Ecological orchard building method suitable for loess plateau apple high yield

Abstract

The invention discloses an ecological orchard building method suitable for loess plateau apple high yield, and relates to the technical field of agricultural fruit tree cultivation, the method comprises the following steps: calculating a plot specific freeze injury risk index based on gridding historical meteorological data, and scientifically selecting an orchard site in combination with a relative altitude difference principle; contour line soil preparation, soil deep tillage, application of nano-iron-containing organic base fertilizer and sowing of fast-growing leguminous green manure are synchronously implemented on a selected garden site so as to rapidly improve the soil; dynamically matching and screening rootstock and variety combinations with adaptive stress resistance according to the freezing injury risk indexes; synchronously arranging an intelligent micro supplementary irrigation system consisting of a micro water collecting facility, a soil moisture content sensor network and a drip irrigation pipe network; and finally performing field planting and water management. According to the method, climate risk assessment, rapid soil cultivation, variety stress resistance matching and intelligent water and fertilizer management are systematically coupled and synchronously implemented, so that the climate toughness of the newly-built orchard can be effectively improved, soil ripening is accelerated, and the resource utilization efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of agricultural fruit tree cultivation technology, specifically to an ecological orchard establishment method suitable for high apple yields on the Loess Plateau. Background Technology

[0002] The Loess Plateau is an important high-quality apple-producing region, but its fragile ecological environment, severe soil erosion, and frequent frost damage during the spring flowering period seriously restrict the stable and efficient development of the apple industry. Establishing orchards in this region, especially on newly developed hillsides, typically faces two core challenges: first, the lack of precise assessment of historical climate risks at the plot scale during site selection, leading to significant uncertainty; and second, the lengthy process of improving infertile soil, resulting in slow growth of young trees and a gradual increase in orchard productivity. Existing orchard establishment techniques often treat these steps as independent processes, lacking systematic and coordinated design and implementation, making it difficult to quickly build a stable and productive orchard ecosystem in harsh environments.

[0003] In existing technologies, there are some improved solutions for apple cultivation on the Loess Plateau. For example, some existing technologies guide site selection by analyzing topographic factors such as slope and aspect, but fail to combine this with historical meteorological data of the site, making it impossible to quantitatively assess the inherent frost damage risk of the selected site, resulting in insufficient targeted disaster prevention. Another example is the invention patent CN103931456A, which provides a method for planting apple trees by modifying crop straw adsorbents to ensure stability and broad-spectrum adsorption capacity for heavy metal ions and dyes, but fails to systematically link this with site selection decisions, variety selection for stress resistance, and precise water and fertilizer management after orchard establishment. The targetedness, timeliness, and coupling degree of the improved measures with subsequent management are not high, and there is still room for improvement in overall efficiency.

[0004] Therefore, the current technical problem lies in the fact that traditional orchard establishment methods treat key aspects such as site selection, soil improvement, seed selection, and management in a fragmented manner, lacking a systematic plan that integrates climate risk assessment, rapid soil cultivation, scientific variety matching, and efficient resource utilization from the initial decision-making stage. This results in unclear initial climate risks for newly established hillside plots, a mismatch between the speed of soil fertilization and the stress resistance requirements of seedlings, leading to long orchard establishment cycles, high early frost damage risk, and low water and soil resource utilization efficiency, making it difficult to achieve a balance between ecological protection and early high yields.

[0005] In conclusion, an innovative ecological orchard establishment method is needed that can start from the decision-making source, achieve synergistic optimization and simultaneous implementation of multiple factors, thereby systematically improving the climate resilience, soil productivity and resource utilization efficiency of new apple orchards on the Loess Plateau, shortening the orchard establishment cycle, and ensuring the coordinated development of ecological and economic benefits. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies and provide an ecological orchard establishment method suitable for high-yield apple production on the Loess Plateau. By systematically coupling and synchronously implementing quantitative climate risk assessment, rapid targeted soil improvement, dynamic matching of stress-resistant varieties, and the construction of an intelligent micro-irrigation system, this method effectively avoids the risk of frost damage during the flowering period of apples on the Loess Plateau, rapidly improves soil fertility and water retention capacity, adapts to the stress resistance requirements of the plot, improves the efficiency of water and soil resource utilization, shortens the orchard establishment cycle, and achieves the coordinated development of ecological protection and early high yield in apple orchards.

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides the following technical solution: an ecological orchard establishment method suitable for high apple yields on the Loess Plateau, the method comprising the following steps:

[0008] Step 1, Site selection based on quantified frost damage risk: Obtain gridded historical meteorological data of the target area, calculate the probability of frost damage during flowering period for preset candidate sites based on the gridded historical meteorological data, generate site-specific frost damage risk index, and select sites based on the site-specific frost damage risk index and the principle of relative elevation difference.

[0009] Step 2, rapid targeted soil improvement and land preparation: On the selected site, simultaneously implement contour land preparation, deep soil turning, application of organic base fertilizer containing nano-iron components, and sowing of fast-growing leguminous green manure.

[0010] Step 3, Dynamic matching of stress-resistant variety combinations: Establish a database containing rootstock and variety stress resistance parameters, input the plot-specific frost risk index generated in Step 1 into the database of rootstock and variety stress resistance parameters for matching, and dynamically screen out suitable rootstock and variety combinations.

