| To clarify the agronomic and ecological effects of biodegradable mulch film in Jerusalem artichoke production on high-altitude saline-alkali land, a field experiment was conducted in Delingha, Qinghai Province, China. Three mulching treatments were established, including no mulching, polyethylene mulch film, and biodegradable mulch film. The growth performance, yield formation, soil nutrient status, mulch degradation characteristics, and rhizosphere bacterial community structure of Jerusalem artichoke were systematically compared among the different treatments. Plant height, stem diameter, aboveground and belowground yields, and dry matter contents were measured at harvest. Soil samples were collected to determine total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, organic matter, and pH. In addition, rhizosphere soil samples were collected for bacterial community analysis based on 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing. The degradation rates of the two mulch films were monitored at different stages after sowing. The results showed that biodegradable mulch film significantly promoted Jerusalem artichoke growth and yield formation under high-altitude saline-alkali conditions. Compared with the no-mulching and polyethylene mulch film treatments, the biodegradable mulch film treatment produced the highest plant height, aboveground yield, and belowground yield, reaching 169.33 cm, 21,420.91 kg·hm-², and 44,132.41 kg·hm-², respectively. The biodegradable mulch film also showed a much higher degradation capacity than polyethylene mulch film, and its degradation rate reached 84.20% at 360 days after sowing. Meanwhile, biodegradable mulch film increased the contents of soil available potassium and available phosphorus, which reached 92.12 mg·kg?¹ and 21.37 mg·kg?¹, respectively. The bacterial community analysis indicated that biodegradable mulch film increased rhizosphere bacterial diversity and significantly changed bacterial community structure. It promoted the enrichment of several potential beneficial genera, including Dongia, Polaromonas, Rhizobacter, Bradyrhizobium, Novosphingobium, Pseudorhodoplanes, Pedomicrobium, Nannocystis, Parasegetibacter, Polycyclovorans, and Phyllobacterium. Correlation analysis further showed that these bacterial biomarkers were closely associated with soil available potassium, available phosphorus, pH, plant height, and belowground yield. These findings indicate that biodegradable mulch film is an effective alternative to conventional polyethylene mulch film for Jerusalem artichoke production in high-altitude saline-alkali land. It improves crop productivity, enhances soil nutrient availability, reshapes the rhizosphere bacterial community, and reduces the potential environmental risk caused by residual plastic film. Therefore, biodegradable mulch film provides a feasible technical approach for coordinating yield improvement, soil quality regulation, and ecological sustainability in the green production of Jerusalem artichoke on high-altitude saline-alkali land. |