and G differences between TF, BF, and NF varied at different areas. However, the Rn in TF was always smaller (average 12.4 W/m2 in 2014–2017) than in BF in the two study areas. The differences of soil temperature between TF, BF, and NF in Experiment 1 were greater than in Experiment 2. The average soil temperature difference between TF and NF was 1.4 °C higher in Experiment 1 than in Experiment 2. TF had 23% and 19% more jumbo tubers than BF in weight and number on average with no significant difference in 2015–2017. TF and BF significantly had greater potato yield and irrigation water use efficiency than NF on average in Experiment 1, while no significant differences were found in Experiment 2. The transparent film was more beneficial to increase soil temperature and jumbo tubers than the black film. Film mulch functioned better for improving heat conditions and drip-irrigated potato growth in Northwest China than in Eastern China.

Highlights

The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the fourth major crop in the world and it occupies an important part in the human diet [1]
This paper explored the effects of transparent and black films on heat transfer and drip irrigated potato growth in two typical areas (Northwest China and Eastern China)
In experiment 2, the total tubers of the transparent film (TF) and black film (BF) were 24% and 23% more than that of the no film (NF) in weight in 2016, while it was a little less than that of the NF in 2017

Summary

Introduction

The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the fourth major crop in the world and it occupies an important part in the human diet [1]. Potatoes can produce more dietary energy with less water, i.e., 5600 kcal dietary energy, which is more than rice (2000 kilocalorie (kcal)), wheat (2300 kcal), and maize (3860 kcal) with 1 m3 water applied in the crop [2]. In 2015, China launched a strategy to promote potatoes processed into staple foods such as steamed bread, noodles, and so on. It is estimated that more than 50% of potatoes will be consumed as a staple food in China by 2020. In 2008–2017, the average potato yield was 16.4 t/hm , while it was 46.4 t/hm in America [5]

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion