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Background <p>Low soil quality and seasonal droughts severely limit apple production, while improper irrigation and nitrogen management has caused soil quality, apple yield, and fruit quality reduction on the Loess Plateau.</p> Methods and aims <p>A field experiment included two irrigation levels (W1: 85% and W2: 100% field water capacity) and four nitrogen rates (N1: 0, N2: 120, N3: 240, and N4: 360&#xa0;kg&#xa0;ha<sup>−1</sup>) began in 2017 in a drip-fertigated apple orchard. The research objective is to explore the pathways through which water and nitrogen supply regulate soil quality index (SQI) and fruit yield and quality.</p> Results <p>Apple yield, fruit quality, and water use efficiency were significantly increased at N3 compared to other treatments (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). Although increased irrigation increased yields and total soluble solids, it resulted in lower soluble sugar, vitamin C content, and sugar-acid ratio (<i>P</i> &gt; 0.05) under all nitrogen rates. The W1N3 treatment exhibited the most pronounced enhancement in the SQI in the 0–20&#xa0;cm soil layer, with values increasing by 0.43%–33.81% compared to the other treatments. The highest SQI at 40–80&#xa0;cm was observed in W1N4. The influences of soil microbiological properties at 0–40&#xa0;cm depth on SQI (0–20/20–40&#xa0;cm: R<sup>2</sup> = 0.783/0.745, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.01) and apple yield (0–20/20–40&#xa0;cm: R<sup>2</sup> = 0.318/0.491, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.01) and quality (0–20/20–40&#xa0;cm: R<sup>2</sup> = 0.345/0.439, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.01) were significantly greater than those of other soil indicators. However, the contribution of microorganisms decreased with increasing soil depth. In contrast, the importance of soil soluble nitrogen at 40–60&#xa0;cm depth and enzyme activity at 60–80&#xa0;cm depth increased considerably.</p> Conclusion <p>The pathways by which water and nitrogen supply regulate SQI and apple yield and quality differ across various soil layers. In surface soils, soil microbiological properties are dominant, while soil soluble nitrogen and enzyme activity play decisive roles in deeper soils. Integrating low irrigation level with optimal nitrogen application (W1N3), which serves as a sustainable agricultural practice, benefits soil quality, as well as apple yield and quality on the Loess Plateau.</p>

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Optimizing irrigation and nitrogen management enhances apple yield and quality through improving soil quality on the Loess Plateau

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月19日

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  • Shuaihong Chen,
  • Shaowu Zhang,
  • Hui Li,
  • Tiantian Hu,
  • Guangzhao Sun,
  • Xiaolu Cui,
  • Zhijie Chang,
  • Jie Liu

摘要

Background

Low soil quality and seasonal droughts severely limit apple production, while improper irrigation and nitrogen management has caused soil quality, apple yield, and fruit quality reduction on the Loess Plateau.

Methods and aims

A field experiment included two irrigation levels (W1: 85% and W2: 100% field water capacity) and four nitrogen rates (N1: 0, N2: 120, N3: 240, and N4: 360 kg ha−1) began in 2017 in a drip-fertigated apple orchard. The research objective is to explore the pathways through which water and nitrogen supply regulate soil quality index (SQI) and fruit yield and quality.

Results

Apple yield, fruit quality, and water use efficiency were significantly increased at N3 compared to other treatments (P < 0.05). Although increased irrigation increased yields and total soluble solids, it resulted in lower soluble sugar, vitamin C content, and sugar-acid ratio (P > 0.05) under all nitrogen rates. The W1N3 treatment exhibited the most pronounced enhancement in the SQI in the 0–20 cm soil layer, with values increasing by 0.43%–33.81% compared to the other treatments. The highest SQI at 40–80 cm was observed in W1N4. The influences of soil microbiological properties at 0–40 cm depth on SQI (0–20/20–40 cm: R2 = 0.783/0.745, P < 0.01) and apple yield (0–20/20–40 cm: R2 = 0.318/0.491, P < 0.01) and quality (0–20/20–40 cm: R2 = 0.345/0.439, P < 0.01) were significantly greater than those of other soil indicators. However, the contribution of microorganisms decreased with increasing soil depth. In contrast, the importance of soil soluble nitrogen at 40–60 cm depth and enzyme activity at 60–80 cm depth increased considerably.

Conclusion

The pathways by which water and nitrogen supply regulate SQI and apple yield and quality differ across various soil layers. In surface soils, soil microbiological properties are dominant, while soil soluble nitrogen and enzyme activity play decisive roles in deeper soils. Integrating low irrigation level with optimal nitrogen application (W1N3), which serves as a sustainable agricultural practice, benefits soil quality, as well as apple yield and quality on the Loess Plateau.