Effect of bast-fiber film mulching and fertilization interaction on soil nutrient, soil enzyme activity and pepper growth

Bast-fiber films are increasingly used in agriculture. An experiment was therefore conducted to explore the effects of bast-fiber film mulching on growth and yield of solanaceous vegetable crops and soil properties. Pepper was planted under open field and greenhouse conditions to study the effects of the interactions of different film mulching and fertilization on 10 cm depth soil temperature at primary planting stage, pepper growth, soil nutrient and soil enzyme activity. The result showed that temperature of 10 cm depth soil mulched by different films at primary planting stage was higher than that of none film mulching treatment. Heat preservation effect of polythene (PE) film was better than that of bast-fiber film. Also heat preservation effects of the interactions of PE film mulching with organic manure or both organic manure and compound fertilizer were the best. Furthermore, 10 cm depth soil temperature dropped after 11 a.m. under bast-fiber film mulching. Bast-fiber film mulch significantly suppressed weed growth. Weed weight was the minimum under treatment of bast-fiber film mulching combined with compound fertilizer application. Pepper plant height, stem diameter and yield significantly increased under film mulching, but no evident changes were noted in SPAD and vitamin C content. Yield was higher significantly under bast-fiber film mulching than under PE film mulching and the control treatments. Soil pH and organic matter content significantly dropped, while available N, K and Olsen-P contents significantly increased under film mulching, compared with the control. Bast-fiber film mulching presented more obvious effects on the above soil properties. Soil protease, urease, catalase, sucrase activities also increased significantly under film mulching.