Abstract:

To understand the quality status of orchard soils in typical regions of Zhejiang Province, 148 representative orchards were selected from four geomorphic areas of hilly, valley, water-network and coastal plains of Zhejiang, and the status and variation regularity of soil organic carbon and acidity and alkalinity in orchard soils in different geomorphic areas were evaluated. The results showed that the soil organic carbon and pH of orchards in Zhejiang ranged from 2.64-16.58 g/kg and pH 4.15-8.42, soil organic carbon content decreased in the order of water-network plain (11.81 g/kg) > valley plain (10.24 g/kg) > hilly area (8.04 g/kg) > coastal plain (7.62 g/kg), while soil pH decreased in the order of coastal plain (6.90) > water-network plain (5.76) > valley plain (5.83) > hilly area (5.14). The soil acidification of the orchards was obvious. The soil pH decreased with planting years in valley plain, water-network plain and coastal plain, while soil organic carbon in hilly and coastal plain increased. It is suggested that attention should be paid to the input of organic materials in orchards in hilly and coastal plain areas, and lime application should be strengthened for regulating soil acidity in orchards of hilly areas.

Key words: orchard, geomorphic areas, organic carbon, acidity and alkalinity, soil acidification, Zhejiang