Straw and mulching film space complementary covering dry land tomato cultivation method

Abstract

The invention discloses a dry land tomato cultivation method with straw and mulching film space complementary covering, and belongs to the technical field of agricultural planting. The method comprises the following steps: covering whole corn straw strips (with the width of 90cm and the interval of 50cm) in autumn and winter on the basis of previous crops of corn, adjusting the straw covering strips to 50cm and the uncovered width to 90cm in the next spring, performing rotary tillage and fertilization in the interval rows without covering the straw, laying a mulching film with the width of 50cm, planting tomatoes on two sides of the mulching film, paving redundant straw in the wide rows, and covering the wide rows with the mulching film with the width of 50cm after the tomatoes are planted on the two sides of the mulching film. And a spatial pattern of narrow-row plastic film mulching-wide-row straw mulching is constructed. The narrow-row mulching film can preserve soil moisture and increase temperature in spring and promote early emergence of seedlings, and the wide-row straws can cool, inhibit weeds and fertilize in summer, the advantages of the narrow-row mulching film and the wide-row straws complement each other and cooperatively regulate and control the hydrothermal condition of soil, the contradiction between soil moisture conservation in spring and cooling in summer is solved, high-yield, high-quality and sustainable production of open-field tomatoes in semi-arid and semi-humid areas is realized, and the method has both ecological and economic benefits.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of agricultural planting technology, and in particular to a method for cultivating tomatoes in dryland areas using a complementary spatial covering method of straw and plastic film. Background Technology

[0002] The continuous cropping of open-field tomatoes in semi-arid and semi-humid regions has long faced multiple technical challenges, restricting both production efficiency and ecological sustainability.

[0003] The contradiction between water and heat is prominent: the planting period often encounters the superposition of spring drought and low temperature, which seriously affects the seedling recovery; although traditional single mulch film can solve the needs of spring moisture retention, temperature increase and weed control, the high temperature under the film in summer can easily cause root heat stress and block rainwater infiltration. Long-term use will also accelerate the consumption of soil organic matter and lead to compaction; while single straw mulch has the shortcoming of insufficient soil temperature increase in spring, which cannot meet the needs of early seedling development.

[0004] The problem of continuous cropping is exacerbated: continuous planting leads to the accumulation of soil pathogens, enhanced autotoxicity of root exudates, deterioration of soil physical and chemical properties, high incidence of soil-borne diseases (such as bacterial wilt and Fusarium wilt), and weakened plant growth. Traditional methods of disinfection relying on chemical agents are costly and easily cause environmental pollution.

[0005] Inefficient resource utilization: The large amount of straw produced by the previous corn crop is difficult to dispose of. Traditional methods of crushing and returning to the field or removing it not only waste resources, but may also increase disposal costs or cause environmental burden.

[0006] Unfavorable field microclimate: Under the traditional equal-row planting pattern, the field becomes closed after the canopy closes in summer, resulting in poor ventilation and light penetration, high humidity, and easy induction of leaf diseases, which affects tomato growth and fruit quality.

[0007] Existing mulching technologies struggle to balance short-term production efficiency with long-term ecological benefits. Combining the short-term efficiency of plastic film mulching with the long-term ecological advantages of straw mulching, leveraging strengths while mitigating weaknesses, and achieving high-value utilization of agricultural waste has become a critical technological bottleneck that dryland agriculture urgently needs to overcome. Summary of the Invention

[0008] To address the problems of water and heat regulation contradictions, prominent continuous cropping obstacles, and inefficient resource utilization in existing open-field tomato cultivation techniques, this invention provides a method for dryland tomato cultivation using complementary spatial covering of straw and plastic film. Through a "spatial niche separation" design, the plastic film and straw play dominant roles in suitable spaces (narrow rows vs. wide rows) and times (spring vs. summer), respectively, creating an optimal water, heat, air, and fertilizer environment for the entire tomato growth cycle, achieving the cultivation goals of high yield, high quality, and ecological sustainability.

[0009] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0010] A method for cultivating tomatoes in dryland areas using a complementary mulch system of straw and plastic film includes the following steps:

[0011] (1) Pre-covering of straw strips in autumn and winter: After the previous corn harvest in autumn, the whole corn stalks are covered with strips with a width of 90 cm without being crushed, and a 50 cm gap is left between adjacent covering strips without covering the straw.

[0012] (2) Spring straw strip preparation and wide row preparation: Before tomato transplanting in late May of the following year, the straw covering strip in step (1) was prepared to a width of 50 cm; then, a rotary tiller was used to cultivate the soil in the 90 cm wide uncovered straw row after adjustment, and base fertilizer was applied at the same time.