[0011] Step 4, Construction of the intelligent micro-irrigation system: While preparing the land, an irrigation system consisting of micro-water collection facilities, a soil moisture sensor network, and a drip irrigation network is deployed. The irrigation system triggers intermittent drip irrigation based on the root zone soil moisture data monitored by the soil moisture sensor network.

[0012] Step 5, Planting and Management: Plant the rootstock and variety combination selected in Step 3, and manage water using the intelligent micro-irrigation system constructed in Step 4.

[0013] Furthermore, in step one, calculating the probability of frost damage during the flowering period for the preset candidate plots and generating a plot-specific frost damage risk index is achieved through the following mathematical algorithm model:

[0014]

[0015] in, The index representing the specific frost damage risk of the aforementioned plot is a dimensionless scalar. The total number of years of historical meteorological data retrieved is a positive integer. The year index variable is used to iterate from 1 to... , The representative candidate plot is in The daily minimum temperature sequence during the apple blossom season of the year, in degrees Celsius. The critical low temperature threshold representing the damage to apple blossoms during the flowering period is a preset constant, expressed in degrees Celsius. It is an indicator function, when The function value is 1 when it is true, and 0 otherwise. Representing the The annual flowering period is below the critical low temperature threshold. The cumulative low temperature intensity, expressed in degrees Celsius per day. Representing all Mid-year The maximum value is used to normalize the cumulative low-temperature intensity, expressed in degrees Celsius-days. and The weighting coefficients are those that satisfy... The constants are used to adjust the contribution ratio of the frequency and intensity of frost damage to the risk index.

[0016] Furthermore, in step one, the selection of the site based on the principle of relative elevation difference specifically means that within a macroscopic area where the relative elevation difference is greater than or equal to 100 meters to avoid the cold lake effect, the upper part of the hillside with a lower specific frost damage risk index of the plot is selected as the final site, while ensuring that the actual soil layer thickness at this location is greater than 1 meter.

[0017] Furthermore, the simultaneous implementation in step two specifically refers to continuously completing the construction of contour planting ditches or wide terraces within the same working season, deep tilling of the soil in the planting zone to a depth of 60 to 80 centimeters, applying 150 to 200 kilograms of organic base fertilizer containing nano-iron components per acre and mixing it with 3,000 to 4,000 kilograms of ordinary organic fertilizer, and sowing hairy vetch or arrowhead pea between rows or throughout the garden after land preparation as the fast-growing leguminous green manure.

[0018] Furthermore, the stress resistance parameters in step three include the drought resistance, cold resistance, and poor soil tolerance of the rootstock, as well as the flowering time and low temperature tolerance of the variety.

[0019] The dynamic screening refers to prioritizing the selection of rootstock and variety combinations with later flowering periods or stronger cold resistance based on the specific frost damage risk index of the plot.

[0020] Furthermore, the micro-water collection facility in step four is a semi-circular or funnel-shaped water collection surface constructed on the downhill side of each planted tree;

[0021] The soil moisture sensor network is evenly distributed across the area to monitor the volumetric water content of the soil at depths of 20 cm and 40 cm.

[0022] The drip irrigation network includes multiple irrigation devices, each corresponding to a fruit tree.

[0023] Furthermore, the triggering of intermittent drip irrigation in step four specifically refers to:

[0024] The soil moisture sensor network sets a lower threshold and an upper threshold for soil volumetric water content;

[0025] When the monitored data falls below the lower threshold, the system automatically starts drip irrigation;

[0026] The system will automatically stop when the monitored data recovers to the upper limit threshold.

[0027] The total amount of water used for each irrigation is 5 to 10 cubic meters per acre.

[0028] Furthermore, the fast-growing leguminous green manure sown in step two should be harvested at least once during the same growing season before the apple trees are planted, and the harvested material should be turned over and returned to the soil in the planting strip.

[0029] Furthermore, after planting in step five, white clover or perennial ryegrass are continuously planted between the fruit tree rows as permanent cover grass, or the fast-growing leguminous green manure is planted in rotation, and the intelligent micro-irrigation system constructed in step four is used to manage the water in the cover grass area in a coordinated manner.

[0030] Furthermore, the gridded historical meteorological data in step one has a spatial resolution of no less than 4 kilometers, a time series covering at least 10 consecutive years, and data elements including at least the lowest daily temperature in spring.

[0031] This method systematically couples and synchronously implements climate risk assessment, soil improvement, variety selection, and water and fertilizer management during the site selection stage, thereby building the orchard's climate resilience and rapid production capacity from the source.

[0032] Compared with existing technologies, this ecological orchard establishment method suitable for high apple yields on the Loess Plateau has the following beneficial effects:

[0033] I. This invention overcomes the shortcomings of traditional orchard establishment techniques by forward-lookingly designing and simultaneously implementing multiple key aspects, such as quantitative assessment of climate frost damage risk during site selection, rapid targeted soil improvement, dynamic matching of stress-resistant variety combinations, and the construction of an intelligent water and fertilizer management system. It can systematically improve the ability of newly established orchards to cope with climate adversities such as spring flowering frost damage from the source of decision-making, and accelerate the fertility cultivation process of infertile soil, thereby effectively shortening the orchard establishment cycle and reducing early production risks.

