Effects of different economic fruit forests on soil nutrients in Qingxi small watershed

Abstract

Taking Qingxi small watershed in Hanyuan County of Ya’an City as an example, the effects of four different economic fruit forests on the sloping farmland in the dry-hot valley region on the soil nutrient loss before and after the flood season were studied. The results showed that after the flood season, the soil Organic matter(OM) content of the four economic fruit forests increased, which was characterized by large cherry forest > peach forest > pear forest > pepper forest, but no crop cultivated land decreased. Alkali nitrogen(AN) and Available phosphorus(AP) of four economic fruit forests decreased, but the degree of declining was lower than that of cropless cultivated land. The Total nitrogen(TN) content of the soil of the cherry forest and peach forest decreased, but the degree of declining was lower than that of the cropless cultivated land, while the pear and pepper forests increased. The large cherry forest and pepper forest content of Total phosphorus(TP) in the soil was reduced, while the peach and pear forests increased. In terms of OM, large cherries are the best choice for local fruit forest. Pear trees are the best choice for the change of N or P elements. From the comprehensive analysis of soil nutrient changes, pear trees are the best fruit forest in the region.