[0013] (3) Wide row mulching and narrow row straw retention: In the 90 cm wide row that has been cultivated and fertilized in step (2), a 50 cm wide mulch film is laid; while the 50 cm wide straw covering strip formed after sorting is retained;

[0014] (4) Planting and straw spreading: Plant tomato seedlings on both sides of the mulch film laid in step (3) to form narrow rows; after planting, spread the excess straw that was sorted out in step (2) onto the 90 cm wide uncovered ground surface between the rows.

[0015] As a further technical solution of the present invention: after step (4) is completed, a stable field structure is formed: a narrow row of mulch film covering strips with a width of 50 cm, and a wide row of covering strips with a width of 90 cm and a surface layer of straw.

[0016] As a further technical solution of the present invention: the narrow row of mulch film covering strips mentioned in step (3) has the function of conserving moisture and increasing temperature in spring, and promoting the early growth of tomato seedlings.

[0017] As a further technical solution of the present invention: the straw spread in the wide row in step (4) has the function of suppressing weeds in the wide row, reducing soil temperature in the root zone, increasing soil organic matter and improving soil structure during the growing season.

[0018] As a further technical solution of the present invention: the whole corn stalks mentioned in step (1) are complete plants with stems, leaves and residual roots retained after harvest. When covering, the stalks are naturally stacked with a thickness of 8-12 cm.

[0019] As a further technical solution of the present invention: the soil tillage depth in step (2) is 20-25 cm.

[0020] As a further technical solution of the present invention: the thickness of the straw spread in step (4) is 8-10 cm, and after spreading, it covers the entire 90 cm wide row of ground surface without any bare soil.

[0021] One or more technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application have at least the following technical effects or advantages:

[0022] 1. Synergistic effect and complementary advantages: Mulch film makes up for the shortcoming of low soil temperature in spring when straw mulch is used, while straw mulch solves the defects of high temperature and poor fertilization effect in summer when mulch film is used, achieving a synergistic effect of "1+1>2", and at the same time solving the core contradiction between conserving moisture and increasing temperature in spring and cooling and fertilizing in summer.

[0023] 2. Dynamic and precise control: The mode can automatically switch the dominant function according to seasonal changes. In spring, the main function is to "retain moisture and increase temperature" with plastic film to ensure early seedling growth; in summer, the main function is to "cool down and suppress weeds and enrich the soil" with straw to avoid root heat stress and achieve dynamic seasonal balance of root zone temperature to meet the needs of tomatoes at different growth stages.

[0024] 3. Strong ecological sustainability: The plastic film covers less than 1 / 3 of the field area, reducing the amount of plastic film used and lowering the risk of white pollution; the straw is covered throughout the process to realize resource utilization and high value utilization, turning waste into treasure. By returning straw to the field, the soil is continuously enriched, the physical and chemical properties of the soil are improved, and a virtuous cycle of the farmland ecosystem is promoted.

[0025] 4. Significant comprehensive benefits: Soil moisture utilization rate is increased by more than 30%, and drought resistance is significantly enhanced; the weed control rate of the whole field is >90%, basically eliminating the need for weeding operations; the annual increase in soil organic matter is significant, the bulk density is reduced, and the continuous cropping obstacle is effectively alleviated; the tomato yield is increased by 25-40% compared with traditional cultivation, and the uniformity, sugar content and vitamin C content of the fruit are significantly improved, taking into account both economic and ecological benefits. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] A method for cultivating tomato in dryland areas using a complementary mulch system of straw and plastic film covers is based on constructing a composite ridge structure of "narrow-row film cover - wide-row straw cover". The specific steps are as follows:

[0028] 1. Autumn and winter straw strip pre-covering (function: basic moisture retention and resource preparation): Immediately after the previous corn harvest, lay whole corn stalks in strips 90cm wide and spaced 50cm apart. The main purpose of this stage is to retain autumn and winter rain and snow, and to prepare materials for the composite mulching system in the following spring.

[0029] 2. Spring Straw Strip Preparation and Wide-Row Preparation (Function: Structural Shaping and Fertility Foundation): By the end of May of the following year, the overwintering straw strips are prepared to a width of 50cm, making way for standard 90cm wide working rows. Rotary tillage and fertilization are then carried out in these working rows to prepare for mulching and transplanting. This step precisely separates the future "straw zone" from the "mulch zone."

[0030] 3. Wide-row mulching (function: advantageous positioning): Lay a 50cm wide mulch film within the prepared 90cm wide row to form a "narrow row of mulch film".

[0031] 4. Planting and Straw Spreading (Function: System Formation and Function Activation): Plant tomato seedlings on both sides of the mulch film. Then, spread the excess straw removed during the cleaning stage evenly between the remaining 90cm wide rows to complete the construction of the "straw wide row".

