Seasonal Soil and Foliar Nutrient Concentrations, and Fruit Quality in a Pesticide-Free Pear Orchard as Affected by Seeding Timing and Method of Cover Crops

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of seeding timing and method of rye and/or hairy vetch on seasonal soil and foliar nutrient concentrations as well as fruit quality in a pesticide-free pear orchard. METHODS AND RESULTS: The treatments included as followed: single seeding of rye in September (Sep-Mono), November (Nov-Mono), and January (Jan-Mono), or mix seeding of rye+hairy vetch in November (Nov-Mix) and January (Jan-Mix), or sod culture as a control. Cover crops or vegetation was mown and mulched on the soil surface in April and May for two years. Nov-Mix treatment produced the highest dry matter weight of $12,070kg\;ha^{-1}$, with the lowest dry matter weight for sod culture ($6,520kg\;ha^{-1}$), following Jan-Mix ($7,030kg\;ha^{-1}$). Nov-Mix treatments increased potential amount of N, P, and K from the raw materials of the cover crops as well as improved soil physical properties. Nov-Mix treatments overall elevated soil pH, EC, organic matter, and $P_2O_5$ in May compared to other cover crop treatments or sod culture. The difference of the seasonal nutrient concentrations in leaves or fruit qualities were not consistently occurred amongst treatments. CONCLUSION: Nov-Mix treatments showed playing role in a substitute of a chemical fertilizer. Delayed seeding of cover crops such as Jan-Mix did not increase the potential dry matter production due to the short growing period, and the seeding time would affect the dry matter production of cover crops.

녹비작물의 파종시기와 방법이 무농약 배과원의 시기별 토양화학성과 엽내 무기성분, 과실품질에 미치는 영향