The Soil Water Content Of Different Mulching Methods And Its Effect On Growth And Bearing In Shaanxi Weibei Semiarid Region Apple Orchard

Shaanxi Loess Plateau is recognized as the largest high quality apple production areas inthe world. However, the rainfall in this high attitude area is seasonal maldistribution; droughtis severe in winter and spring, which affected the healthy development of apple industry. Itwill be of great importance to study the water preservation technical measures, adjust theseasonal deficiency of water, and improve the soil moisture of critical period. With thematerial of full bearing apple trees in Shaanxi Weibei semidry area, the effect of differentmulching patterns including film mulching, straw mulching with sod culture on soil water andnutrients, tree growth and bearing were studied. The main results are as follows:1. Both film mulching and straw mulching with sod can improve the soil water content inShaanxi Weibei semidry area apple orchard, the main arable soil(0-40cm) water content werehigher than that of clean tillage as control, the increase extent in0-20cm was more obviousthan20-40cm. Moreover, film mulching improves the soil water in April to May moreobvious, which should be a better solution to the adverse effects of drought on Weibei appleorchard in spring.2. Two film mulching methods also improved the soil water content, decreased thesurface evaporation effectively and water use efficiency is improved. The soil water contentof the film mulching with high inside and low outside ridge was higher than treatment withhigh outside and low inside ridge and the control. The result of water retention is best.3. Straw mulching with sod can increased the organic content, while the film mulchingand control decreased the organic content. However, two film mulching methods bothdecreased the loss of available P and available K. The effect of different mulching patterns onthe content of alkaline hydrolysis N was not obvious.4. There is no significant difference in trunk circumference growth rate between differentmulching patterns. The two film mulching treatments could increase the average length ofnew shoots.5. Except the content of titrable acids, there is no significant difference in apple quality between two mulching methods. Fruit weight and yield per666.67m2were higher than thecontrol. The fruit weight of the film mulching treatment with ridging was the biggest, whilethe yield of the film mulching with “V” shape was the biggest.