Effects of mulching on soil environment and water utilization by roots of Lycium barbarum

doi:10.11686/cyxb2018162

Abstract

Abstract: Lycium barbarum (Wolfberry), is the main commercial crop in arid land in northwestern China. This research aimed to improve knowledge of the water uptake characteristics of L. barbarum, in order to increase the water use efficiency of the root system. A mulching experiment was conducted at the Gulang agricultural demonstration area, Gansu province (37.30° N, 103.29° E). The experiment included four mulching treatments: plastic mulching (PM), fabric mulching (FM), stalk mulching (SM), and an un-mulched control (CK). Hydraulic conductivity of the canopy and root, and soil micro-environment were monitored in four year old seedlings of the ‘Ningqi 1’ variety of L. barbarum. It was found that the hydraulic conductivity of the canopy and roots was increased by mulching. The greatest increase occurred with PM, which had values 109.7% and 102.8% of CK. The root system absorbed water mainly in the 30-100 cm soil depth in the CK plants. Soil moisture increase in 0-30 cm was found to decrease the utilization rate by plants of deeper soil moisture. Depletion of the deep soil moisture was 81.81% in CK, compared to 47.06% in the PM treatment. WUE was lowest in the PM treatment and highest in the SM treatment. By contrast, the soil moisture content at 0-150 cm was increased by mulching, and was highest in the PM treatment. For soil average temperature, the treatments ranked PM>FM>CK>SM. soil organic carbon, microbial biomass, and microbioal diversity index were enhanced in SM (14.69 mg·g^-1, 618.8×10⁶ CFU·g^-1 and 3.13 H, respectively), compared to other treatments, while the soil organic carbon of the PM treatment was the lowest (97.98% of CK). The soil temperature, soil moisture content with the hydraulic conductivity and water use efficiency showed significant correlations. It suggested that the root water use efficiency in L. barbarum is affected by the mulching material used. Promotion of plant growth and improvement of the soil environment was more pronounced in the SM treatment with other mulching materials, It is possible to increase the water use efficiency of roots by stalk mulching.

Key words: Lycium barbarum, mulching, rhizosphere soil, root system, hydraulic conductivity

XU Sheng-rong, ZHANG En-he, MA Rui-li, WANG Qi, LIU Qing-lin, HUANG Yu-fang. Effects of mulching on soil environment and water utilization by roots of Lycium barbarum[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2019, 28(2): 12-22.

References

[1] Yan Z S, Guo Z S, Ning T, et al. Effects of branch mulch on soil water of pruned Caragana korshinskii forestland in the semi-arid loess hilly region. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2016, 36(21): 6872-6878.
严正升, 郭忠升, 宁婷, 等. 枝条覆盖对半干旱黄土丘陵区平茬柠条林地土壤水分的影响. 生态学报, 2016, 36(21): 6872-6878.
[2] Dang T H, Guo D, Qi L H.Effects of wheat yield and water use under dual-mulching mode of plastic film and straw in the dryland farming. Transactions of the CSAE, 2008, 24(10): 20-24.
党延辉, 郭栋, 戚龙海. 旱地地膜和秸秆双元覆盖栽培下小麦产量与水分效应. 农业工程学报, 2008, 24(10): 20-24.
[3] Wu X L, Tang Y L, Li C S, et al. Effects of autumn straw mulching on physiological characteristics and water use efficiency in winter wheat grown in hilly drought region. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2015, 41(6): 929-937.
吴晓丽, 汤永禄, 李朝苏, 等. 秋季玉米秸秆覆盖对丘陵旱地小麦生理特性及水分利用效率的影响. 作物学报, 2015, 41(6): 929-937.
[4] Wang Q J, Lu C Y, Li H W, et al. The effects of no-tillage with subsoiling on soil properties and maize yield: 12-year experiment on alkaline soils of northeast China. Soil and Tillage Research, 2014, 137: 43-49.
[5] Han F X, Chang L, Chai S X, et al. Effect of straw strip covering on ridges on soil water content and potato yield under rain-fed semiarid conditions. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 2016, 24(7): 874-882.
韩凡香, 常磊, 柴守玺, 等. 半干旱雨养区秸秆带状覆盖种植对土壤水分及马铃薯产量的影响. 中国生态农业学报, 2016, 24(7): 874-882.
[6] Du Z L, Ren T S, Hu C S.Tillage and residue removal effects on soil carbon and nitrogen storage in the north China Plain. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 2010, 74(1): 196-202.
[7] Wang H X, Sun H X, Han Q F, et al. Effects of straw mulching on the soil aggregates in dryland wheat field under notillage. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2012, 23(4): 1025-1030.
王海霞, 孙红霞, 韩清芳, 等. 免耕条件下秸秆覆盖对旱地小麦田土壤团聚体的影响. 应用生态学报, 2012, 23(4): 1025-1030.
[8] Wang R L, Wang Q, Cao X R.Effect of different mulching treatments on soil physical characteristics and leaves in apple orchard. Northern Horticulture, 2015, (24): 163-166.
王荣莉, 王倩, 曹欣冉. 不同覆盖方式对土壤物理性状和苹果叶片的影响. 北方园艺, 2015, (24): 163-166.
[9] Giuseppe T, Bartolomeo D, Cristos X.Soil fungi-plant interaction//Giuseppe M, Bartolomeo D. Advances in selected plant physiology aspect. Croatia, 2012: 161-188.
[10] Siemens J A, Zwiazek J J.Root hydraulic properties and growth of balsam poplar (Populus ba lsamifera) mycorrhizal with Hebeloma crustuliniforme and Wilcoxina mikolae var. mikolae. Mycorrhiza, 2008, 18: 393-401.
[11] Allen M F.Mycorrhizal fungi: Highways for water and nutrients in arid soils. Vadose Zone Journal, 2007, 6: 291-297.
[12] Wang Y X, Ye J, Wang C J, et al. Effect of different cultivation years on soil organic carbon pools in citrus orchards. Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 2014, 23(10): 1574-1580.
王义祥, 叶菁, 王成己, 等. 不同经营年限对柑橘果园土壤有机碳及其组分的影响. 生态环境学报, 2014, 23(10): 1574-1580.
[13] Hu J, Moore D J P, Riverosiregui D A, et al. Modeling whole-tree carbon assimilation rate using observed transpiration rates and needle sugar carbon isotope ratios. New Phytologist, 2010, 185: 1000-1015.
[14] Luo Y Y, Zhao X Y, Huang Y X, et al. Research progress on plant water use efficiency and its measuring methods. Journal of Desert Research, 2009, 29(4): 648-655.
罗亚勇, 赵学勇, 黄迎新, 等. 植物水分利用效率及其测定方法研究进展. 中国沙漠, 2009, 29(4): 648-655.
[15] Dawson T E.Hydraulic lift and water use by plants: implications for water balance, performance and plant-plant interactions. Oecologia, 1993, 95: 565-574.
[16] McCole A A, Libby A, Stern. Seasonal water use patterns of juniperus ashei on the Edwards Plateau, Texas, based on stable isotopes in water. Journal of Hydrology, 2007, 342(3/4): 238-248.
[17] Zhang F, Tian T, Jin Z L, et al. Effect of new herbicide ZJ0273 on seedling growth and root cell viability of brassica napus. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 2009, 42(10): 3522-3529.
张帆, 田甜, 金宗来, 等. 新型除草剂丙酯草醚对油菜幼苗生长与根尖细胞活性的影响. 中国农业科学, 2009, 42(10): 3522-3529.
[18] Gascó A, Nardini A, Raimondo F, et al. Hydraulic kinetics of the graft union in different Olea europaeal L. scion/rootstock combinations. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 2007, 60: 245-250.
