Comprehensive Evaluation on the Yield, Quality, and Water-Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Mountain Apple Under Surge-Root Irrigation in the Loess Plateau Based on the Improved TOPSIS Method

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to know the controlling effects of water and nitrogen coupling on the yield, quality, and water-nitrogen utilization effectiveness of mountain apples under surge-root irrigation in the Loess Plateau. In order to optimize the water and nitrogen irrigation systems of superior quality and high yield, 7 years was selected for the mountain apple test material. The trial was designed with four tiers of irrigation, i.e., full irrigation (FI: 85–100% θf, where θf is the field capacity), light deficit irrigation (DIL: 70–85% θf), moderate deficit irrigation (DIM: 55–70% θf), and severe deficit irrigation (DIS: 40–55% θf) and three tiers of nitrogen, i.e., high nitrogen (NH: 600 kg ha–1), medium nitrogen (NM: 400 kg ha–1), and low nitrogen (NL: 200 kg ha–1). The subjective weight attained by the analytic hierarchy methods and the objective weight achieved by the enhanced coefficient of variation method were examined to find the comprehensive weight based on the notion of game hypothesis. Then, the weighted technique for order of preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) process was utilized to comprehensively assess the yield, quality, and water-nitrogen use efficiency of the apples, and a binary quadratic regression model was created between the comprehensive evaluation index and water-nitrogen inputs. The results showed that the effects of irrigation and nitrogen levels on the fruit yield, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), total water use efficiency (TWUE), nitrogen partial factor productivity (NPFP), and quality of mountain apples were significant (P < 0.05). The apple yield and TWUE first improved and then diminished with an escalating quantity of water-nitrogen inputs, the IWUE diminished with a boost in the irrigation quantity, the NPFP dwindled when the nitrogen amount was increased. The best water and nitrogen inputs for apple yield, quality, or water-nitrogen use efficiency were dissimilar. The best comprehensive evaluation index was DILNM treatment, and the worst comprehensive evaluation index was DISNL treatment, based on the TOPSIS system. The interval of irrigation and nitrogen attained from the mathematic model ranged in 95–115 mm and 470–575 kg ha–1, respectively. The outcome of this study may perhaps offer a theoretical basis for the scientific research of surge-root irrigation and the managing of mountain apple tree irrigation and fertilization in the Loess Plateau, China.

Study of the Characteristics of Mountain Apples Resisting Carbon Dioxide Damage Based on Water–Nitrogen Coupling

“…On the 20th day of storage, for irrigation treatments, the titratable acid content of W0 treatment was significantly higher than that of other treatments ( P < 0.01), and the titratable acid content of N0 treatment was significantly higher than that of other nitrogen application treatments ( P < 0.01). Our results found that the soluble solids content increased with an increase in the irrigation volume, while the opposite development was discovered for the titratable acid content, which is consistent with observations from previous research studies. ,, For nitrogen application treatments on the 60th day, the titratable acid content of the N0 treatment was significantly lower than that of N1 and N3 treatments ( P < 0.01). The effects of nitrogen application treatment was similar to that of irrigation treatment.…”

“…As the irrigation volume decreased, the hardness of the “Hanfu” apple increased. That is because an insufficient irrigation volume limits the expansion and division of pulp cells, which causes the increase in apple hardness. , …”

“…Our results found that the soluble solids content increased with an increase in the irrigation volume, while the opposite development was discovered for the titratable acid content, which is consistent with observations from previous research studies. 29,32,33 For nitrogen application treatments on the 60th day, the titratable acid content of the N0 treatment was significantly lower than that of N1 and N3 treatments (P < 0.01). The effects of nitrogen application treatment was similar to that of irrigation treatment.…”

“…Water and nitrogen fertilizer are the two main factors affecting apple growth and development . Nitrogen use efficiency of crop is constrained by water management .…”

“…Water and nitrogen fertilizer are the two main factors affecting apple growth and development. 7 Nitrogen use efficiency of crop is constrained by water management. 8 In order to improve yield farmers likes to apply a lot of synthetic N fertilizers and manure, but nitrogen uptake and utilization of crop are only less than half, and the surplus then causes an environment problem.…”