Effects of Soil Aeration and Fertilization Practices on Alleviating Iron Deficiency Chlorosis in “Huangguan” Pears Grafted onto Quince A in Calcareous Soils

In North China, the high-quality pear cultivar “Huangguan” (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd. cv), which is grafted onto dwarf quince A (Cydonia oblonga Mill. cv) rootstock and grown in calcareous soil, experiences severe iron (Fe) deficiency; this deficiency greatly constrains tree growth as well fruit yield quality. Therefore, we evaluated effects of six practices for alleviating chlorosis caused by Fe (HG-QA). The included ridging with landscape fabric mulching a control, flattening (FM), without (R), (F), fertilizer application soil (SFe), foliar (FFe), manure (M). results showed that leaf concentration increased 356% under FFe, compared to but practice failed alleviate chlorosis. contrast, an increase alleviation were observed F. F alleviated mainly increasing root ferric-chelate reductase activity. These indicate uptake utilization leaves are independent biochemical processes aeration improvement have positive effect on uptake. M improved both active utilization. Thus, should be first choice HG-QA soils. Combining other would likely effective way address problem