Effects of Living Mulch and Branches Mulching on Soil Moisture, Temperature and Growth of Rain-Fed Jujube Trees
The influence of different mulching measures on soil moisture, soil temperature, and crop growth was investigated during the jujube growing season in rain-fed jujube orchards using micro-plot experiments. The mulching treatments included clean tillage (CT, control treatment), jujube branches mulchin...
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/19/2654 |
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| author | Min Tang Xiaodong Gao Pute Wu Hongchen Li Chao Zhang |
| author_facet | Min Tang Xiaodong Gao Pute Wu Hongchen Li Chao Zhang |
| author_sort | Min Tang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The influence of different mulching measures on soil moisture, soil temperature, and crop growth was investigated during the jujube growing season in rain-fed jujube orchards using micro-plot experiments. The mulching treatments included clean tillage (CT, control treatment), jujube branches mulching (JBM), and white clover planting (WCP). The results revealed that: (1) The average soil moisture content of JBM was greater than that of CT by 3.76% and 2.34%, respectively, during the 2013 and 2014 jujube growth periods, and its soil water deficit was minimal in each soil layer from 0 to 70 cm. WCP had the greatest soil water deficit. The average soil moisture content of the 0–70 cm soil layer in WCP was 3.88% and 5.55% lower than that in CT during the 2013 and 2014 jujube growth seasons, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.05). (2) JBM had the highest annual average soil moisture content in each soil layer from 0 to 70 cm, followed by CT, while WCP had the lowest. White clover and jujube competed for water in the 20–40 cm soil layer, and JBM had the lowest variation in soil moisture. (3) Mulching with jujube branches and planting white clover could both control the temperature of the 0–25 cm soil layer and narrow the daily temperature range, with JBM being the least affected by air temperature. (4) Jujube’s leaf area index and stem diameter increase in JBM were both significantly greater than in CT and WCP. In conclusion, using pruned jujube branches as surface mulch is appropriate for rain-fed jujube orchards because it can preserve soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, and promote jujube growth. |
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| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:16:57Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-71b8380ad920475cac549799d4b63fad2023-11-23T21:31:05ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472022-10-011119265410.3390/plants11192654Effects of Living Mulch and Branches Mulching on Soil Moisture, Temperature and Growth of Rain-Fed Jujube TreesMin Tang0Xiaodong Gao1Pute Wu2Hongchen Li3Chao Zhang4College of Hydraulic Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, ChinaInstitute of Water-Saving Agriculture in Arid Areas of China, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling 712100, ChinaInstitute of Water-Saving Agriculture in Arid Areas of China, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling 712100, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ludong University, Yantai 264011, ChinaCollege of Hydraulic Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, ChinaThe influence of different mulching measures on soil moisture, soil temperature, and crop growth was investigated during the jujube growing season in rain-fed jujube orchards using micro-plot experiments. The mulching treatments included clean tillage (CT, control treatment), jujube branches mulching (JBM), and white clover planting (WCP). The results revealed that: (1) The average soil moisture content of JBM was greater than that of CT by 3.76% and 2.34%, respectively, during the 2013 and 2014 jujube growth periods, and its soil water deficit was minimal in each soil layer from 0 to 70 cm. WCP had the greatest soil water deficit. The average soil moisture content of the 0–70 cm soil layer in WCP was 3.88% and 5.55% lower than that in CT during the 2013 and 2014 jujube growth seasons, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.05). (2) JBM had the highest annual average soil moisture content in each soil layer from 0 to 70 cm, followed by CT, while WCP had the lowest. White clover and jujube competed for water in the 20–40 cm soil layer, and JBM had the lowest variation in soil moisture. (3) Mulching with jujube branches and planting white clover could both control the temperature of the 0–25 cm soil layer and narrow the daily temperature range, with JBM being the least affected by air temperature. (4) Jujube’s leaf area index and stem diameter increase in JBM were both significantly greater than in CT and WCP. In conclusion, using pruned jujube branches as surface mulch is appropriate for rain-fed jujube orchards because it can preserve soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, and promote jujube growth.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/19/2654jujubemulchingsoil moisturesoil temperatureleaf area indexstem diameter |
| spellingShingle | Min Tang Xiaodong Gao Pute Wu Hongchen Li Chao Zhang Effects of Living Mulch and Branches Mulching on Soil Moisture, Temperature and Growth of Rain-Fed Jujube Trees Plants jujube mulching soil moisture soil temperature leaf area index stem diameter |
| title | Effects of Living Mulch and Branches Mulching on Soil Moisture, Temperature and Growth of Rain-Fed Jujube Trees |
| title_full | Effects of Living Mulch and Branches Mulching on Soil Moisture, Temperature and Growth of Rain-Fed Jujube Trees |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Living Mulch and Branches Mulching on Soil Moisture, Temperature and Growth of Rain-Fed Jujube Trees |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Living Mulch and Branches Mulching on Soil Moisture, Temperature and Growth of Rain-Fed Jujube Trees |
| title_short | Effects of Living Mulch and Branches Mulching on Soil Moisture, Temperature and Growth of Rain-Fed Jujube Trees |
| title_sort | effects of living mulch and branches mulching on soil moisture temperature and growth of rain fed jujube trees |
| topic | jujube mulching soil moisture soil temperature leaf area index stem diameter |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/19/2654 |
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