Soil characterization in a young apple orchard

The research was carried out in an apple orchard of the Orel GAU in 2023-2024. The garden was laid in October 2021 with annual seedlings on the scheme 3 x 5 m. The varieties Antonovka ordinary, Veteran, Orlovskoye Stripe, and Orlovskoye Polesye were grafted on semi-dwarf scion 54-118. Achievement of high yield of any fruit crop, including apple trees, is possible under optimal ecological conditions of root nutrition of trees. Therefore, object of the study was the soil, the subject of the study was the main agrochemical, agrophysical and biological properties of the soil. Classical generally accepted methods were used in the research.Soil under apple orchard by acidity, content of organic matter, basic nutrition elements, sum of absorbed bases, granulometric composition, volumetric mass and hardness basically corresponds to biological requirements of apple trees. According to the classification of N.A. Kachinsky, soil layer 0-30 cm is characterized as soil compacted, at the depth of 30-40 cm in August and October the soil is strongly compacted. Starting from the depth of 50 cm and up to 80 cm from the beginning and up to the end of the growing season, soil density corresponds to typical values for subsoil horizons - 1.44-1.55 g/cm3. In April, soil hardness in layers up to the depth of 50-60 cm was lower in comparison with other terms of research and was in the range from 12.7 kg/cm2 in the layer of 20-30 cm to 33.8 kg/cm2 in the layer of 50-60 cm. The use of mulching material in the row and in the boles allowed to increase the biological activity of soil in the upper layers by 17.5-20.8%.