Effects of controlling apple orchard productivity on soil moisture and photosynthetic characteristics

doi:10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2010.08.010

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Our objective is to explore the effects of controlling productivity on resource use in an apple orchard in order to improve sustainability and efficiency.

Methods We investigated the effects of different productivities (3.6 × 10⁵, 3.15 × 10⁵, 2.7 × 10⁵, 2.25 × 10⁵ and 1.8 × 10⁵ ind·hm^-2) on soil moisture and photosynthetic characteristics in ‘Fuji’ apple trees during the fruit-bearing period using a neutron probe (503DR) and Li-6400 portable photosynthetic analysis system.

Important findings Soil moisture at every soil layer increased with decreased productivity, with the maximum increment of 31.02% at the 60 cm depth. Within the 600 cm profile, water storage capacity could increase 15.41%. With decreased productivity, midday depression of photosynthesis was abated, net photosynthetic rate (P_n) increased, the highest P_n increased 25.71% compared with the control treatment (3.6 × 10⁵ ind·hm^-2), the transpiration rate (T_r) was decreased in the afternoon and the optimum water use efficiency (WUE) was improved by 34.12% compared with the control. There were significant correlations between water storage capacity (WSC) and P_n, T_r and WUE (Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.973^**, -0.543^* and 0.992^**, respectively). The regression model of WSC (x) and WUE (y) was y = 0.002 3x - 1.480 6, R²= 0.984 4^**. Controlling productivity improved soil moisture and photosynthetic characteristics and increased WUE, improving harmonious, sustainable development of nature, the economy and society in the apple production area.

Key words: apple trees, photosynthetic characteristics, productivity, soil moisture, water use efficiency

ZHANG Yi, XIE Yong-Sheng, JU Yan, WANG Hui. Effects of controlling apple orchard productivity on soil moisture and photosynthetic characteristics[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2010, 34(8): 973-978.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2010.08.010

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2010/V34/I8/973

Figures/Tables 6

Fig. 1 The influence of controlling the productive level on soil moisture. I, II, III, IV, V, productivities is 3.6 × 105 ind·hm-2, 3.15 × 105 ind·hm-2, 2.7 × 105 ind·hm-2, 2.25 × 105 ind·hm-2 and 1.8 × 105 ind·hm-2.

Table 1 The difference of the water storage capacity at different productive levels (mm)

土层深度Depth (cm)	贮水量 Water storage capacity (mm)
土层深度Depth (cm)	I	II	III	IV	V
0-100	201.62	211.53	228.36	237.35	241.50
100-200	201.59	213.57	221.35	235.02	231.89
200-300	168.99	175.59	192.07	196.84	207.71
300-400	175.04	177.40	193.14	188.49	197.22
400-500	181.81	175.83	192.73	191.56	198.95
500-600	189.17	185.07	201.71	206.61	213.23
0-600	1 118.22	1 139.00	1 229.37	1 255.88	1 290.50

Fig. 2 Diurnal variation of net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of apple in different controlling the productive level. I, II, III, IV, V, see Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 Diurnal change of transpiration rate (Tr) of apple in different controlling the productive level. I, II, III, IV, V, see Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 Diurnal change of water use efficiency in different controlling the productive level. I, II, III, IV, V, see Fig. 1.

Table 2 The pearson correlation coefficient between water storage capacity and photosynthetic characteristics.

	土壤贮水量 WSC	净光合速率 P_n	蒸腾速率 T_r	水分利用效率 WUE
WSC	1.000	0.973**	-0.543*	0.992**
P_n	0.973**	1.000	-0.352	0.946**
T_r	-0.543*	-0.352	1.000	-0.629*
WUE	0.992**	0.946**	-0.629*	1.000

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