The use of hydromulching increases yield and quality of artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) by improving soil physicochemical and biological properties

We hypothesized that organic liquid mulching formulations called hydromulching can be used in sustainable agricultural production through its direct influence on physicochemical and biological soil properties to improve crop yield and quality. To test this hypothesis, artichoke plants were grown using three hydromulching treatments, rice hulls (RH), wheat straw (WS), and mushroom substrate (MS), and two control treatments, soil covered with polyethylene (PE) and bare soil (BS). Hydromulched soils showed an increase in organic matter, organic carbon, moisture, and mineral contents of K+, P, Cu2+, Mn2+, and Zn2+, particularly in the MS-covered soil. Importantly, plant water relationships were superior in all mulching treatments giving rise to the improvement of crop yield and the most important physical quality parameters in artichoke, namely color, firmness, and size. Furthermore, the content of some important nutrient elements in artichoke (K+ and N) were greater in RH and MS treatments, while sugar concentrations were higher in BS compared to the other treatments. Our data demonstrate that hydromulching is a sustainable alternative to plastic mulching that regulates plant hydric status and soil moisture and fertility, thus improving yield and physical quality characteristics of artichoke heads, and maintaining their chemical and nutritional quality over bare soil.