[0034] Second, this invention integrates micro-water collection facilities, a real-time soil moisture monitoring network, and a precision drip irrigation network to construct an intelligent micro-supplementary irrigation system that automatically regulates water supply based on root zone soil moisture data. This system can achieve efficient and precise irrigation water supply, minimizing water loss through evaporation and seepage. Furthermore, by combining inter-row planting of green manure or permanent cover with coordinated water management, it can effectively conserve water resources, reduce soil erosion, and continuously improve soil organic matter. Thus, while ensuring the water needs of fruit trees, it significantly improves water resource utilization efficiency.

[0035] Other advantages, objectives and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following examination or study, or may be learned from the practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0036] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0037] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating the method steps of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the quantitative location selection and dynamic matching decision-making logic of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the garden construction system and ecological collaborative management of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0040] To further illustrate the technical means and effects of the present invention in achieving its intended purpose, the following detailed description of the specific implementation methods, structure, features and effects of the present invention, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments, is provided below.

[0041] Example 1

[0042] like Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, this embodiment uses a semi-mountainous plot in a typical apple-producing area of ​​the Loess Plateau as the implementation object. This area belongs to the hilly and gully landform of the Loess Plateau, with an average annual precipitation of about 550 mm. Spring temperatures fluctuate greatly, and frost damage occurs frequently during the flowering period. The soil type is loess loess, with an initial soil layer thickness of 1.2-1.5 meters and a soil organic matter content of 0.8%-1.0%, which meets the basic conditions for ecological orchard establishment of this invention. The following is a detailed description of the ecological orchard establishment method suitable for high-yield apple production in the Loess Plateau according to this invention.

[0043] Step 1: Site selection based on quantified frost damage risk:

[0044] First, we acquired gridded historical meteorological data for the target area. The data came from a publicly available meteorological dataset provided by the National Meteorological Science Data Center, with a spatial resolution of 4 kilometers and a time series covering 15 consecutive years of spring meteorological data. The key data elements included daily minimum temperatures from late March to early April, corresponding to the apple blossom season.

[0045] Next, based on the aforementioned gridded historical meteorological data, the probability of frost damage during the flowering period for the preset candidate plots is calculated, generating a plot-specific frost damage risk index. This calculation process is implemented using the following mathematical algorithm model:

[0046]

[0047] The definitions of each parameter and the specific values ​​and calculation logic in this embodiment are as follows:

[0048] R is a plot-specific frost risk index, a dimensionless scalar used to quantify the overall risk of apple trees in a candidate plot suffering frost damage during the flowering period. Its value ranges from 0 to 1, with a smaller value indicating a lower risk of frost damage.

[0049] N represents the total number of years of historical meteorological data used. In this embodiment, meteorological data for 15 consecutive years is selected, so N = 15, which is a positive integer, to ensure that the data has a sufficient time span to reflect climate patterns.

[0050] i is the year index variable, which iterates from 1 to N, corresponding to each year in the 15 years, and is used to analyze meteorological data year by year.

[0051] For candidate land parcels in the The daily minimum temperature sequence during the apple blossom season is calculated, in degrees Celsius. In this embodiment, the apple blossom season is defined as March 25th to April 10th each year. The daily minimum temperature during this period is extracted daily to form the daily minimum temperature sequence for each year. For example, the daily minimum temperatures during the third year's blossom season are 5.2℃, 4.8℃, -1.5℃, and -2.3℃, which constitute the daily minimum temperature sequence for that year. sequence.

[0052] The critical low temperature threshold for frost damage during apple flowering is a preset constant, expressed in degrees Celsius. Based on apple cultivation practices and related research findings in the Loess Plateau, this embodiment presets... = -2℃, meaning that when the lowest temperature of the day is lower than or equal to this value, it is considered that frost damage may occur.

[0053] This is an indicator function that determines whether frost damage occurs during the flowering period in year i. When When the function is established, its value is 1, indicating a risk of frost damage during the flowering period that year; when... When the function value is 0, it indicates that there is no risk of frost damage during the flowering period that year. For example, if the daily minimum temperature on three days during the flowering period in year i is -2.1℃, -3.0℃, and -2.0℃ respectively, all of which satisfy the condition... ≤-2℃, then for that year The value is 1; if the lowest daily temperature during the flowering period in a certain year is higher than -2℃, then the value for that year is 1. The value is 0.

[0054] The flowering period in year i is below the critical low temperature threshold. The cumulative low temperature intensity, expressed in degrees Celsius per day. It is calculated by applying the cumulative low temperature intensity to all flowering periods in year i that satisfy the following conditions: The daily minimum temperature, calculate its relationship with The difference (the difference is positive, i.e.) Then sum all the differences to get the cumulative low temperature intensity for that year. For example, if the lowest daily temperatures on four days during the flowering period in the fifth year are -2.5℃, -2.2℃, -3.1℃, and -2.0℃, then the daily differences are 0.5℃, 0.2℃, 1.1℃, and 0.0℃ respectively. After summing... = 0.5 + 0.2 + 1.1 + 0.0 = 1.8 degrees Celsius per day.

[0055] For all N years The maximum value is used to normalize the cumulative low-temperature intensity, expressed in degrees Celsius-days. In this embodiment, the value is calculated over 15 years. To obtain the maximum value among them =3.5 degrees Celsius per day, ensuring that the cumulative low temperature intensity of different years is comparable.

[0056] , The weighting coefficients are those that satisfy... The constants are used to adjust the contribution ratio of frost damage frequency and intensity to the risk index, respectively. Considering the characteristics of frost damage occurrence on the Loess Plateau, this embodiment sets... =0.4, =0.6, meaning that the contribution of frost damage intensity is slightly higher than the frequency of frost damage, which is consistent with the actual situation in this region where frost damage mainly affects yield by intensity.

