Abstract The managements of fertilization and surface mulching in apple orchards have both potential positive environmental and productive effects due to their benefits of water infiltration and soil nitrate movement in field ecosystem. However, the research to date had tended to focus on single measure rather than both together. The aims of this study were to determine how integrated management for apple orchards influenced spatial and temporal changes of soil water content (SWC) and soil water storage (SWS), illustrate the effects on reducing soil nitrate accumulation (SNA) and promoting N uptake, determine the impacts of water use efficiency (WUE) and apple yield. We applied three treatments for demonstration contrast experiments, traditional farming measure (chemical fertilizer, FM), existing management measure (chemical fertilizer plus manure, plastic film mulch in-row, EM) and optimized management measure (chemical fertilizer plus manure, plastic film mulch in-row and cover crop inter-row, OM). We found that the SWC in 3 m soil layers was influenced by the tree growth period, the clearly benefits of OM to invariably increase SWS in 3 m soil layer were observed in different period, especially in dry year. During the tree growth, the OM treatment significantly increased rainwater retention in deep soil (below 1 m) and received a maximum value of SWS in 3 m soil layers. Apple yield was significantly enhanced in OM, but the water consumption in each treatment had no obvious difference, and consequently WUE was elevated compared with EM and FM. The SNA after the apple harvest was significantly decreased under the OM, especially in 2−3 m soil depth. Meanwhile, total N in fruits and leaves in OM were significant higher than FM, indicating that the risk of N leaching was reduced, and the N was effectively used by trees. Regression relationships between SNA and SWS were significantly negative in the dry year, means that the OM would perform better in mitigating soil desiccation and soil nitrate leaching in dry climatic condition. This study highlights integrated soil management is a considerable practice for apple orchards in Loess Plateau and the rain-fed area around the world.

中文翻译：

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黄土高原苹果园土壤水分、硝酸盐和产量对土壤综合管理的响应

摘要 苹果园施肥和地表覆盖管理具有潜在的积极环境和生产效应，因为它们有利于田间生态系统中的水分渗透和土壤硝酸盐运动。然而，迄今为止的研究往往侧重于单一措施而不是同时进行。本研究的目的是确定苹果园综合管理如何影响土壤含水量 (SWC) 和土壤蓄水量 (SWS) 的时空变化，说明对减少土壤硝酸盐积累 (SNA) 和促进氮吸收的影响，确定用水效率 (WUE) 和苹果产量的影响。我们在示范对比试验中应用了三种处理方式，传统耕作措施（化肥，FM），现有管理措施（化肥加粪肥，行地膜覆盖，EM）和优化管理措施（化肥加粪肥，地膜行间地膜覆盖，OM）。我们发现 3 m 土层的 SWC 受树木生长期的影响，在不同时期观察到 OM 总是增加 3 m 土层的 SWS 的明显好处，尤其是在干旱年份。在树木生长过程中，OM 处理显着增加了深层土壤（1 m 以下）的雨水滞留量，并在 3 m 土层中获得了 SWS 最大值。OM处理显着提高苹果产量，但各处理的耗水量无明显差异，因此WUE较EM和FM升高。苹果收获后的 SNA 在 OM 下显着降低，尤其是在 2-3 m 的土壤深度。同时，OM中果实和叶片中的总N显着高于FM，表明N淋溶风险降低，并且N被树木有效利用。SNA和SWS之间的回归关系在干旱年显着为负，意味着OM在干旱气候条件下在减轻土壤干燥和土壤硝酸盐淋失方面表现更好。这项研究强调，综合土壤管理是黄土高原和世界各地雨养区苹果园的一项重要实践。意味着 OM 在缓解干燥气候条件下的土壤干燥和土壤硝酸盐淋失方面表现更好。这项研究强调，综合土壤管理是黄土高原和世界各地雨养区苹果园的一项重要实践。意味着 OM 在缓解干燥气候条件下的土壤干燥和土壤硝酸盐淋失方面表现更好。这项研究强调，综合土壤管理是黄土高原和世界各地雨养区苹果园的一项重要实践。