Effects of ridge-furrow and plastic mulching planting patterns on microflora and potato tuber yield in continuous cropping soil

Planting patterns have distinctive effects on the soil micro-ecological environment and soil quality. To explore the effects of film mulch ridge-furrow (FMRF) cropping on soil microbial properties and potato yield, a study was conducted in 2013 and 2014 in a continuously cropped field under nonfilm-mulched flat plot (CK), half-mulched flat plot (T1), fully mulched ridge cropping (T2), fully mulched furrow cropping (T3), half-mulched ridge cropping (T4) and half-mulched furrow cropping (T5) planting patterns. Our results indicate that T3 increased the average bacteria/fungi (B/F) ratio by 253% compared to CK. On average, half-mulched ridge cropping increased the bacteria population and aerobic Azotobacter by 9 and 19%, respectively, compared with CK. On average, T3 had the greatest inhibitory effect on fungi populations. Half-mulched furrow cropping had the most anaerobic Azotobacter and nitrifying bacteria. The study showed that FMRF increased soil bacteria, especially Azotobacter but reduced fungi and actinomycetes. Treatment T2 gave the greatest potato yield, followed by T4, whereas the greatest biomass yield was recorded in T4. Full-mulch furrow cropping methods produced the greatest nutrient use efficiency. The findings of this study enhance our understanding of soil microbe and plant responses to plastic mulch and planting patterns under semi-arid conditions.