黄土高原长期覆膜苹果园土壤物理退化与细根生长响应

甘肃陇东黄土高原为中国苹果主产区之一, 生产中多采取覆膜方式节水保墒, 但长期覆膜易导致土壤物理性状退化及苹果根系生长障碍。为探明长期覆膜对苹果园表层土壤(0-20 cm)、亚表层土壤(20-40 cm)物理特性、土壤结构稳定性及苹果细根数量、形态、构型、解剖性状的影响, 以18年生苹果树为试验材料, 于苹果树发根高峰(果实采后至落叶期), 以清耕(CK)为对照, 采用土壤剖面法系统调查覆膜2年(2Y)、覆膜4年(4Y)、覆膜6年(6Y)的表层土壤、亚表层土壤物理性状变化趋势, 苹果根系根长、表面积、比根长、导管直径、导管密度等指标的空间分布特征。并借助主成分分析, 抽取覆膜条件下根系与土壤变化主要因子, 分析应对根际土壤物理退化的苹果树细根生长适应策略调整。结果表明: 短期覆膜(2Y)可有效改善亚表层土壤含水量、总孔隙度, 分别比CK提高了18.04%、4.53%, 土壤密度降低了2.36%, 促进细根在亚表层土壤中的生长, 比表面积为CK的151%; 覆膜促使黏粒向亚表层土壤移动, 产生明显的淀积黏化作用。土壤物理性黏粒在亚表层土壤中高于表层土壤, 2Y、4Y和6Y处理亚表层土壤物理性黏粒为表层土壤的115.64%、115.58%和114.21%, 呈现土壤紧实化。土壤质地、团聚体特征、有机质含量为主导亚表层土壤退化进程的主要载荷因子, 使根系数量、构型特征受到抑制, 导致长期(4Y、6Y)覆膜苹果的细根集中分布于表层土壤中。亚表层土壤中细根变粗、抑制延伸生长、增大导管直径, 以弥补细根数量、形态性状弱化带来的吸收功能减弱, 促使根系采取“密集型”根系构建策略。综上所述, 长期覆膜果园亚表层土壤出现物理“隐形”退化, 影响果树根系健康生长和土壤可持续利用。2年为适宜陇东旱塬的连续覆膜年限, 生产中应适时揭膜, 促进根系生长和土壤结构优化。

Response of soil physical degradation and fine root growth on long-term film mulching in apple orchards on Loess Plateau

Aims The Longdong Loess Plateau in Gansu Province is one of the main apple producing areas in China. Plastic film-mulching is often applied to maintain soil moisture as well as water-saving in apple orchards. It is reported that long-term film mulching may cause the degradation of soil physical properties and inhibition of root growth. The objective of this study were to explore the effect of long-term mulching on the physical properties, stability of the surface (0-20 cm) and subsurface (20-40 cm) layer soil, and to investigate the changes of apple fine root growth characteristics in quantity, morphology, configuration and anatomical traits.