Effects of orchard microclimatic conditions on the fruit setting and quality of Ziziphus jujuba Mill.‘Huizao'in south Xinjiang

【Objective】The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of orchard microclimaticconditions on the fruit setting and quality of Chinese jujube(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.‘Huizao') in south Xin-jiang.【Methods】Orchard microclimate treatments such as solar side and shadow side of the tree,sun-shading,sprinkle and surface mulch were set to investigate effects of air and soil temperature and humidi-ty change on the fruit setting and quality of jujube fruit in Kuerle,Xinjiang in 2014.【Results】The meantemperature and humidity of soil were higher than those of air,and the differences of temperature and hu-midity in air were significantly larger than those of soil. The temperature and humidity of soil in plasticmulching treatment were significantly higher than in the straw mulch treatment and CK,and plasticmulching effectively improved the fruit setting;The shade treatment decreased the air temperature andhumidity,and increased the size and protein content of fruit;The straw mulch treatment provided a mod-erate microenvironment to jujube tree,and increased the contents of sugar,protein,titratable acid,fla-vonoid,cyanidin and vitamin C in fruit;The air humidity in sprinkle treatment in the set period was thehighest among all treatments and conducive to the accumulation of titratable acid.【Conclusion】The or-chard microclimatic condition has obvious influence on the fruit setting and quality of Chinese jujubefruit. Sprinkle at one hour interval and straw or plastic mulching have better effects.