caa a22 4500 606218785 CHVBK 20210128101114.0 cr unu---uuuuu 210128e20150501xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s11104-014-2363-7 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s11104-014-2363-7 Soil properties and apricot growth under intercropping and mulching with erect milk vetch in the loess hilly-gully region [Elektronische Daten] [Sheni Du, Gangshuan Bai, Jian Yu] 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 5years and interplant-mulched and mulched for 4years. 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. Springer International Publishing Switzerland, 2014 Apricot nationallicence Erect milk vetch nationallicence Intercropping nationallicence Mulching nationallicence Soil moisture nationallicence Soil nutrients nationallicence CK : Control treatment, in which the soil management consisted of clean tillage and apricot was the only species planted nationallicence 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 nationallicence 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 nationallicence 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 nationallicence Du Sheni Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Xinong Road, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China aut Bai Gangshuan Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Xinong Road, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China aut Yu Jian Institute of Inner Mongolia Hydraulic Research, 010020, Huhhot, Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China aut Plant and Soil Springer International Publishing 390/1-2(2015-05-01), 431-442 0032-079X 390:1-2<431 2015 390 11104 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2363-7 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence 1 review-article jats NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2363-7 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Du Sheni Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Xinong Road, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Bai Gangshuan Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Xinong Road, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Yu Jian Institute of Inner Mongolia Hydraulic Research, 010020, Huhhot, Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Plant and Soil Springer International Publishing 390/1-2(2015-05-01), 431-442 0032-079X 390:1-2<431 2015 390 11104