Effects of Mulch and Fertilization on the Quantity and Quality of Perennial Wall‒rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia)

Diplotaxis tenuifolia, a species with high nutritional value, was recently introduced in Romania, being necessary in-depth research to develop an efficient cultivation technology to maximize its agronomic and economic potential. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of three mulch treatments, white polyethylene film (WLDPE), black polyethylene film (BLDPE) and nonmulched (NM), along with three fertilization regimes, organic (OF), chemical (ChF) and nonfertilized (NF), on the Bologna perennial wall‒rocket cultivar from 2022–2023. The results showed that the use of white polyethylene film and the application of organic fertilizer led to superior quantitative and qualitative results compared with those of the other experimental variants. The use of white film mulch without fertilization resulted in a yield of 52.73 t·ha−1, whereas organic fertilization alone produced a yield of 61.17 t·ha−1. The combination of WLDPE mulching with organic fertilization achieved a yield of 58.45 t·ha−1. These values are significantly greater than or comparable to the control yield, which reached 53.66 t·ha−1. Furthermore, PCA highlighted that the WLDPE×OF experimental variant was also associated with the highest values of lycopene, photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll A content. In contrast, the Bologna cultivar experienced the greatest oxidative stress under the nonfertilized regime, with the most pronounced effects observed when no mulching was applied.