Soil properties and tree growth of organic black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) grown under bio-degradable plastic mulch

The study was conducted to compare for growth of organic black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) grown under bio-degradable plastic mulch with white (WPM) and black colour (BPM) in 2018. Higher soil pH and organic matter contents resulted in the Bio-WPM treatment plots on September compared to those of values observed on the Bio-BPM, while the opposite results observed on the soil EC and concentrations of T-N, P2O5, K2O, MgO, and NaO in the soil. Foliar SPAD and PS II activity values in the trees were slightly elevated by the Bio-WPM treatment. Number of leaves, total length of two-and three-year old shoots and trunk diameter were increased by the Bio-BPM treatment. Bio-BPM treatment produced more formation of flower buds of 76 per tree compared to those of Bio-WPM tree counted on 26 in the following year. Overall, BPM treatment increased vegetative and reproductive growth of the black chokeberry trees in a balanced way compared to the WPM, mostly due to the maintenance of high soil temperature and biodegradation occurred in the organic components.