Articles
Increasing the level of soil organic matter can improve photosynthesis in young apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) trees
Article number
1261_20
Pages
123 – 128
Language
English
Abstract
The content of organic matter of the soil is one of the main factors affecting plant growth.
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different levels of soil organic matter (SOM) on growth and photosynthesis, such as gas exchange, in young apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.) from July 1 to October 31, 2015. Three-year-old potted apple trees were cultivated with four different SOM levels of 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0% (the percentage of soil mixed with organic manure and field topsoil) in an orchard located in the northern Shaanxi Province, China.
The results indicated that the root activity of apple trees growing in a 2.5 and 3% level of SOM was higher in October and that the activity of the soil microbial community was greater than in the other treatments.
In addition, treatment with a 3% level of SOM also increased the content of total chlorophyll (Chl), the ratio of Chla/b, and the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), which reflected the better photosynthetic performance indices.
These results suggest that a 3% level of SOM can significantly improve the growth and photosynthesis of young apple trees.
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different levels of soil organic matter (SOM) on growth and photosynthesis, such as gas exchange, in young apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.) from July 1 to October 31, 2015. Three-year-old potted apple trees were cultivated with four different SOM levels of 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0% (the percentage of soil mixed with organic manure and field topsoil) in an orchard located in the northern Shaanxi Province, China.
The results indicated that the root activity of apple trees growing in a 2.5 and 3% level of SOM was higher in October and that the activity of the soil microbial community was greater than in the other treatments.
In addition, treatment with a 3% level of SOM also increased the content of total chlorophyll (Chl), the ratio of Chla/b, and the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), which reflected the better photosynthetic performance indices.
These results suggest that a 3% level of SOM can significantly improve the growth and photosynthesis of young apple trees.
Publication
Authors
N.S. Zhang, J.J. Zhao, C.G. Ban, W. Zhang, H.X. Tao, Y.P. Guo, X.L. Ren, L.X. Mei
Keywords
organic matter, growth, gas exchange parameters, nutrition, apple
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