Abstract:
Objective Effects of spent straws of tropical plants used for mulching on farm soil and corn crop were studied.
Method A field experimentation was conducted on designated plots applying sugarcane leaves mulching (SLM) , decayed sugarcane leaves mulching (DSLM) , pineapple leaves mulching (PLM), Fugui bamboo leaves mulching (FLM), or two controls of plastic film covering (CK1) and no mulching (CK2). Soil pH, organic matter, total N, available P, and available K as well as corn yield and quality of the plots were determined.
Result All straw mulching increased pH, organic matter, total N, available P, and available K over CK2. Specifically, FLM increased pH by 22.22% , organic matter by 21.63%, total N by 24.51%, available P by 2.74%, and available K by 389.38%. In comparison with CK1, the increases were by 9.01% on pH, by 6.42% on organic matter, by 17.59% on total N, and by 477.79% on available K but an insignificant decline on available P. For the yield of corn crop, significant increases were observed with DSLM and FLM, but no significant effect on the others.
Conclusion Mulching the corn field with tropical straws improved the soil properties, corn quality, and crop yield. FLM significantly upgraded the soil fertility, while RSLM enhanced the crop yield.