Soil enzyme activity in spring potato fields under different mulching practices in double rice cropping area

An experiment was designed to explore the effects of different surface mulching practices on soil β-glucosidase, arylamidase, alkalinephosphatase, arylsulfatase and dehydrogenase activities in spring potato fields in double rice cropping areas. Surface mulching practices included zero mulching (CK), rice straw mulching, non-woven fabric mulching, rice straw plus non-woven fabric mulching, black plastic film mulching, and rice straw plus black plastic film mulching. The results indicated that surface mulching significantly affected soil enzyme activity. Compared with CK, the activities of alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase and dehydrogenase significantly increased (P<0.05) respectively by 17.55%, 24.77% and 87.2% under rice straw mulching. Arylamidase and dehydrogenase activities increased significantly (P<0.05) by 8.03% and 71.05%, respectively under rice straw plus non-woven fabric mulching. Black plastic film mulching also significant increased (P<0.05) the activities of β-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase and dehydrogenase by 23.44%, 22.70%, 37.43% and 146.30%, respectively. Similarly, rice straw plus black plastic film mulching significantly improved (P<0.05) the activities of β-glucosidase, arylamidase, alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase and dehydrogenase by 34.76%, 19.31%, 19.03%, 51.98% and 125.62%, respectively. In conclusion therefore, the activities of soil enzymes related to soil nutrient cycling were significantly enhanced by rice straw plus black plastic film mulching, which in turn enhanced soil fertility and quality.