Effects of Different Mulching Methods on the Yield of Potatoes Planted in Autumn and Soil Moisture

In order to screen the suitable mulching materials for the high yield of potatoes planted in autumn in Quanzhou area, three methods of black plastic film mulching (B1), straw mulching (B2) and open field cultivation (CK) were used to analyze the effects of different mulching methods on the growth period, main agronomic traits, soil temperature, water content and fresh potato yield of Quanshu No.5. The results showed that the growth period and tuber number per plant of Quanshu No.5 were B2>CK>B1, the stem thick was B1>B2>CK, and the plant height, tuber weight per plant, fresh tuber yield and commodity potato rate were B2> B1>CK. The mean value of soil temperature in the whole growth period was B2B1>CK, the soil water consumption was B2>CK>B1, the total water consumption was B2>CK>B1, and the contribution rate of precipitation to water consumption was B2>CK>B1. The water use efficiency and yield of fresh potato and dried sweetpotato were B2>B1>CK. Under the conditions of this experiment, the straw mulching (B2) was a suitable method of mulching cultivation which was recommended for the autumn planting of Quanshu No.5 in the red soil producing area of Quanzhou.