In order to study the effect of different fruit-crop compound managements on soil physiochemical properties and soil-water conservation in apple orchard in the gully region of plateau

and to screen dominant factors for soil-water conservation

four fruit-crop compound managements including artificial weeding (M0)

Malus-Trifolium (M1)

Malus-Wild (M2) and Malus-Zea (M3) were set up as treatments in Mafang plateau

Shaanxi Province. The differences on soil physiochemical characteristics under the treatments of four fruit-crop compound managements were compared and the soil-water conservation function was evaluated. Stepwise regression analysis and path analysis were used to explore the dominant factors affecting soil-water conservation function. The results showed that the soil physiochemical properties

such as soil density

porosity

water-holding capacity

and nutrient content in M1

M2 and M3 were higher than those of the artificial weeding plots. Among them

the soil bulk density scores of M1

M2 and M3 were reduced by 15.13%

11.84% and 11.18%

respectively

compared with the artificial weeding plot. The organic matter contents increased by 143.76%

7.14% and 120.46%

respectively. Soil-water conservation function for four fruit-crop managements was ranked as M1 (0.64) > M3 (0.59) > M2 (0.51) > M0 (0.38). Stepwise regression analysis showed that total porosity

bulk density and organic matter content were the main factors affecting soil-water conservation function. Three soil factors could explain 95% of the variation of soil-water conservation function. Path analysis showed that total porosity was the main deciding factor

and bulk density was the main limiting factor of soil water conservation function. The results of this article could provide a scientific basis for the selection of sustainable soil management in apple orchards in the gully region of plateau.