Effects of different organic fertilizers on tree growth, yield, fruit quality, and soil microorganisms in a pear orchard

Summary Out of five fertilizer managements applied to a 'Huangguan' pear orchard, a bio-organic fertilizer inoculated with Bacillus polymyxa (BOF) resulted in increased new shoot length, leaf area, hundred leaf weights, single fruit weight compared to the unfertilized control, while the leaf chlorophyll content was not significantly influenced. At maturity, the fruit yield in BOF treatment was significantly higher than the other treatments. Significantly higher sugar contents but lower organic acid contents were obtained by the applicationof BOF and organic-inorganic compound fertilizer (CF)compared to control or conventional fertilization containingonly chemical fertilizers (CV). At the same time, organic fertilization, especially BOF treatment, led to higher amounts of soil bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes compared to control or CV treatments. Taken together, BOF application had a vital role in tree growth,fruit taste and fruit quality improvement.