Distribution characteristics of soil water and nutrients in pear orchard and their relationship with yields in loess hilly region

Abstract

We analyzed soil water, nutrients, and yields in three different slope sites in the sloping farmland under Yuluxiang pear planted in the loess hilly region of Western Shanxi, across the growth periods and different soil depths. The results showed that: 1) The yield of pear was in the order of high slope site > middle slope site > low slope site. In high slope site, the yield was significantly correlated with soil water content (SWC), soil organic matter (SOM), available potassium (AK), with AK showing the most significant effect. The yield of pear in middle and low slope sites was significantly correlated with SWC, SOM, and total nitrogen (TN), with SWC having the most significant effect on yield. The contents of SWC, SOM, available phosphorus (AP) and TN in high slope site were higher than in middle and low slope sites, while AK was the highest in middle slope site. 2) Among different soil depths, soil nutrient contents were the highest within 0-20 cm soil layer, but the lowest within 20-40 cm soil layer. The SWC was significantly lower within 0-20 cm than the other soil layers and was the highest within 20-40 cm soil layer. 3) Among different growth periods, the contents of SOM, AP, and TN were the highest in flowering period, the SWC was the highest in fruiting period, and AK content was the highest in maturing period. It was suggested that in the future management of pear water and fertilizer in the region, more K fertilizer should be applied in the high slope sites in the flowering period, while N and P compound fertilizer should be applied in the fruiting period, to enhance irrigation in middle and low slope sites to decrease the limitation of water with 300 m3·hm-2. Our results could provide theoretical support and data refe-rence for planting precision irrigation and scientific fertilization of pear planted in loess hilly areas.