Soil biochemical properties and microbial composition in aged and non‐aged apple (Malus domestica) orchards in Luochuan County, Loess Plateau, China

Abstract

Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.), belonging to the Rosaceae family, is one of the most popular fruits worldwide because it is rich in fibre, antioxidants and phytochemicals that have beneficial effects on human health (Igarashi et al., 2016). According to FAOSTAT, the global production of apples was approximately 86.14 million tons in 2018 (http://www. fao.org/faost at/en/#data/QC), of which China produced approximately 39.23 million tons (https://data.stats.gov.cn/ easyq uery.htm?cn=C01), making it the world's largest apple producer. Luochuan County, located in Shaanxi Province, which is the largest apple producer in Loess Plateau production regions, is said to be one of the best areas suitable for