Abstract:

Aimed to provide a scientific basis for apple growers to choose proper natural vegetation management model for dry land orchard, the effects of different natural vegetation management models on the soil, and apple yield and fruit quality were studied. The results showed that the soil volumetric moisture was increased under ridge forming and ground cover (RG) and grass mulch (GM), especially in April. In April, July and October, the soil volumetric moisture of 0-60 cm soil layer in the orchard could be kept at 15.05%-16.03% for RG. The chlorophyll content of apple leaves, the soluble solids content (TSS), titratable acid content (TA), hardness, red coefficient, single fruit weight and yield of apple could all be increased under RG and GM. The increase degree of each index for RG was greater than GM. In order to save water, improve fruit quality and increase efficiency, it is suggested that the natural vegetation management model RG should be used in apple orchard.

Key words: apple, ridge forming, cover, yield, quality