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Soil properties and apricot growth under intercropping and mulching with erect milk vetch in the loess hilly-gully region

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Abstract

Background and aims

Soil in the loess hilly-gully region of northern Shaanxi Province, China, is infertile and rainfall is scarce and uneven. The objectives of this study were to improve soil quality, promote apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) growth, and assess whether erect milk vetch (Astragalus adsurgens Pall.) and apricot compete for soil moisture and soil nutrients under intercropping systems.

Methods

Taking clean tillage as the control, soil moisture and soil nutrients were monitored in apricot orchards in which erect milk vetch was interplanted for 5 years and interplant-mulched and mulched for 4 years.

Results

Intercropping and intercrop-mulching with erect milk vetch reduced soil moisture and soil nutrients and decreased fruit yield, fruit weight, and economic output. Mulching with erect milk vetch increased soil moisture in the 0–60-cm soil layer; increased soil organic matter, total N, and soil-available nutrients in the 0–20-cm soil layer; and increased fruit yield, fruit weight, and economic output.

Conclusions

Under intercropping and intercrop-mulching, erect milk vetch and apricot competed for soil moisture and soil nutrients. Intercropping and intercrop-mulching with erect milk vetch are inappropriate, but mulching with erect milk vetch is a suitable method for managing soil quality in apricot orchards in the loess hilly-gully region.

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Abbreviations

CK:

Control treatment, in which the soil management consisted of clean tillage and apricot was the only species planted

IMA:

Intercrop-mulching treatment, in which the plot was intercropped with erect milk vetch in spring 2008 and erect milk vetch was mowed and used to provide uniform mulch in the autumn of each year

ICA:

Intercropping treatment, in which the plot was intercropped with erect milk vetch in spring 2008 and the erect milk vetch was mowed and removed from the plot in the late autumn of each year

MA:

Mulching treatment, in which the ground surface throughout the plot was mulched uniformly, with the erect milk vetch removed from the ICA plot in the late autumn of each year

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Science and Technology Support Program, Nos. 2011BAD31B05, 2011BAD29B03, and 2014BAD14B006.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Xinong Road, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China

    Sheni Du & Gangshuan Bai

  2. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences & Ministry of Water Resources, Xinong Road, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China

    Sheni Du & Gangshuan Bai

  3. Institute of Inner Mongolia Hydraulic Research, Huhhot, 010020, Inner Mongolia, People’s Republic of China

    Jian Yu

Authors
  1. Sheni Du
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  2. Gangshuan Bai
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  3. Jian Yu
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Correspondence to Gangshuan Bai.

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Responsible Editor: Martin Weih.

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Du, S., Bai, G. & Yu, J. Soil properties and apricot growth under intercropping and mulching with erect milk vetch in the loess hilly-gully region. Plant Soil 390, 431–442 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2363-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2363-7

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