Effects of Mulching on Soil Properties and Growth of Tea Olive (Osmanthus fragrans)

Abstract

Different mulches have variable effects on soil physical properties and plant growth. This study aimed to compare the effects of mulching with inorganic (round gravel, RG), organic (wood chips, WC), and living (manila turf grass, MG) materials on soil properties at 0–5-cm and 5–10-cm depths, as well as on the growth and physiological features of Osmanthus fragrans L. ‘Rixianggui’ plants. Soil samples were collected at three different time points from field plots of O. fragrans plants treated with the different mulching treatments. Moisture at both soil depths was significantly higher after mulching with RG and WC than that in the unmulched control (CK) treatment. Mulching did not affect soil bulk density, pH, or total nitrogen content, but consistently improved soil organic matter. The available nitrogen in the soil increased after RG and WC treatments, but decreased after MG treatment during the experimental period. Mulching improved plant growth by increasing root activity, soluble sugar, and chlorophyll a content, as well as by providing suitable moisture conditions and nutrients in the root zone. Plant height and trunk diameter were remarkably increased after mulching, especially with RG and WC. However, while MG improved plant growth at the beginning of the treatment, the ‘Rixianggui’ plants later showed no improvement in growth. This was probably because MG competed with the plants for water and available nitrogen in the soil. Thus, our findings suggest that RG and WC, but not MG, improved the soil environment and the growth of ‘Rixianggui’ plants. Considering the effect of mulching on soil properties and plant growth and physiology, round gravel and wood chips appear to be a better choice than manila turf grass in ‘Rixianggui’ nurseries. Further studies are required to determine the effects of mulch quality and mulch-layer thickness on shoot and root growths.

Effects of Volcanic Zeolite Tuff on Olive (Olea Europaea L.) Growth and Soil Chemistry under a Constant Water Level: Five Years’ Monitoring Experience

“…The findings of the present study support those of previous studies, which have suggested that mulching with various materials sequesters water and prevents evaporative water loss from the soil (Hartman et al, 2000;Yamanaka et al, 2004;Sinkevičienė et al, 2009), which, in turn, enhances the photosynthetic rate in the leaves of plants grown under these conditions (Ni et al, 2016). Qin et al (2015) found that soil mulching reduced evaporation, increased the water potential, and subsequently modified soil temperature, increasing the yields and water use efficiencies of maize (Zea mays) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) by up to 60%.…”

Analysis of Soil Degradation Causes in Phyllostachys edulis Forests with Different Mulching Years

“…The change of pH was a complicated process affected by many factors, and three reasons should explain why it decreased with the increase of mulching years. Firstly, chemical nitrogen fertilizer, which was applied before mulching, may accelerate the accumulation of N, resulting in nitrification and much more H + [9,32]. Secondly, the degradation of residual mulching materials and the cultivation of anaerobic bacteria may lead to the accumulation of phenolic acids and then result in soil acidification [33].…”

“…Mulching was adopted as a strategy to buffer soil temperature, reduce water evaporation, prevent weed growth [8][9][10] and improve production by enhancing soil quality [11][12][13]. Research showed that shoot bud differentiation was closely related to soil temperature [6].…”

The Efficacy of Different Mulching Materials in Influencing Growth, Yield, Soil and Quality Parameters of Ginger Cultivated in Low Country Intermediate Zone (IL1) of Sri Lanka

“…Iles and Dosmann (1999) reported that due to high moisture conservation and high solubility of ions, soil EC decreased. Soil moisture content (%) Ni et al, in 2016 reported that different mulches have variable effects on the soil moisture content. The highest percentage of moisture was obtained in plots mulched with polythene mulch (T4) and it was significantly different (P<0.05) from other treatments.…”