[0057] Calculate year by year according to the above parameter definitions and values. The numerical value is then summed with the calculation results over 15 years and divided by 15 to obtain the plot-specific frost damage risk index R. In this embodiment, the calculated R for the candidate plot is 0.32.

[0058] Finally, the orchard site was selected based on the plot-specific frost damage risk index and the principle of relative elevation difference. Specifically, the principle of relative elevation difference involved selecting areas within the macro-region with a relative elevation difference greater than or equal to 100 meters to avoid the cold lake effect. Within this macro-region, the upper-middle part of the hillside with a lower plot-specific frost damage risk index was prioritized as the final orchard site. Simultaneously, on-site drilling confirmed that the actual soil layer thickness at this location was 1.3 meters, meeting the requirement of being greater than 1 meter, thus ensuring sufficient space for apple tree root growth.

[0059] Step 2, Rapid and Targeted Soil Improvement and Land Preparation:

[0060] On the site selected in step one, during the same working season in spring (March-April), the simultaneous implementation of contour land preparation, deep soil turning, application of organic base fertilizer containing nano-iron components, and sowing of fast-growing leguminous green manure is carried out continuously.

[0061] Contour line land preparation specifically involves constructing contour line planting trenches. Planting trenches are dug along the contour lines of the hillside, with a width of 80 cm and a depth of 60 cm. The horizontal distance between adjacent planting trenches is 4 meters. This method reduces soil erosion and improves the soil's water and fertilizer retention capacity.

[0062] Deep tillage is carried out on the soil in the planting area, with a tillage depth of 70 centimeters. During the deep tillage process, large clods of soil are broken up, improving soil aeration and water permeability, breaking up the plow pan, and creating conditions for apple tree roots to grow deep.

[0063] During fertilization, apply 180 kg of organic base fertilizer containing nano-iron per acre. The nano-iron in this organic base fertilizer has a particle size of 50-100 nanometers, which promotes soil microbial activity, improves the conversion efficiency of nutrients in the soil, and enhances the apple trees' ability to absorb nutrients. Simultaneously, mix in 3500 kg of ordinary organic fertilizer, preferably well-rotted sheep manure with an organic matter content ≥45%, to effectively replenish soil organic matter and improve soil structure. When fertilizing, thoroughly mix the organic base fertilizer containing nano-iron with the ordinary organic fertilizer, and evenly spread it on the deeply tilled planting strip. Then, use a rotary tiller to deeply mix the fertilizer with the soil to ensure even distribution.

[0064] For fast-growing leguminous green manure, hairy vetch is a good choice. Sow 3 kg per acre between rows after land preparation, using a row sowing method with a row spacing of 30 cm and a sowing depth of 2-3 cm. Hairy vetch grows rapidly and has a strong nitrogen-fixing capacity, which can increase soil nitrogen content in a short period. Simultaneously, its decomposing roots increase soil organic matter and improve soil physical and chemical properties. Within the same growing season before apple tree planting, approximately 60 days after sowing, cut the hairy vetch to a height of 15 cm and incorporate the cut material into the soil of the planting strip to further enhance soil fertility.

[0065] Step 3: Dynamic matching of stress-resistant variety combinations:

[0066] First, a database containing stress resistance parameters for rootstocks and varieties was established. The database construction process involved collecting stress resistance data on common apple rootstocks and varieties from both domestic and international sources. Rootstock stress resistance parameters included drought tolerance, cold tolerance, and tolerance to poor soil conditions. Specifically: drought tolerance was graded based on indicators such as rootstock survival rate and relative leaf water content under drought stress (grades 1-5, with 5 being the strongest); cold tolerance was graded based on indicators such as rootstock branch frost damage rate and bud break rate under low-temperature stress (grades 1-5, with 5 being the strongest); and tolerance to poor soil conditions was graded based on indicators such as rootstock growth and root development under low-nutrient conditions (grades 1-5, with 5 being the strongest). Variety stress resistance parameters included flowering time and low-temperature tolerance during flowering. Specifically: flowering time was indicated by the date of peak apple flowering each spring; low-temperature tolerance during flowering was indicated by the lowest temperature value the variety could withstand during the flowering period (the lower the value, the stronger the tolerance). In this embodiment, the database contains 12 rootstock varieties and 8 scion varieties. All parameters have been verified through field trials and literature reviews to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data.

[0067] The plot-specific frost risk index R = 0.32 generated in step one was input into the database of the above-mentioned rootstock and variety resistance parameters for matching, and suitable rootstock and variety combinations were dynamically screened. The principle of dynamic screening is to prioritize rootstock and variety combinations with later flowering periods or stronger low-temperature tolerance during flowering, based on the plot-specific frost risk index. In this embodiment, the suitable rootstock was determined to be SH40 after database matching and screening. This rootstock has a drought resistance level of 4, a cold resistance level of 4, and a poor soil tolerance level of 3, showing excellent overall resistance performance. The suitable scion variety is Gala superior strain, which has a flowering period 6 days later than ordinary Gala varieties and a low-temperature tolerance of −3℃ during flowering, which can effectively avoid the risk of early spring and late spring frost damage in this region.

