The effects of different types of mulch on soil properties and tea production and quality

• Published in: Journal of the science of food and agriculture Vol. 100; no. 14; pp. 5292 - 5300
• Main Authors: Xianchen, Zhang, Huiguang, Jiang, Xiaochun, Wan, Yeyun, Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.11.2020; John Wiley and Sons, Limited; Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
• Subjects: Agricultural economics; Agricultural practices; Agricultural production; agriculture; Agronomy; Camellia sinensis - chemistry; Camellia sinensis - growth & development; China; conventional tillage; Crop Production - methods; Crop yield; economic benefit; Economics; Enzymatic activity; Enzyme activity; fabrics; income; Intercropping; mulch; Mulching; nitrogen; Nitrogen - analysis; Nutrition; nutritional status; Organic matter; Organic phosphorus; Phosphorus; Plant growth; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plant Leaves - growth & development; plastic film; Polymer films; rhizosphere; Rice straw; root activity; Root zone; Soil - chemistry; soil enzymes; Soil investigations; Soil layers; Soil moisture; soil nutrients; Soil organic matter; Soil properties; Soil temperature; Soil water; Soils; Straw; straw mulches; Tea; Tea - chemistry; tea plants; Temperature; Tillage; Topsoil; Vulpia myuros; Water - analysis; weeds; China; soil nutrients; economic benefit; tea plants; Vulpia myuros; root activity; mulch
• ISSN: 0022-5142; 1097-0010; 1097-0010
• DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.10580

BACKGROUND Tea is an important economic crop in China. Mulching, a modern agricultural practice, can modify the soil microenvironment and maintain the crop yield. RESULTS To investigate the effect of different mulching modes on tea plant growth, filed experiments were conducted in a Shizipu tea plantation located in Langxi Country (Xuanchen City, Anhui Province, China). Five treatments were carried out in a randomized complete block arrangement: (i) clean tillage (control); (ii) black plastic film; (iii) weed barrier fabric; (iv) rice straw mulch; and (v) intercropping with Vulpia myuros. The effects of different mulch modes on soil temperature, water moisture, soil compactness, root activity, soil enzyme activity and nutrition status on tea yield, quality and economic benefits were compared at the harvest stage. In the present study, compared with other mulch treatments, intercropping with V. myuros significantly reduced the topsoil temperature (to an optimum temperature) and soil compactness, and increased the water holding capacity in the deep soil layer, which contributed to increased tea root activity and respiration. Furthermore, intercropping with V. myuros significantly increased soil enzymes activity, soil organic matter, and the available nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the main root zone. Therefore, the stronger tea root activity accelerated nutrition uptake and increased the tea yield and quality‐related components of the tea, thus resulting in a larger average net income. CONCLUSION Intercropping with V. myuros could serve as a profitable agricultural method for tea production. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry