title: [Effects of different organic matter mulching on water content, temperature, and available nutrients of apple orchard soil in a cold region].
abstract: The effects of different organic matter covers on soil physical-chemical properties were investigated in a 'Hanfu' apple orchard located in a cold region. Four treatments were applied (weed mulching, rice straw mulching, corn straw mulching, and crushed branches mulching), and physical-chemical properties, including orchard soil moisture and nutrient contents, were compared among treatment groups and between organic matter-treated and untreated plots. The results showed that soil water content increased in the plots treated with organic matter mulching, especially in the arid season. Cover with organic matter mulch slowed the rate of soil temperature increase in spring, which was harmful to the early growth of fruit trees. Organic matter mulching treatments decreased the peak temperature of orchard soil in the summer and increased the minimum soil temperature in the fall. pH was increased in soils treated with organic matter mulching, especially in the corn straw mulching treatment, which occurred as a response to alleviating soil acidification to achieve near-neutral soil conditions. The soil organic matter increased to varying extents among treatment groups, with the highest increase observed in the weed mulching treatment. Overall, mulching increased alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium in the soil, but the alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen content in the rice straw mulching treatment was lower than that of the control.
authors.forename: Jiang-Tao
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: De-Guo
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.forename: Si-Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Qin
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D027845:Malus; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012621:Seasons; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D014867:Water; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen; D011188:Potassium