Please wait a minute...
Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2016, Vol. 15 Issue (4): 716-725    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(15)61099-1
Review Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Towards sustainable intensification of apple production in China—Yield gaps and nutrient use efficiency in apple farming systems
WANG Na1, 2*, Joost Wolf1*, ZHANG Fu-suo2
1 Plant Production Systems, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, 6700 AK Wageningen, The Netherlands 2 Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P.R.China
Download:  PDF in ScienceDirect  
Export:  BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)      
摘要  China is in a dominant position in apple production globally with both the largest apple growing area and the largest export of fresh apple fruits. However, the annual productivity of China’s apple is significantly lower than that of other dominant apple producing countries. In addition, apple production is based on excessive application of chemical fertilizers and the nutrient use efficiency (especially nitrogen) is therefore low and the nutrient emissions to the environment are high. Apple production in China is considerably contributes to farmers’ incomes and is important as export product. There is an urgent need to enhance apple productivity and improve nutrient use efficiencies in intensive apple production systems in the country. These can be attained by improved understanding of production potential, yield gaps, nutrient use and best management in apple orchards. To the end, priorities in research on apple production systems and required political support are described which may lead to more sustainable and environmental-friendly intensification of apple production in China.

Abstract  China is in a dominant position in apple production globally with both the largest apple growing area and the largest export of fresh apple fruits. However, the annual productivity of China’s apple is significantly lower than that of other dominant apple producing countries. In addition, apple production is based on excessive application of chemical fertilizers and the nutrient use efficiency (especially nitrogen) is therefore low and the nutrient emissions to the environment are high. Apple production in China is considerably contributes to farmers’ incomes and is important as export product. There is an urgent need to enhance apple productivity and improve nutrient use efficiencies in intensive apple production systems in the country. These can be attained by improved understanding of production potential, yield gaps, nutrient use and best management in apple orchards. To the end, priorities in research on apple production systems and required political support are described which may lead to more sustainable and environmental-friendly intensification of apple production in China.
Keywords:  apple production       China       environmental problems       nutrient use efficiency       potential yield       sustainable intensification       yield gaps  
Received: 10 February 2015   Accepted:
Fund: 

The research was initiated within the project “Cash Crops Research Network of China” of the Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University.

Corresponding Authors:  ZHANG Fu-suo, Tel: +86-10-62732499, Fax: +86-10-62891016, E-mail: zhangfs@cau.edu.cn     E-mail:  zhangfs@cau.edu.cn
About author:  WANG Na, E-mail: ranwangna@126.com, na.wang@wur.nl

Cite this article: 

WANG Na, Joost Wolf, ZHANG Fu-suo. 2016. Towards sustainable intensification of apple production in China—Yield gaps and nutrient use efficiency in apple farming systems. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 15(4): 716-725.

Affholder F, Poeydebat C, Corbeels M, Scopel E, Tittonell P. 2013. The yield gap of major food crops in family agriculture in the tropics: Assessment and analysis through field surveys and modelling. Field Crops Research, 143, 106–118.

Agegnehu G, van Beek C, Bird M I. 2014. Influence of integrated soil fertility management in wheat and tef productivity and soil chemical properties in the highland tropical environment. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition (AHEAD), 14, 532–545.

Cui Z L, Dou Z X, Chen X P, Ju X T, Zhang F S. 2014. Managing agricultural nutrients for food security in China: Past, Present, and Future. Agronomy Journal, 106, 191–198.

Eckert H, Breitschuh G, Sauerbeck D R. 2000. Criteria and standards for sustainable agriculture. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 163, 337–351.

Ernani P R, Rogeri D A, Proença M M, Dias J. 2008. Addition of nitrogen had no effect on yield and quality of apples in a high-density orchard carrying a dwarf rootstock. Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura, 30, 1113–1118.

Fan J, Hu B. 2005. Effects of apple orchard development on ecological environment in the Loess Plateau. Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin, 21, 355–359. (in Chinese)

Fan J, Shao M A, Hao M D, Wang Q J. 2004. Desiccation and nitrate accumulation of apple orchard soil on the Weibei dry land. Journal of Applied Ecology, 15, 1213–1216. (in Chinese)

Fan M S, Shen J B, Yuan L X, Jiang R F, Chen X P, William J D, Zhang F S. 2011. Improving crop productivity and resource use efficiency to ensure food security and environmental quality in China. Journal of Experimental Botany, 63, 13–24.

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). 1999. Deciduous fruit production in Asia and the Pacific. Regional office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand. [2015-5-10]. ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/004/ab985e/ab985e00.pdf

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). 2014. Sustainable crop production intensification. [2015-5-10]. http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/core-themes/theme/spi/en/

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). 2016. FAOSTAT Production Database. [2016-3-15]. http://faostat.fao.org

Gao Y M, Tong Y A, Lu Y L, Ma H Y. 2012. Effect of long-term application of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on apple yield and soil nutrient accumulation and distribution in orchard soil of Loess Plateau. Journal of Fruit Science, 29, 322–327. (in Chinese)

Huang M B, Yang X M, Li Y S. 2001. Effect of apple base on regional water cycle in Weibei upland of the Loess Plateau. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 56, 12–22.

Van Ittersum M K, Cassman K G, Grassini P, Wolf J, Tittonell P, Hochman Z. 2013. Yield gap analysis with local to global relevance — A review. Field Crops Research, 143, 4–17.

Ju X T, Kou C L, Zhang F S, Christie P. 2006. Nitrogen balance and groundwater nitrate contamination: Comparison among three intensive cropping systems on the North China Plain. Environmental Pollution, 143, 117–125.

Ju X T, Liu X J, Zhang F S, Roelcke M. 2004. Nitrogen fertilization, soil nitrate accumulation, and policy recommendations in several agricultural regions of China. Ambio: A Journal of the Human Environment, 33, 300–305.

Ju X T, Xing G X, Chen X P, Zhang S L, Zhang L J, Liu X J, Cui Z L. 2009. Reducing environmental risk by improving N management in intensive Chinese agricultural systems. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106, 3041–3046.

Li H B. 2010. The impacts of different apple varieties and fertilization strategies on N-15 absorption and utilization. MSc thesis, Shandong Agricultural University, China. (in Chinese)

Li M M, An G Y, Guo Y, Zhao Z Y. 2011. Effects of different irrigation patterns on soil water and WUE in Weibei apple orchard. Agricultural Research in the Arid Areas, 29, 174–179. (in Chinese)

Li M X, Du S N, Bai G S, Fang J L, Liu J. 2010. Problems and solutions of apple production in Webei Loess Plateau. Research of Soil and Water Conservation, 17, 252–257. (in Chinese)

Liu H J, Ju X T, Tong Y A. 2002. The status and problems of fertilization of main fruit trees in Shaanxi Province. Agricultural Research in the Arid Area, 20, 38–40. (in Chinese)

Liu T J, Fan Y. 2012. Changes in production regions and influencing factors in China major apple producing areas. Agricultural Economy, 10, 36–42. (in Chinese)

Lu C H, Van Ittersum M K, Rabbinge R. 2004. A scenario exploration of strategic land use options for the Loess Plateau in northern China. Agricultural Systems, 79, 145–170.

Malaguti D, Rombola A D, Gerin M, Simoni G, Tagliavini M, Marangoni B. 2002. Effect of seaweed extracts-based leaf sprays on the mineral status, yield and fruit quality of apple. [2015-5-10]. http://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=US201400120164

MOA (Ministry of Agriculture of China). 2008. Annual report on the development of apple industrial technology 2008. [2015-5-10]. http://www.agri.gov.cn/ (in Chinese)

NBSC (National Bureau of Statistics of China). 2016. National Database. [2016-03-15]. http://www.stats.gov.cn/.

Nava G, Dechen A R. 2009. Long-term annual fertilization with nitrogen and potassium affect yield and mineral composition of ‘Fuji’ apple. Scientia Agricola, 66, 377–385.

Neilsen D, Millard P, Neilsen G H, Hogue E J. 2001. Nitrogen uptake, efficiency of use, and partitioning for growth in young apple trees. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, 126, 144–150.

Neilsen D, Neilsen G H. 2002. Efficient use of nitrogen and water in high-density apple orchards. Hort Technology, 12, 19–25.

Neilsen G H, Neilsen D, Ferree D C, Warrington I J. 2003. Nutritional requirements of apple. In: Ferree D C, Warrington I J, eds., Apples: Botany, Production and Uses. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, Oxon, UK. pp. 267–302.

O’Rourke D. 2001. A survey of the world’s major apple producers. New York Fruit Quarterly, 9, 21–23.

O’Rourke D. 2002. Major trends in US and world apple markets. New York Fruit Quarterly, 10, 10–18.

Peng F T, Jiang M Y, Gu M R, Shu H R. 2003. Advances in research on nitrogen nutrition of deciduous fruit crops. Journal of Fruit Science, 20, 54–58. (in Chinese)

Peng F T, Jiang M Y. 2006. Characteristics of N, P and K nutrition in different yield level apple orchards. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 39, 361–367. (in Chinese)

Reganold J P, Glover J D, Andrews P K, Hinman H R. 2001. Sustainability of three apple production systems. Nature, 410, 926–930.

SPQTSB (Shaanxi Province Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau). 2014. Green food production conditions for environmental technology, Apple. NY/T391-2000. [2015-5-10]. http://www.snqi.gov.cn. (in Chinese)

Tagliavini M, Scudellazi D, Marangoni B, Toselli M. 1996. Nitrogen fertilization management in orchards to reconcile productivity and environmental aspects. In: Fertilizers and Environment. Springer Netherlands, The Netherlands. pp. 161–170.

Tittonell P, Vanlauwe B, Corbeels M, Giller K E. 2008. Yield gaps, nutrient use efficiencies and response to fertilisers by maize across heterogeneous smallholder farms of western Kenya. Plant and Soil, 313, 19–37.

USITC (United States International Trade Commission). 2010. Apples - Industry & Trade Summary. ITS-04. [2015-3-24].https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/ITS_4.pdf

USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. 2013. Annual Reports of Fresh Deciduous Fruit, Peoples Republic of China. [2015-5-10]. http://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/Fresh%20Deciduous%20Fruit%20Annual_Beijing_China%20-%20Peoples%20Republic%20of_11-29-2013.pdf

Vanlauwe B, Kihara J, Chivenge P, Pypers P, Coe R, Six J. 2011. Agronomic use efficiency of N fertilizer in maize-based systems in sub-Saharan Africa within the context of integrated soil fertility management. Plant and Soil, 339, 35–50.

Wagenmakers P S, Wertheim S J. 1991. Planting systems for fruit trees in temperate climates. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 10, 369–385.

Wang Y, Shao M A, Zhu Y, Liu Z. 2011. Impacts of land use and plant characteristics on dried soil layers in different climatic regions on the Loess Plateau of China. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 151, 437–448.

Weinbaum S A, Johnson R S, DeJong T M. 1992. Causes and consequences of over fertilization in orchards. Hort Technology, 2, 112–121.

Wu F Q, Liu H B, Sun B S, Wang J, Gale W J. 2008. Net primary production and nutrient cycling in an apple orchard -annual crop system in the Loess Plateau, China: A comparison of Qinguan apple, Fuji apple, corn and millet production subsystems. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 81, 95–105.

Wünsche J N, Lakso A N. 2000. Apple tree physiology: Implications for orchard and tree management. Compact Fruit Tree, 33, 82–88.

Yang J, Sha L X, Xin L. 2013. The investigation and analysis of apple market in China over years 2012–2013. [2015-5-10]. http://apple.sdnx.co/hyzx/21873.jhtml (in Chinese)

Zhai H, Guo L, Yao Y X, Shu H. 2008. Review of Chinese apple industry. Acta Horticulturae, 772, 191–194.

Zhang F S, Cui Z L, Chen X P, Ju X T, Shen J B, Chen Q, Liu X J, Zhang W F, Mi G H, Fan M S, Jiang R F. 2012. Integrated nutrient management for food security and environmental quality in China. Advances in Agronomy, 116, 1–40.

Zhang F S, Cui Z L, Fan M S, Zhang W F, Chen X P, Jiang R F. 2011. Integrated soil-crop system management: Reducing environmental risk while increasing crop productivity and improving nutrient use efficiency in China. Journal of Environmental Quality, 40, 1051–1057.

Zhang L, Zhou J, Zhao Y G, Zhai Y, Wang K, Alva A K, Paramasivam S. 2013. Optimal combination of chemical compound fertilizer and humic acid to improve soil and leaf properties, yield and quality of apple (Malus domestica) in the Loess Plateau of China. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 45, 1315–1320.

Zhang L N, Li J, Fan P, Cao Y, Jumahan K S M. 2013. Distribution of soil NPK nutrient content in deep soil profile of typical apple orchards on the Loess Plateau. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 33, 1907–1915. (in Chinese)

Zhang Y, Xie Y S, Hao M D, Ran W. 2010. Characteristics and evaluation of soil nutrients in apple orchards at the gully regions of Loess Plateau. Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer Science, 16, 1170–1175. (in Chinese)

Zhao Z P, Yan S, Liu F, Ji P H, Wang X Y, Tong Y A. 2014. Effects of chemical fertilizer combined with organic manure on Fuji apple quality, yield and soil fertility in apple orchard on the Loess Plateau of China. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 7, 45–55.