[19] Snyder K A, Williams D G.Water sources used by riparian trees varies among stream types on the San Pedro River, Arizona. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 2000, 105(2): 227-240.
[20] Zhang L S, Liu F T, Zhang Y W, et al. Effects of different mulching on soil organic carbon fractions and soil microbial community of apple orchard in Loess Plateau. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 2013, 46(15): 3180-3190.
张林森, 刘富庭, 张永旺, 等. 不同覆盖方式对黄土高原地区苹果园土壤有机碳组分及微生物的影响. 中国农业科学, 2013, 46(15): 3180-3190.
[21] Zhang L, Cheng Z H, Zhou Y L, et al. Variation of microbial biomass and enzyme activities in the rhizosphere soil of lily at different developmental periods. Acta Horticulturae Sinica, 2008, 35(7): 1031-1038.
张亮, 程智慧, 周艳丽, 等. 百合生育期根际土壤微生物和酶活性的变化. 园艺学报, 2008, 35(7): 1031-1038.
[22] Shannon C E.A mathematical theory of communication. Acm Sigmobile Mobile Computing and Communications Review, 2001, 5(1): 3-55.
[23] Yang S M, Li B G, Qi G H, et al. Effects of alternate partial rootzone irrigation on roots activity, stem sap flow and fruit of apple. Transactions of the CSAE, 2010, 26(8): 73-79.
杨素苗, 李保国, 齐国辉, 等. 根系分区交替灌溉对苹果根系活力、树干液流和果实的影响. 农业工程学报, 2010, 26(8): 73-79.
[24] Hu S, Xie X L, Wang K R.Effects of straw mulching and sodding culture on soil water use and variation in citrus orchiard in dry season. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2009, 29: 976-983.
胡实, 谢小立, 王凯荣. 覆被对桔园旱季土壤水分变化和利用的影响. 生态学报, 2009, 29: 976-983.
[25] Cook H F, Valdes G S B, Lee H C. Mulch effects on rainfall interception, soil physical characteristics and temperature under Zea mays L. Soil and Tillage Research, 2006, 91: 227-235.
[26] Lei J Y, Wu F Q, Wang J, et al. Effects of conservation tillage on soil physical properties and corn yield. Transactions of the CSAE, 2008, 24(10): 40-45.
雷金银, 吴发启, 王健, 等. 保护性耕作对土壤物理特性及玉米产量的影响. 农业工程学报, 2008, 24(10): 40-45.
[27] Zhang W, Wang C, Liang Y, et al. Effect of crop residue cover on soil temperature in cold and dry farming areas. Transactions of the CSAE, 2006, 22(5): 70-73.
张伟, 汪春, 梁远, 等. 残茬覆盖对寒地旱作区土壤温度的影响. 农业工程学报, 2006, 22(5): 70-73.
[28] Bending G D, Turner M K, Jones J E.Interaction between crop residue and soil organic matter quality and the functional diversity of soil microbial communities. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2002, 34: 1073-1082.
[29] Liu J X, Wang X, Yang J X.Effects of covering straw in orchard on humus composition and biological characteristic. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2005, 19(4): 93-95.
刘建新, 王鑫, 杨建霞. 覆草对果园土壤腐殖质组成和生物学特性的影响. 水土保持学报, 2005, 19(4): 93-95.
[30] Veselova S V, Farhutdinov R G, Veselov S Y, et al. The effect of root cooling on hormone content, leaf conductance and root hydraulic conductivity of durum wheat seedlings (Triticum durum L.). Journal of Plant Physiology, 2005, 162: 21-26.
[31] Sayer M A S, Brissette J C, Barnett J P. Root growth and hydraulic conductivity of southern pine seedlings in response to soil temperature and water availability after planting. New Forests, 2005, 30: 253-272.
[32] Zhang Y E, Yu X X, Chen L H, et al. Foliar water use efficiency of Platycladus orientalis sapling under different soil water contents. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2017, 28(7): 2149-2154.
张永娥, 余新晓, 陈丽华, 等. 不同土壤含水量下侧柏幼树叶片水分利用效率. 应用生态学报, 2017, 28(7): 2149-2154.
[33] Fang W S, Zhu Z X, Liu R H, et al. Study on microclimate characters and yield-increasing mechanism in straw mulching field. Agricultural Research in the Arid Areas, 2009, 27: 123-128.
方文松, 朱自玺, 刘荣花, 等. 秸秆覆盖农田的小气候特征和增产机理研究. 干旱地区农业研究, 2009, 27: 123-128.
[34] Wu H W, Li X Y, Jiang Z Y, et al. Variations in water use for Achnatherum splendens in Lake Qinghai watershed, based on δD and δ¹⁸O. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2015, 35(24): 8174-8183.
吴华武, 李小雁, 蒋志云, 等. 基于δD和δ¹⁸O的青海湖流域芨芨草水分利用来源变化研究. 生态学报, 2015, 35(24): 8174-8183.
[35] Safir G R, Nelsen C E V. A mycorrhizas: Plant and fungal water relations//Proceedings of the sixth north American conference on mycorrhizae (Ed. by R. Molina) Forest Research Laboratory. Corvallis, Oregon, USA, 1985: 161-164.