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Effects of different long-term fertilization patterns on Fuji apple yield, quality, and soil fertility on Weibei Dryland, Shaanxi Province of Northwest China.

ZHAO Zuo-ping1,2, TONG Yan-an1, LIU Fen1, WANG Xiao-ying1   

  1. (1College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; 2Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723001, Shaanxi, China)
  • Online:2013-11-18 Published:2013-11-18

Abstract: A 7-year (2003-2010) located field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different longterm fertilization patterns on the Fuji apple yield, quality, and soil fertility on the Weibei Dryland, Shaanxi Province of Northwest China. Seven treatments were installed, i.e., no fertilization (CK), inorganic P and K fertilization (PK), inorganic N and K fertilization (NK), inorganic N and P fertilization (NP), inorganic N, P, and K fertilization (NPK), swine manure (M), and half inorganic N, P, and K combined with half swine manure (NPKM). Each treatment had three replications. Fertilization increased the apple yield. The average yield in the 7 years under fertilization was increased by 14.4%-63.8%, as compared to the CK. The average yield decreased in the order of NPKM>NPK≥M>NP≥NK>PK>CK. In treatments NPKM, M, and NPK, the fruit sugar/acid (S:A) ratio, vitamin C, soluble solid, and hardness tended to be increased with time, with a smaller yearly fluctuation in treatments NPKM and M. In treatment NPKM, the S:A ratio and vitamin C increased by 30.9% and 17.5%, respectively after five years, as compared to the CK. Long-term rational fertilization increased the soil organic matter (SOC) content in 0-20 cm layer, with the largest increment in treatments NPKM and M (28.8% and 29.3%, respectively). The soil available N, P, and K contents in all layers in treatments NPK, NPKM, and M increased significantly, and the soil available N content in 0-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm layers in treatment NPK was increased by 22.7%, 37.3%, and 53.4%, respectively. As compared to treatment NPK, the soil available P content in treatment NPKM was increased by 18.7%. In all fertilization treatments, the soil available P content was significantly higher in upper layer than in lower layer.