Fruit yield and properties of Camellia oleifera Abel can be enhanced via fine roots promotion under mulch

ABSTRACT

To study the effects of mulching on fine roots and fruits of Camellia oleifera Abel, four materials (Peanut stalk + straw, black mulch, eco-film, C. oleifera shell) were used to mulch on the C. oleifera forest land. The nondestructive minirhizotrons were used to in-situ monitor the growth, death, and turnover of fine roots for one year, and the fruit properties were measured for three years. The results showed that the annual productions of fine roots by black much and peanut stalk + straw were broadly improved in 10–30 cm soil layer. Compared with CK, the annual death of fine roots of all mulching treatments increased in 30–40 cm soil layer. It was found that mulch with peanut stalk + straw promoted the turnover of fine roots by increasing annual production in the soil depth of 10–30 cm. The comprehensive ordering of fruit yield and properties was: peanut stalk + straw treatment > black mulch > C. oleifera shell > CK > eco-film. Overall, the peanut stalk + straw was the best treatment to enhance the yield and properties of fruits via fine roots promotion.

KEYWORDS:

• Minirhizotrons
• annual production of fine roots
• mulching
• yield and oil production of fruits
• turnover

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by [National Key R&D Program of China] grant number [2018YFD1000603] and [The National Natural Science Foundation of China] grant number [31560218].