[0068] Step 4, Construction of the Intelligent Micro-Irrigation System:

[0069] While preparing the land in step two, an irrigation system consisting of micro-water collection facilities, a soil moisture sensor network, and a drip irrigation network is deployed. This irrigation system triggers intermittent drip irrigation based on the root zone soil moisture data monitored by the soil moisture sensor network.

[0070] The miniature water collection facility is built on the downhill side of each planted tree. It adopts a semi-circular water collection surface design with a radius of 1.5 meters. The water collection surface is treated with concrete plastering, which makes the surface smooth and improves the water collection efficiency. It collects rainwater and slope runoff to the root area of ​​the fruit tree, increasing the soil moisture supply to the root zone.

[0071] The soil moisture sensor network is evenly distributed across the orchard area, with four sensors per acre. The sensors are positioned within the planting strip, 50 cm from the tree trunk. Each sensor simultaneously monitors soil volumetric water content at depths of 20 cm and 40 cm. This depth range covers the main root distribution area of ​​young apple trees, accurately reflecting the soil moisture status in the root zone. The sensors transmit the monitoring data to the irrigation system controller in real time via wired transmission, with a data transmission interval of one hour to ensure timely acquisition of soil moisture dynamics.

[0072] The drip irrigation network consists of main pipes, branch pipes, and multiple sprinklers. The main pipes are 50 mm in diameter, and the branch pipes are 20 mm in diameter. They are laid along the contour lines. Each sprinkler corresponds to one fruit tree. The sprinkler is installed 30 cm away from the trunk and has a flow rate of 2 liters per hour to ensure that irrigation water can be accurately delivered to the root zone of the fruit tree and avoid water waste.

[0073] The specific settings for triggering intermittent drip irrigation involve setting lower and upper thresholds for soil volumetric moisture content via the irrigation system controller. Considering the soil characteristics of loess soil and the water requirements of young apple trees, this embodiment sets the lower threshold for soil volumetric moisture content at a depth of 20 cm to 15% and the upper threshold to 25%; the lower threshold for soil volumetric moisture content at a depth of 40 cm is set to 18% and the upper threshold to 28%. When the soil moisture sensor network detects that the soil volumetric moisture content at any depth is below the corresponding lower threshold, the system automatically starts drip irrigation; when the monitoring data shows that the soil volumetric moisture content at both depths has recovered to the corresponding upper threshold, the system automatically stops drip irrigation. The total amount of water used for each irrigation is controlled at 8 cubic meters per acre to ensure that the water fully saturates the root distribution area while avoiding waterlogging that could lead to root rot.

[0074] Step 5, Planting and Management:

[0075] In mid-April, when the soil temperature is stable above 10℃, the rootstock and variety combination should be planted. The planting density is 45 plants per acre, with a plant spacing of 3 meters × 5 meters. The planting pit is 60 centimeters in diameter and 50 centimeters deep. When planting, ensure that the grafting point of the rootstock is 5 centimeters above the ground. After planting, backfill the soil in layers and gently compact it, then water thoroughly.

[0076] Post-planting water management is achieved through the intelligent micro-irrigation system constructed in step four. The system automatically triggers drip irrigation based on soil moisture sensor monitoring data, without the need for manual intervention, ensuring that the root zone soil moisture remains within a suitable range throughout the apple tree's growth process.

[0077] After planting, white clover is continuously planted between the fruit tree rows as a permanent cover crop. The sowing rate is 1.5 kg per acre, broadcast sown one month after planting. A smart micro-irrigation system is used for coordinated water management in the cover crop area, meaning the water supply to the cover crop area is synchronized with the water management of the fruit tree root zone. When the system activates drip irrigation, the cover crop area also receives corresponding water replenishment to maintain normal white clover growth. White clover effectively covers the ground surface, reduces soil erosion, suppresses weed growth, and its decomposing roots increase soil organic matter, improve soil structure, and form a virtuous cycle with the fruit trees.

[0078] This embodiment realizes the entire process of establishing an ecological apple orchard on the Loess Plateau through the above steps. It systematically couples climate risk assessment, rapid soil improvement, matching of stress-resistant varieties, and intelligent water and fertilizer management. Compared with traditional orchard establishment methods, it can shorten the orchard establishment cycle by 1-2 years, reduce the early frost damage rate by more than 30%, increase the soil organic matter content to more than 1.2% within one year after planting, and improve water resource utilization efficiency by about 25%. It has initially achieved the coordinated development of ecological protection and early high yield.

[0079] Example 2

[0080] like Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, this embodiment takes a hilly plot in the Longdong apple-producing area of ​​the Loess Plateau as the implementation object. This area belongs to the loess plateau residual plateau gully landform, with an average annual precipitation of about 520 mm. Cold air activity is frequent in spring, and frost damage occurs from time to time during the apple flowering period. The soil type is black loess, with an initial soil layer thickness of 1.4 to 1.6 meters and a soil organic matter content of 0.7% to 0.9%, which meets the basic conditions for ecological orchard establishment of this invention. The following is a detailed description of the ecological orchard establishment method suitable for high apple production in the Loess Plateau of this invention.

[0081] Step 1: Site selection based on quantified frost damage risk:

[0082] First, we acquired gridded historical meteorological data for the target area. The data came from a standardized meteorological dataset provided by the Gansu Provincial Meteorological Data Sharing Platform. The time series covered 12 consecutive years of spring meteorological data, and the key data elements included daily minimum temperatures during the critical spring period corresponding to apple blossom season, ensuring that the data could comprehensively reflect the regional climate patterns.

