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 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING TRANSACTIONS  
 

VOL. 55, 2016 

A publication of 

 
The Italian Association 

of Chemical Engineering 
Online at www.aidic.it/cet 

Guest Editors: Tichun Wang, Hongyang Zhang, Lei Tian
Copyright © 2016, AIDIC Servizi S.r.l., 
ISBN 978-88-95608-46-4; ISSN 2283-9216 

Effect of Organic Compost Mulching on Orchard Soil Property 
Yumin Wanga, Pengcheng Wang*b 
a Bozhou University, Bozhou 236800, Anhui, China; 
b Institute of Horticulture, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anhui, China. 
wangpengcheng@163.com 

In order to increase the fruit yield and economic benefit, pesticides and fertilizers are overused in Chinese 
orchards, which leads to a series of environmental problem and food safety issues like water body pollution, 
organic content decrease. The effect and influence of various organic compost mulching on orchard soil 
property are discussed here, to improve soil ecological structure, utilize and circulate wastes resource 
rationally and increase the reservoir storage of orchard. The results showed that the mulching of the organic 
compost can decrease the surface soil bulk density apparently, loosen the soil and optimize its air 
permeability. Meanwhile, it can increase the nutrient elements in the soil, improve soil property and thus to 
boost the grow of the tree fruit and root as well as to improve the physical, chemical and biological property of 
soil. Along with the ever-increasing length of the compost substrate mulching, the organic content of the soil 
has been increased apparently, and the orchard soil property has been improved obviously, which has eased 
a series of environmental issues, increased the crop yield and improved the crop quality at the same time. It 
has increased the economic efficiency to some extent. 

1. Introduction 
In the past decades, along with the economic development and the improvement of people’s living standard, 
agriculture in our country has kept developing rapidly, which has resolved the issue of crop yield. But keeping 
pursuing the crop yield also leads to a variety of problems. For example, many agricultural waste resources, 
instead of being utilized, has been discarded without any disposing, which resulted in many environmental 
issues. Agricultural disasters has become more and more frequent. Soil erosion and quality decline have 
made the crop yield decreased and crop quality influenced (Swanepoel et al., 2015). These phenomenons 
and problems restrict the sustainable development of rural economy, environment and biology. As a result, we 
should vigorously develop the beneficial utilization of organic agricultural resources, and boost sustainable 
development.  
Organic agricultural wastes can be classified into 4 categories: plant waste, household garbage, animal 
excrement and agricultural products processing wastes. But the agricultural wastes we discussed here include 
crop straws and livestock’s excrement (Bindraban et al., 2012). Although the agricultural wastes has been 
discarded, they still belong to reproducible resources and share a common character, that is: they are 
renewable and recyclable resources. They can be restored and pollute environment. The main component of 
the agricultural waste is organic material, if being utilized reasonably, it can be changed from waste material 
into things of value and improve agricultural biological environment (Jayathilakan et al., 2012). 
In recent years, along with the arising of intensive aquaculture enterprises, there emerges a large quantity of 
organic waste like excrement of birds and livestock, providing a wide resource to the production of compost 
from organic waste. Organic fertilizer can promote the reproduction of microorganism and improve the soil 
property effectively. It is also the main nutrient resources to produce green food. Utilizing organic fertilizers for 
a long time is known to increase land utilization rate influentially, optimize soil fertility and keep water fertility, 
thus to boost the grow of crop and increase the yield and quality of crop. The objects we researched here are 
fruit trees. We aim at researching the different effects of different waste compost substrates mulching on the 
improvement of orchard soil as well as on the grow and quality of fruits. The results showed that the mulching 
of organic compost can not only improve the soil quality, but also ease environmental problems. In addition, 

                               
 
 

 

 
   

                                                  
DOI: 10.3303/CET1655064

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Please cite this article as: Wang Y.M., Wang P.C., 2016, Effect of organic compost mulching on orchard soil property, Chemical Engineering 
Transactions, 55, 379-384  DOI:10.3303/CET1655064   

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this research served as a solid theoretical base for researching on orchard management measures and 
improving fruit quality. 