Zhao Z Y, Dai J, Wang L C. 2002. Analysis of the apple industrial present situation and international competition ability in Shaanxi Province. Acta Agriculturae Boreali-occidentalis Sinica, 4, 30. (in Chinese)
[1] YU Wen-jia, LI Hai-gang, Peteh M. NKEBIWE, YANG Xue-yun, GUO Da-yong, LI Cui-lan, ZHU Yi-yong, XIAO Jing-xiu, LI Guo-hua, SUN Zhi, Torsten MÜLLER, SHEN Jian-bo. Combining rhizosphere and soil-based P management decreased the P fertilizer demand of China by more than half based on LePA model simulations[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(8): 2509-2520.
[2] LI Dong-qing, ZHANG Ming-xue, LÜ Xin-xin, HOU Ling-ling. Does nature-based solution sustain grassland quality? Evidence from rotational grazing practice in China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(8): 2567-2576.
[3] YANG Rui, XU Hang. Water diversion and agricultural production: Evidence from China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(4): 1244-1257.
[4] HOU Jing, ZHOU Li, Jennifer IFFT, YING Rui-yao. The role of time preferences in contract breach: Evidence from Chinese poultry farmers participating in contract farming[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(2): 623-641.
[5] YUE Meng, LI Wen-jing, JIN Shan, CHEN Jing, CHANG Qian, Glyn JONES, CAO Yi-ying, YANG Gui-jun, LI Zhen-hong, Lynn J. FREWER. Farmers’ precision pesticide technology adoption and its influencing factors: Evidence from apple production areas in China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(1): 292-305.
[6] FENG Lu, CHI Bao-jie, DONG He-zhong. Cotton cultivation technology with Chinese characteristics has driven the 70-year development of cotton production in China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(3): 597-609.
[7] CHU Zhen-dong, MING Bo LI Lu-lu, XUE Jun, ZHANG Wan-xu, HOU Liang-yu, XIE Rui-zhi, HOU Peng, WANG Ke-ru, LI Shao-kun . Dynamics of maize grain drying in the high latitude region of Northeast China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(2): 365-374.
[8] ZHOU Yong, YAN Xiao-yuan, GONG Song-ling, LI Cheng-wei, ZHU Rong, ZHU Bo, LIU Zhang-yong, WANG Xiao-long, CAO Peng. Changes in paddy cropping system enhanced economic profit and ecological sustainability in central China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(2): 566-577.
[9] LIU Ying-xia, Gerard B. M. HEUVELINK, Zhanguo BAI, HE Ping, JIANG Rong, HUANG Shao-hui, XU Xin-peng. Statistical analysis of nitrogen use efficiency in Northeast China using multiple linear regression and random forest[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(12): 3637-3657.
[10] Sheng-Han-Erin CHANG, YI Xiao-yan, Johannes SAUER, YIN Chang-bin, LI Fu-duo. Explaining farmers’ reluctance to adopt green manure cover crops planting for sustainable agriculture in Northwest China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(11): 3382-3394.
[11] MA Ji-liang, LI Fan, ZHANG Hui-jie, Khan NAWAB . Commercial cash crop production and households’ economic welfare: Evidence from the pulse farmers in rural China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(11): 3395-3407.
[12] PENG Yan-ling, Yanjun REN, LI Hou-jian. Do credit constraints affect households’ economic vulnerability? Empirical evidence from rural China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(9): 2552-2568.
[13] SHAO Rui-xin, YU Kang-ke, LI Hong-wei, JIA Shuang-jie, YANG Qing-hua, ZHAO Xia, ZHAO Ya-li, LIU Tian-xu. The effect of elevating temperature on the growth and development of reproductive organs and yield of summer maize[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(7): 1783-1795.
[14] QIAO Fang-bin, HUANG Ji-kun. Farmers’ risk preference and fertilizer use[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(7): 1987-1995.
[15] ZHU Wen-bo, CHEN Yong-fu, ZHAO Jing, WU Bei-bei. Impacts of household income on beef at-home consumption: Evidence from urban China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(6): 1701-1715.
No Suggested Reading articles found!