Effects of Different Herbage on Soil Quality Characteristics of Non-Irrigated Apple Orchard in Weibei Loess Plateau

【Objective】 The objective of this article was to study the change feature in soil quality characteristics of orchard after planting herbage. 【Method】The treatment plots were laid out in planting herbage areas and till areas of different herbage in non-irrigated apple orchard from the Weibei Loess Plateau, soil samples from different soil layers within 60 cm depth in every plot were collected. By analyzing soil samples, the changes in soil quality characteristics of the apple orchard after planting herbage were studied. 【Result】Soil bulk density reduced, soil porosity increased and the content of water-stable aggregates increased after different herbage were planted. The changes in soil quality characteristics with growing different herbage in non-irrigated apple orchard were mainly in 40 cm depth soil layer. The change feature of soil quality characteristics was different in various herbage growing land, white clover was better than perennial ryegrass in improving soil quality characteristics. With the increase of years of herbage growing, soil quality characteristics of growing herbage land improved. Soil water content and soil water-holding capacity enhanced greatly. 【Conclusion】Growing herbage in orchard for a long term can improve the soil properties of orchard consistantly.