The aim of this study was to investigate plant growth, fruit yields,
IWUE and fruit quality in response to a micro/nano-bubble aeration
(MNBA) system and a subsurface artificial air layer aeration system
(SAALA) under different treatments. The results indicated that both MNBA
and SAALA can positively influence plant dry weight, fruit yield, IWUE
and, to some degree, fruit quality indices. In comparison with the
no-aeration treatment, the MNBA treatment increased the dry matter
accumulation, fruit yield, IWUE, lycopene content and soluble protein
content by 7.1%, 9.0%, 7.1%, 6.2% and 16.2%, respectively, during
the spring, while those during autumn increased by 4.0%, 14.4%, 4.0%,
3.8% and 1.7%, respectively. During the spring, the SAALA increased
the dry matter accumulation, fruit yield, IWUE, lycopene content and
soluble protein content by 13.0%, 25.1%, 13.0%, 2.9% and 15.1%,
respectively, while those during autumn increased by 12.8%, 19.5%,
12.8%, 5.2% and 4.1%, respectively. PFM significantly improved the
total dry weight, fruit yield and IWUE during both the spring and autumn
seasons. Nevertheless, the soluble protein content decreased in response
to the mulch treatment. The increased yield in response to soil aeration
during autumn was significantly greater than that during the spring, and
the yield increase in response to PFM was significantly greater in the
spring than in autumn. Moreover, the nutrition indices in response to
both soil aeration and PFM were more significant during spring than
during autumn. Taking into account costs, efficiency and benefits, the
optimal treatment was the MNBA and full PFM combination