Relationship between soil nutrient and Shatianyou fruit quality in its main production areas

In 2005, a sampling survey was conducted in the main Shatianyou fruit production areas of Meizhou City. Nutrient contents of 0~60 cm soil layer and quality of Shatianyou fruit collected from Shatianyou orchards in four villages (Dahuang, Xiaohuang, Pengxia and Pengshang) in Songkou Town, Mei County were analyzed. Results show significant difference in soil nutrient status among 4 samplig orchards. Soil nutrient contents for Dahuang and Xiaohuang are relatively high while those for Pengshang and Pengxia are very poor. Differences are observed in Shatianyou fruit quality from the four orchards. Relatively high reducing sugar (RS) and vitamin C (VC) contents exist in Shatianyou fruits from Xiaohuang and Dahuang, which are sweeter and juicier than those from Pengshang and Pengxia. Regression analysis reveals significant positive correlation between RS and soil available N, an extremely significant positive correlation between VC and soil available N, and a negative correlation between VC and available K. Fruit total acid content has an extremely significant positive correlation with soil total P and N, available P and slow available K. This implies that Shatianyou fruit quality is influenced by soil NPK nutrient status, which is particularly related with soil N content.