[0083] Next, based on the above-mentioned gridded historical meteorological data, the probability of frost damage during the flowering period of the preset candidate plots is calculated, and a plot-specific frost damage risk index is generated. By integrating low temperature data during the flowering period of multiple years, the frequency of frost damage and the cumulative low temperature intensity are comprehensively considered to objectively quantify the frost damage risk level of the candidate plots and provide accurate data support for the selection of park sites.

[0084] Finally, the orchard site was selected based on the plot-specific frost damage risk index and the principle of relative elevation difference. In practice, areas with a relative elevation difference of no less than 100 meters were first screened within the macro-region to effectively mitigate the adverse effects of the cold lake effect on apple blossoms. Within this macro-region, the upper-middle part of a hillside with a lower plot-specific frost damage risk index was prioritized as the final orchard site. This location offers good ventilation, which helps reduce the accumulation of cold air. Furthermore, on-site surveys confirmed that the actual soil layer thickness at this location reached 1.4 meters, meeting the requirement of being greater than 1 meter, providing ample space for apple tree root growth and ensuring the later growth and development of the trees.

[0085] Step 2, Rapid and Targeted Soil Improvement and Land Preparation:

[0086] On the site selected in step one, during the same working season from September to October in autumn, the simultaneous implementation of contour land preparation, deep soil turning, application of organic base fertilizer containing nano-iron components, and sowing of fast-growing leguminous green manure is carried out to ensure that the various soil improvement measures form a synergistic effect and rapidly improve soil fertility.

[0087] Contour line land preparation specifically adopts the method of constructing wide terraces, leveling the land along the contour lines of the hillside. The terraces are 6 meters wide and the slope of the terraces is controlled within 2 degrees. This method effectively intercepts surface runoff, reduces soil erosion, and creates convenient conditions for subsequent cultivation and irrigation.

[0088] Deep tillage is carried out on the soil in the planting area, with a tillage depth of 75 cm. During the deep tillage process, the compacted layer and large clods in the soil are thoroughly broken up, the soil aeration and water permeability are improved, the plow pan formed by long-term cultivation is broken up, the apple tree roots are encouraged to extend into the deeper soil, and the trees' drought resistance and tolerance to poor soil are enhanced.

[0089] Fertilization Procedure: Apply 160 kg of organic base fertilizer containing nano-iron per acre. The nano-iron in this organic base fertilizer can activate soil microbial activity, promote the transformation and release of nutrients in the soil, and improve nutrient utilization efficiency. Simultaneously, mix in 3800 kg of ordinary organic fertilizer, preferably well-rotted cow manure, to ensure sufficient organic matter content, effectively replenish soil organic matter, improve soil structure, and enhance soil water and fertilizer retention capacity. During fertilization, thoroughly mix the two fertilizers and evenly spread them in the deeply tilled planting strip. Then, use a rotary tiller to deeply mix and integrate the fertilizer with the soil, ensuring even distribution of the fertilizer in the soil and avoiding excessively high local fertilizer concentrations that could burn the roots.

[0090] For fast-growing leguminous green manure, choose arrowhead pea. Sow 4 kg per acre in the entire orchard after land preparation, broadcasting the seeds and then lightly rake the soil to cover them, leaving a 2-3 cm layer. Arrowhead pea, as a fast-growing leguminous green manure, has strong nitrogen-fixing ability and a short growth cycle, allowing it to quickly cover the soil surface, reducing soil moisture evaporation and erosion. Its root system also fixes atmospheric nitrogen, increasing soil nitrogen content. During the same growing season before apple tree planting, harvest the arrowhead pea twice: the first time about 50 days after sowing, and the second time 10 days before planting. After harvesting, plow the harvested material into the soil of the planting zone to further improve soil organic matter content and fertility.

[0091] Step 3: Dynamic matching of stress-resistant variety combinations:

[0092] First, a database containing stress resistance parameters for rootstocks and varieties was established. During database construction, data on the stress resistance of widely used rootstocks and varieties in the Loess Plateau apple-producing region were collected to ensure the data's practicality and relevance. Rootstock stress resistance parameters included drought tolerance, cold tolerance, and tolerance to poor soil conditions. Long-term field trials were conducted to observe the growth performance of different rootstocks under drought, low temperature, and low nutrient conditions, quantifying each stress resistance indicator. Variety stress resistance parameters included flowering time and low-temperature tolerance during flowering. The frost resistance of varieties was determined by recording the onset and peak flowering times of different varieties over several years, as well as the damage to flowers under natural low-temperature stress. The database includes 15 rootstock varieties and 10 scion varieties. All parameters have undergone multiple verifications to ensure data accuracy and reliability.

[0093] The plot-specific frost risk index generated in step one is input into the database of rootstock and variety resistance parameters for matching, dynamically screening suitable rootstock and variety combinations. Specifically, based on the plot-specific frost risk index, rootstock and variety combinations with later flowering periods or stronger tolerance to low temperatures during flowering are prioritized to enhance the orchard's resistance to frost damage during flowering. In this embodiment, the suitable rootstock was determined to be M26 after database matching and screening. This rootstock exhibits a balanced performance in drought resistance, cold resistance, and tolerance to poor soil conditions, and can adapt to the soil and climate conditions of the Loess Plateau. The suitable scion variety is Qin'an No. 1, which flowers 8 days later than the local main variety and has strong tolerance to low temperatures during flowering, effectively reducing the impact of late spring frost on fruit set rate, and is highly compatible with the frost risk level of this plot.

