Abstract

Strategies of plastic film mulching and fertilization of field in semiarid regions of northwest China are analyzed in this paper. The theory and approach of niche-fitness are introduced into the research on field management. Mathematical model of niche-fitness is constructed to evaluate the adaptive extent of Lilium davidii var. unicolor to mulching and fertilization and their effect on growth and yield. Compared with those under non-mulching, the plants under mulching had a larger leaf area index (LAI); fertilization increased the plant LAI under both mulching and no-mulching, and the largest LAI was achieved under the combination of mulching and fertilization. The average values of niche-fitness, bulb yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of Lilium davidii var. unicolor under mulching were significantly higher than those under non-mulching. Either non-mulching or mulching, the average values of niche-fitness, bulb yield and WUE increased with the increase of fertilizer supply. These findings might be helpful to the farmland mulching-fertilizer management in semiarid regions.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.