[0032] The final field structure is as follows:

[0033] Narrow row (50cm): It consists of a plastic film covering strip, and its main functions are to retain moisture and increase temperature in spring and to strongly control weeds.

[0034] Wide rows (90cm): Composed of whole corn stalks as mulch, responsible for protecting the outer periphery of the plant roots, suppressing weeds in the wide rows, and cooling the soil and root system in summer.

[0035] Implementation Case: A two-year comparative experiment was conducted in Huguan County, Shanxi Province (a semi-humid and drought-prone area).

[0036] Experimental design: The method group of this invention and the control group of traditional open-field continuous cropping were set up.

[0037] The method of this invention is as follows: After the previous corn harvest, the stalks are covered in strips 90cm wide and spaced 50cm apart. On May 20th of the following year, the stalk strips are narrowed to 50cm wide, and rotary tillage and fertilization are carried out in the 90cm wide exposed rows, followed by the laying of a 50cm wide plastic film. On May 26th, the narrowed stalks are evenly spread within the 90cm wide rows. On May 30th, tomato seedlings are planted on both sides of the plastic film.

[0038] Comparison of effects (compared to traditional open-field continuous cropping):

[0039] Soil temperature: In mid-July afternoon, the soil temperature at 5cm depth in the root zone of the method group under straw mulch was 29.1℃, while the soil temperature at the same depth in the traditional open field control group was as high as 30.2℃, with a cooling effect of 1.1℃.

[0040] Soil moisture: Before planting, the soil moisture content in the 0-30cm depth of the method group of this invention was 32.6% higher than that in the control group.

[0041] Weed situation: There are basically no weeds in the field of this invention, while weeds grow in the traditional control field.

[0042] Yield and benefits: The average yield per mu (667 square meters) of the method group of this invention reached 7154.8 kg, which is 46.8% higher than that of the control group (4873.3 kg).

[0043] Table 1: Advantages of this design compared to traditional technologies.

[0044]

[0045] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as exemplary and non-limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, it is intended that all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims be included within the present invention.

[0046] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This way of describing the specification is only for clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment have been appropriately combined to form other embodiments that are easy for those skilled in the art to understand.

Claims

1. A method for cultivating tomato in dryland areas using a complementary mulch system of straw and plastic film, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: (1) Pre-covering of straw strips in autumn and winter: After the previous corn harvest in autumn, the whole corn stalks are covered with strips with a width of 90 cm without being crushed, and a 50 cm gap is left between adjacent covering strips without covering the straw. (2) Spring straw strip preparation and wide row preparation: Before tomato transplanting in late May of the following year, the straw covering strip in step (1) was prepared to a width of 50 cm; then, a rotary tiller was used to cultivate the soil in the 90 cm wide uncovered straw row after adjustment, and base fertilizer was applied at the same time. (3) Wide row mulching and narrow row straw retention: In the 90 cm wide row that has been cultivated and fertilized in step (2), a 50 cm wide mulch film is laid; while the 50 cm wide straw covering strip formed after sorting is retained; (4) Planting and straw spreading: Plant tomato seedlings on both sides of the mulch film laid in step (3) to form narrow rows; after planting, spread the excess straw that was sorted out in step (2) onto the 90 cm wide uncovered ground surface between the rows.

2. The method for cultivating dryland tomatoes with complementary spatial coverage of straw and plastic film as described in claim 1, characterized in that, After step (4) is completed, a stable field structure is formed: narrow rows are 50 cm wide plastic film covering strips, and wide rows are 90 cm wide covering strips with straw spread on the surface.

3. The method for cultivating dryland tomatoes with complementary spatial coverage of straw and plastic film as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The narrow-row mulch film covering strip mentioned in step (3) functions to retain moisture and increase temperature in spring, and promote the early growth of tomato seedlings.

4. The method for cultivating dryland tomatoes with complementary spatial coverage of straw and plastic film as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The straw spread in the wide rows in step (4) functions to suppress weeds in the wide rows, reduce soil temperature in the root zone, increase soil organic matter and improve soil structure during the growing season.

5. The method for cultivating dryland tomatoes with complementary spatial coverage of straw and plastic film as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The whole corn stalks mentioned in step (1) refer to the complete plants with stems, leaves and residual roots retained after harvest. When covering, the stalks are naturally stacked with a thickness of 8-12 cm.

6. The method for cultivating dryland tomatoes with complementary spatial coverage of straw and plastic film as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In step (2), the soil tillage depth is 20-25 cm.

7. The method for cultivating dryland tomatoes with complementary spatial coverage of straw and plastic film as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In step (4), the thickness of the straw spread is 8-10 cm, and after spreading, it covers the entire 90 cm wide row of ground surface, with no bare soil exposed.

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