Effects of Film Mulching and Irrigation on Biomass of Leaves, Roots and Tubers and Soil Nutrient Characteristics of Cyperus esculentus L.

Abstract

Abstract Aims To study the effect of drip irrigation mulching and the most suitable irrigation system for Cyperus esculentus L., and to provide a reference for the construction of a cultivation model for water-saving and high yield management of Cyperus esculentus. Methods To study the effects of irrigation and mulching control on the nutrients and biomass of Cyperus esculentus, a combination of field and indoor experiments analyzed the film mulching (FM) and no film mulching (NFM) treatments and different irrigation treatments, CK (control, the common local irrigation of 5316.45 m3·ha-2), T1 (3431.40 m3·ha-2) and T2 (4133.85 m3·ha-2), and the correlation between soil and plant nutrient content and biomass. Results The result showed that contents of soil organ carbon (SOC), soil total nitrogen (STN), and soil total phosphorus (STP) dropped layer by layer with soil depth increased, and film mulching reduced SOC, STN, and STP contents, and reaching maximum under the T2NFM treatment. T2NFM treatment significantly increased leaf total phosphorus (LTP) and root total nitrogen (RTN). The aboveground and underground biomass reached maximum under the T2FM treatment, followed by higher biomass under FM than the NFM treatment. According to correlation analysis that the biomass of Cyperus esculentus, soil and plant nutrient contents, and yield could be improved by changing the water and fertilizer supply. Conclusion In conclusion, the region's soils are generally nitrogen-limited, therefore supplemental nitrogen fertilization is recommended for agricultural production. In addition, the irrigation of 4133.85 m3·ha-2 under the mulching condition not only improved yield but also saved water resources.