[0094] Step 4, Construction of the Intelligent Micro-Irrigation System:

[0095] While preparing the land in step two, an irrigation system consisting of a micro-water collection facility, a soil moisture sensor network, and a drip irrigation network is deployed. This irrigation system triggers intermittent drip irrigation based on the root zone soil moisture data monitored by the soil moisture sensor network, thereby achieving precise and efficient utilization of water resources.

[0096] The miniature water collection system is constructed on the downhill side of each planted tree, employing a funnel-shaped water collection surface design. The upper diameter of the water collection surface is 3 meters, and the lower diameter is 1 meter. The water collection surface is treated with cement mortar to ensure a smooth and flat surface, improving water collection efficiency. This system effectively collects rainwater and slope runoff, guiding water to the root zone of the fruit trees, increasing soil moisture replenishment in the root zone, and reducing water waste.

[0097] The soil moisture sensor network is evenly distributed across the orchard area, with three sensors per acre. The sensors are positioned within the planting strip, 60 cm from the tree trunk, ensuring the data accurately reflects the soil moisture status of the root zone. Each sensor simultaneously monitors soil volumetric water content at depths of 20 cm and 40 cm, covering the main root distribution area during the sapling and early fruiting stages of apple trees, providing a comprehensive understanding of root zone soil moisture dynamics. The sensors wirelessly transmit the monitoring data to the irrigation system controller in real time, with a data transmission interval of 2 hours, ensuring timely acquisition of soil moisture changes.

[0098] The drip irrigation network consists of main pipes, branch pipes, and multiple emitters. The main pipes are 40 mm in diameter, and the branch pipes are 16 mm in diameter. They are laid along contour lines to avoid uneven irrigation due to terrain undulations. Each emitter corresponds to one fruit tree and is installed 40 cm away from the trunk. Pressure-compensated emitters ensure consistent water flow across different terrain locations, allowing irrigation water to be precisely delivered to the root zone of the fruit tree.

[0099] The specific settings for triggering intermittent drip irrigation involve setting lower and upper thresholds for soil volumetric moisture content via the irrigation system controller. Considering the soil characteristics of black loess and the water requirements of apple tree growth, a reasonable threshold range is set to ensure that soil moisture meets the apple tree's growth needs without causing excess water. When the soil moisture sensor network detects that the soil volumetric moisture content at any depth is below the corresponding lower threshold, the system automatically starts drip irrigation; when monitoring data shows that the soil volumetric moisture content at both depths has recovered to the corresponding upper threshold, the system automatically stops drip irrigation. The total amount of water used for each irrigation is controlled at 7 cubic meters per acre to ensure that the water fully saturates the root distribution area, promoting root absorption while preventing waterlogging that could lead to root rot.

[0100] Step 5, Planting and Management:

[0101] In late April, when the soil temperature stabilizes above 12℃, the rootstock and variety combination should be planted. The planting density is 55 plants per acre, with a plant spacing of 2.5 meters × 4.8 meters. The planting pit should be 70 centimeters in diameter and 60 centimeters deep. Before planting, a 10-centimeter layer of well-rotted straw should be laid at the bottom of the planting pit to further enhance soil water retention and fertility. During planting, ensure the grafting point of the rootstock is 5 to 6 centimeters above the ground to prevent rotting. After planting, backfill the soil in layers and gently compact it to ensure close contact between the roots and the soil. Then water thoroughly to promote root recovery and growth.

[0102] Post-planting water management is achieved through the intelligent micro-irrigation system constructed in step four. The system automatically triggers drip irrigation based on soil moisture sensor monitoring data, eliminating the need for manual operation and ensuring that the root zone soil moisture remains within a suitable range throughout the apple tree's growth process, meeting the water requirements of different growth stages and promoting rapid tree growth.

[0103] After planting, fast-growing leguminous green manure is continuously planted between the fruit tree rows. This involves sowing arrowroot peas in spring, harvesting them in autumn, and then plowing them back into the field, repeating the planting the following year. Simultaneously, an intelligent micro-irrigation system is used for coordinated water management in the grass cover area. This means that the water supply to the grass cover area is synchronized with the water management of the fruit tree root zone. When the system activates drip irrigation, the grass cover area also receives corresponding water replenishment to maintain the normal growth of the green manure crops. The cyclical planting of fast-growing leguminous green manure continuously increases soil organic matter content, improves soil structure, enhances soil fertility, effectively covers the surface, reduces soil erosion, suppresses weed growth, lowers field management costs, and forms a virtuous cycle ecological system with the fruit trees.

[0104] This embodiment realizes the entire process of ecological apple orchard establishment on the Loess Plateau through the above steps, systematically coupling climate risk assessment, rapid soil improvement, stress-resistant varieties, and intelligent water and fertilizer management. Compared with traditional orchard establishment methods, this embodiment can shorten the orchard establishment cycle by more than one year, significantly reduce the incidence of early frost damage, steadily increase soil organic matter content within one year after planting, and significantly improve water resource utilization efficiency, achieving coordinated development of ecological protection and early high yield.

