Effects of Different Mulching Methods on Potato Late Blight and Yield
- Received Date: 15/07/2021
-
Key words:
- mulching method /
- late blight of potato /
- yield
Abstract: Potato late blight is one of the most important diseases of potato. Its influence on yield and quality of the crop seriously restricts the development of potato industry in Guizhou province. In this study, the effects of four mulching methods on potato yield and occurrence of late blight were compared. The results showed that compared with open field cultivation, all the four mulching methods had a seedling growth-promoting effect. Seedling emergence was the earliest and disease degree was the least in the treatment of small arch mulching, and the other three mulching methods (straw mulching, agricultural plastic film mulching and liquid film mulching) also inhibited potato late blight effectively. In addition, potato yield under the four mulching methods was significantly higher than that under open field cultivation, and was the highest under agricultural plastic film mulching, followed by small arch mulching, liquid film mulching and straw mulching. In conclusion, the planting mode of small arch mulching should be extended in potato-growing areas with early rainy season, while rice straw is not easy to collect due to ever-increasing utilization rate of rice straw returned to the field and hence is not recommended for mulching. Taking into consideration the economic characters and yield of potato crop and its input cost and operation, the authors recommend agricultural plastic film mulching and liquid film mulching in potato cultivation throughout the prefecture.