2. Material and method 
There are two kinds of experimental materials used during the research, all of which come from the 
agricultural experimental base in Shandong province. One is Feicheng peach, with the experimental soil of 
brown soil, the other material is apple tree. When fertilizing, the apple trees consistent in line weight were 
choose. 
(1) The experimental rotten chicken and cow manure was stocked with the volume ratio of 3:1 of the fresh 
chicken and cow manure to saw dust; 
(2) Regulate the water content to 55% or so. Add microorganism inoculation of 3% of the material. Conduct 
aerobic composting; 
(3) During the process of rotting and decomposing, conduct artificial composting regularly; 
(4) When the composting temperature was below 50℃, dry and smash it as a preparation of the final bagging. 

3.Result and discussion 
3.1 The effect of different organic waste compost substrate on the soil in mulching area in peach 
orchard 

(1) The effect on the water content of the soil in mulching area in peach orchard 

 

Figure 1: The effect of different organic waste compost substrate on the water content of soil in mulching area 
in peach orchard 

From figure 1, it can be seen that the water content rate of the BSC group was as high as almost 20%, which 
is of the best water conservation effect. While the water content rate of the Ck group was only 10%. The data 
above showed that the different organic waste compost substrate have different effects on decreasing the 
water loss in the soil and thus to increase the water content of the soil, conserve enough water, and increase 
fruit quality and yield. 
(2) The effect on the soil bulk density in the mulching area in the peach orchard 
The bulk density of the soil is the index to judge the looseness and firmness of the soil, the higher the bulk 
density is, the worse the structure is. The lower bulk density means the soil is loose, and the soil structure is 
better. 
 

 

Figure 2: The effect of different organic waste compost substrate on the bulk density of soil in mulching area in 
peach orchard 

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Figure 2 shows that the soil bulk density situation was: CK>SMC>FSC>BSC>CSC>FBC>CBC.The soil bulk 
density of group SMC was higher, just 15% lower than the group CK. The possible reason for that may be that 
the method of sewage sludge compost (BSC) has minimized the porosity of the sewage and sludge. In 
addition, the bulk density of group fowl manure and bark compost(FBC), cow dung and saw dust 
compost(CSC) and cow dung and bark compost (CBC) were all about 30% lower than group CK, which 
showed, after processing by different waste compost substrate, the porosity of the soil has become bigger, 
which made the permeability of the soil strengthened. And also, the water can permeate in the soil easier than 
before, which can conserve and restore water better. All these data showed that the organic waste compost 
substrate can improve soil porosity apparently, decrease soil bulk density and enlarge soil porosity. It can 
improve the soil to some extent.  
2.1.3 The effect on the organic material of soil in mulching area in the peach orchard 

Table 1: The effect of different organic compost mulching on the organic material of soil in mulching area in 
peach orchard 

Number 
2014.9.30 2015.5.30 2015.9.30 

Organic material content (
1−⋅ kgg ) 

CK 13.5 11.0 12.3 
SMC 20.3 24.5 24.0 
CSC 23.7 28.5 27.6 
CBC 22.4 27.6 26.7 
FSC 26.8 30.2 28.8 
FBC 29.7 31.2 29.6 
BSC 20.2 24.8 22.3 
 
From Table 1, it can be seen that compared with group CK, the organic material content of all the other groups 
has been increased obviously. In September in the first year, the organic material content of CSC, CBC, FSC, 
FBC were higher, while that of group SMC and BSC is lower. After the re-mulching the next year, only some of 
them were decomposed by microorganisms, so the organic material content was higher than the previous 
year. Till the September in the second year, the organic material content of the soil decreased slightly, but still 
higher than the previous year. Based on the data, we can see that different organic waste compost substrate 
can increase the organic material content of the soil obviously, and also can improve the soil quality.  
(3) The effect on rapid available phosphorus of soil in the mulching area of the peach orchard 
Rapid available phosphorus means the phosphorus that can be absorbed by the plants, soil available 
phosphorus (rapid available phosphorus) is the index showing the supplying level of the soil phosphorus 
nutrient. Soil phosphorus content reflects the storage and supplying ability of the phosphorus in soil, playing a 
very important role in the respiratory and photosynthesis of the plant. 

Table 2: The effect of different organic compost mulching on the rapid available phosphorus of soil in mulching 
area in peach orchard 

Number 
2014.9.30 2015.5.30 2015.9.30 

rapid available phosphorus content (
1−⋅ kgmg ) 

CK 118.5 139.4 127.4 
SMC 143.1 304.5 306.5 
CSC 197.2 387.0 305.7 
CBC 188.0 333.2 308.5 
FSC 167.9 316.2 306.3 
FBC 152.7 308.0 307.2 
BSC 144.7 335.8 304.1 
 
Data in Table 2 shows that in the first year, the rapid available phosphorus content of group FSC and FBC has 
been increased obviously. Till May in the next year, the rapid available phosphorus content of the six groups 
have all bean increased evidently, among which FSC is the highest. In September of the second year, the soil 
rapid available phosphorus content has decreased slightly, from all of that, we can see rational utilization of 
organic waste compost can increase rapid available phosphorus content in soil apparently. 
(4) The effect on the calcium content of the soil in mulching area in peach orchard  
The calcium element in the soil is one of the most elements to ensure the soil fertility. The loss of calcium will 
worsen the soil tilth, influence the soil quality and then have a bad effect on crop yield. 

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Figure 3: The effect of different organic compost mulching on the calcium content of soil in mulching area in 
peach orchard 

It is known from figure 3 that calcium content of CK group is higher than that of other groups’ because calcium 
fertilizer was used. When compost substrate of organic waste was added to the soil, calcium content of the 
soil was increased. And the calcium content of different groups was insignificant because calcium content in 
chicken manure and cow dung is high. The sequence of calcium content in soil of different groups is 
FBC>SMC>FSC >CBC>CSC>BSC>CK. 

3.2 The effect of different organic compost mulching on peach tree roots 
(1)The effect on the different diameter dry root weight and root density of peach trees(see Table 3) 

Table 3: The effect of different organic compost on the different diameter dry root weight and root density of 
peach trees 

Number Different diameter dry root weight(
3−⋅ mg ) Root density 

(
3−⋅ mg ) <1mm 1-2mm 2-5mm 

FBC 21.7 19.0 15.7 51.2 
CBC 19.4 14.1 13.6 41.3 
FSC 20.2 17.7 14.5 49.4 
CSC 17.7 15.4 12.4 44.5 
SMC 12.7 11.8 10.0 32.5 
BSC 11.5 10.7 9.5 30.7 
CK 7.1 8.8 8.1 23.3 
 
From Table 3, we can see that the plant roots that having been processed by various compost substrate has 
increased in number and root density. It shows that after mulching by organic waste compost substrate, the 
peach roots number has been increased, and the density has been enlarged. The surviving ability has been 
strengthened. 
(2) The effect on the root activity of the peach tree 
Root activity is an important index to value the root function (Zhang et al., 2015). After mulching different 
organic waste compost substrate, sampling the plants roots processed in different ways to evaluate the root 
activity. The results showed that the methods of fowl manure and bark compost(FBC) and fowl manure and 
saw dust compost (FSC) had the most effective influence on the root activity. The sequence of influence 
strength of other groups is FBC＞FSC＞CBC＞CSC＞BSC＞SMC＞CK, which reflects that different waste 
compost substrate mulched in the soil can boost the root activity of the peach tree and promote the absorption 
of water and nutrition. 