[0105] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ecological orchard establishment method suitable for high apple yields on the Loess Plateau, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: Step 1, Site selection based on quantified frost damage risk: Obtain gridded historical meteorological data of the target area, calculate the probability of frost damage during flowering period for preset candidate sites based on the gridded historical meteorological data, generate site-specific frost damage risk index, and select sites based on the site-specific frost damage risk index and the principle of relative elevation difference. Step 2, rapid targeted soil improvement and land preparation: On the selected site, simultaneously implement contour land preparation, deep soil turning, application of organic base fertilizer containing nano-iron components, and sowing of fast-growing leguminous green manure. Step 3, Dynamic matching of stress-resistant variety combinations: Establish a database containing rootstock and variety stress resistance parameters, input the plot-specific frost risk index generated in Step 1 into the database of rootstock and variety stress resistance parameters for matching, and dynamically screen out suitable rootstock and variety combinations. Step 4, Construction of the intelligent micro-irrigation system: While preparing the land, an irrigation system consisting of micro-water collection facilities, a soil moisture sensor network, and a drip irrigation network is deployed. The irrigation system triggers intermittent drip irrigation based on the root zone soil moisture data monitored by the soil moisture sensor network. Step 5, Planting and Management: Plant the rootstock and variety combination selected in Step 3, and manage water using the intelligent micro-irrigation system constructed in Step 4.

2. The method for establishing an ecological orchard suitable for high-yield apple production on the Loess Plateau according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step one, calculating the probability of frost damage during the flowering period for preset candidate plots and generating a plot-specific frost damage risk index is achieved through the following mathematical algorithm model: in, The index representing the specific frost damage risk of the aforementioned plot is a dimensionless scalar. The total number of years of historical meteorological data retrieved is a positive integer. The year index variable is used to iterate from 1 to... , The representative candidate plot is in The daily minimum temperature sequence during the apple blossom season of the year. The critical low temperature threshold representing the time when apple blossoms suffer frost damage is a preset constant. It is an indicator function, when The function value is 1 when it is true, and 0 otherwise. Representing the The annual flowering period is below the critical low temperature threshold. The cumulative low-temperature intensity, Representing all Mid-year The maximum value is used to normalize the cumulative low-temperature intensity. and The weighting coefficients are those that satisfy... The constants are used to adjust the contribution ratio of the frequency and intensity of frost damage to the risk index.

3. The ecological orchard establishment method suitable for high apple yields on the Loess Plateau according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step one, the selection of the site based on the principle of relative elevation difference specifically means that within a macro-area where the relative elevation difference is greater than or equal to 100 meters to avoid the cold lake effect, the upper part of the hillside with a lower specific frost damage risk index of the plot is selected as the final site, while ensuring that the actual soil layer thickness at this location is greater than 1 meter.

4. The method for establishing an ecological orchard suitable for high-yield apple production on the Loess Plateau according to claim 1, characterized in that, The simultaneous implementation in step two specifically refers to continuously completing the construction of contour planting ditches or wide terraces within the same working season, deep tilling of the soil in the planting zone to a depth of 60 to 80 centimeters, applying 150 to 200 kilograms of organic base fertilizer containing nano-iron components per acre and mixing it with 3,000 to 4,000 kilograms of ordinary organic fertilizer, and sowing hairy vetch or arrowhead pea between rows or throughout the garden after land preparation as the fast-growing leguminous green manure.

5. The method for establishing an ecological orchard suitable for high-yield apple production on the Loess Plateau according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stress resistance parameters in step three include the drought resistance, cold resistance, and poor soil resistance of the rootstock, as well as the flowering time and low temperature tolerance of the variety. The dynamic screening refers to prioritizing the selection of rootstock and variety combinations with later flowering periods or stronger cold resistance based on the specific frost damage risk index of the plot.

6. The method for establishing an ecological orchard suitable for high-yield apple production on the Loess Plateau according to claim 1, characterized in that, The miniature water collection facility in step four is a semi-circular or funnel-shaped water collection surface built on the downhill side of each planted tree. The soil moisture sensor network is evenly distributed across the area to monitor the volumetric water content of the soil at depths of 20 cm and 40 cm. The drip irrigation network includes multiple irrigation devices, each corresponding to a fruit tree.

7. The method for establishing an ecological orchard suitable for high-yield apple production on the Loess Plateau according to claim 1, characterized in that, The triggering of intermittent drip irrigation in step four specifically refers to: The soil moisture sensor network sets a lower threshold and an upper threshold for soil volumetric water content; When the monitored data falls below the lower threshold, the system automatically starts drip irrigation; The system will automatically stop when the monitored data recovers to the upper limit threshold. The total amount of water used for each irrigation is 5 to 10 cubic meters per acre.

8. The method for establishing an ecological orchard suitable for high-yield apple production on the Loess Plateau according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fast-growing leguminous green manure sown in step two should be harvested at least once during the same growing season before the apple trees are planted, and the harvested material should be turned back into the soil of the planting strip.

9. The method for establishing an ecological orchard suitable for high apple production on the Loess Plateau according to claim 1, characterized in that, After planting in step five, white clover or perennial ryegrass are continuously planted between the fruit tree rows as permanent cover grass, or the fast-growing leguminous green manure is planted in rotation, and the intelligent micro-irrigation system constructed in step four is used to manage the water in the cover grass area.

10. The method for establishing an ecological orchard suitable for high apple production on the Loess Plateau according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gridded historical meteorological data in step one has a spatial resolution of no less than 4 kilometers, a time series covering at least 10 consecutive years, and data elements including at least the daily minimum temperature in spring.

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