Effects of ridge and furrow film mulching on soil environment and yield under potato continuous cropping system

The effect of ridge and furrow film mulching (RFFM) on soil microbial communities, physicochemical property, enzymatic activity, and tuber yield were studied under the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) continuous cropping fields managed for one (CY-1), two (CY-2) and four years (CY-4). Experimental treatments included a conventional flat plot without film mulching (FP) and five RFFM treatments: (i) a flat plot with film mulching (T1); (ii) on-ridge planting with full film mulching (T2); (iii) on-furrow planting with full film mulching (T3); (iv) on-ridge planting with half film mulching (T4); and (v) on-furrow planting with half film mulching (T5). Compared with FP, RFFM increased microbial communities, soil electrical conductivity, and enzymatic activities, and decreased pH values to improve the soil environment. Microbial communities of T2 and T5 were relatively higher, while soil urease and alkaline phosphatase activities of T2 and T4 were higher in all the continuous cropping years. In addition, the tuber yields of T2 were also increased by 75.0, 46.4 and 97.3% than FP, respectively. Thus, on-ridge planting with full film mulching (T2) is recommended as an adaptive management strategy for potato cultivation in the semi-arid areas where continuous cropping is necessary.