3.3 The effect of different years of organic compost mulching on the soil in apple orchard 
(1) The effect on the moisture content of the soil of the apple orchard 
Figure 4 shows that different years of organic compost mulching on the soil can decrease the evaporation of 
water in soil and thus to increase the moisture content of it. On one hand, along with the ever-increasing of the 
years of mulching, the soil moisture content kept increasing. The main reason is that with the increasing of 
mulching years of the organic waste compost substrate, the granular structure of the soil has been changed 
and the moisture conservation ability of the soil has been enhanced.  

382



 

Figure 4: The effect of different years of organic compost mulching on the moisture content of soil in apple 
orchard 

(2) The effect on the soil bulk density of the apple orchard 

 

Figure 5: The effect of different years of organic compost mulching on soil bulk density in the apple orchard 

From Figure 5, it can be seen that organic waste compost can improve soil pore space, decrease soil bulk 
density and promote the formation of granular structure, as well as enlarge the soil porosity, playing an 
effective way in improving the soil property. (Zhang and Wang, 2014) 
(3) The effect on the soil organic material in apple orchard (see Table 4) 

Table 4: The effect of different years of organic compost mulching on soil organic material in the apple orchard 

Number Organic material content(
1−⋅ kgg ) 

0-20cm 20-40cm 
CK 22.5 15.1 
Y-1 42.3 26.2 
Y-2 51.9 25.3 
Y-3 64.7 33.7 
 
From the figure in the Table above, it can be seen that, comparing with the contrast group, the organic 
material content of the other three groups has been increased obviously, and along with the increasing of 
years, the organic content kept increasing. The reason refers to the organic waste compost substrate are just 
mulched on the soil surface, the remain soil cannot be decomposed apart from the surface that contacting with 
the substrate. 
 
 

3.4 The effect of different years of organic compost mulching on apple quality 
From the data showed in the above Table, we can know that along with the increasing of years of organic 
compost mulching, the weight of single fruit of the experimental groups has increased. Meanwhile the fruit 
firmness is another important index of the fruit quality and rank. From the fact mentioned above, along with the 
increasing of mulching years of the organic waste compost substrate, the fruit quality can be increased.  

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Table 5: The effect of different years of organic compost mulching on apple quality 

Number Weight of single fruit g Fruit firmness(
2−⋅ cmkg ) 

CK 97.4 11.7 
Y-1 132.4 11.1 
Y-2 140.3 11.4 
Y-3 180.2 10.1 

4. Conclusion 
The experimental result shows that, the mulching of organic compost do play a significant role in improving the 
soil quality, increasing the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil evidently(Bennett and 
Holman 2013). Mulching organic compost on crops can effectively increase the water content in the soil and 
strengthen the power of locking water, thus ensure the nutrient content in the soil. in various organic compost, 
there are different micro-elements like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, when mulching them on crops, 
they can permeate in the soil through rainfall. In this way, the nutrient elements in the soil are increased, and 
thus the crp can have enough nutrient and well living environment (Mao et al, 2012). The effect and influence 
of various organic compost mulching on orchard soil property are discussed here, to improve soil ecological 
structure, utilize and circulate wastes resource rationally and increase the reservoir storage of orchard. The 
results showed that different organic waste compost substrate all play significant roles in boosting the growth 
of fruit trees (Eickenscheidt et al, 2015). Through the mulching of organic waste compost substrate, the 
nutrients in them were subtracted by the plants roots, which is good for the accumulation of carbohydrate in 
the plants, and also for increasing the number and activity of the roots. It does good to maintain the normal 
metabolism of the cells. 
In all, mulching organic waste compost substrate in orchard can improve the soil property and structure, 
increase the soil fertility and keep the water content of the soil, as well as boost the nutrients absorption and 
utilization of the fruit trees and strengthen the tree nutrients, thus to improve the fruit quality and output, 
accelerate the sustainable development of Chinese agriculture.  

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