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The effect of FP (a flat plot without mulch), FPM (a flat plot with film mulching), RM (on-ridge planting with full film mulching), and FM (on-furrow planting with full film mulching) on the tuber and its storage quality of continuous cropping potatoes was investigated. The results showed that with the increase of continuous cropping years, the potato yield was reduced year by year. The furrow-ridge mulching film can significantly increase potato yield and reduce small tubers. Among them, the yield of RM was the highest. From the perspective of tuber quality, RM had the highest dry matter content and starch content, while FP had the lowest. Meanwhile, the reducing sugar content of FP was always higher than that of other treatments. The amino acid content and vitamin C content of FPM, RM, and FM were higher than FP before and after storage. In addition, with the extension of storage time, the dry matter content, starch content, amino acid content, and vitamin C content of all treatments decreased, while the content of reducing sugar increased significantly. Thus, on-ridge planting with full film mulching (RM) can effectively improve potato yield and tuber quality before and after storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of ridge and furrow film mulching (RFFM) on soil microbial communities, physicochemical property, enzymatic activity, and tuber yield were studied under the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) continuous cropping fields managed for one (CY-1), two (CY-2) and four years (CY-4). Experimental treatments included a conventional flat plot without film mulching (FP) and five RFFM treatments: (i) a flat plot with film mulching (T1); (ii) on-ridge planting with full film mulching (T2); (iii) on-furrow planting with full film mulching (T3); (iv) on-ridge planting with half film mulching (T4); and (v) on-furrow planting with half film mulching (T5). Compared with FP, RFFM increased microbial communities, soil electrical conductivity, and enzymatic activities, and decreased pH values to improve the soil environment. Microbial communities of T2 and T5 were relatively higher, while soil urease and alkaline phosphatase activities of T2 and T4 were higher in all the continuous cropping years. In addition, the tuber yields of T2 were also increased by 75.0, 46.4 and 97.3% than FP, respectively. Thus, on-ridge planting with full film mulching (T2) is recommended as an adaptive management strategy for potato cultivation in the semi-arid areas where continuous cropping is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]