Abstract: In order to explore the management mode of the apricot orchard and clarify the effects of natural grass on soil fertility,photosynthetic performance and fruit quality, the differences of soil fertility, photosynthetic performance of apricot leaves and fruit quality of fresh apricot were compared by using with natural grass as treatment and clean tillage as the control for three consecutive years. The results showed that, compared with clear tillage treatment, natural grass treatment for three consecutive years increased the contents of organic matter, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen and available potassium in apricot orchard soil, and the effects were most obvious in 0~20 cm soil layer, which increased by 8.88%, 38.17% and 11.72%, respectively. The available P content in soil could be increased, but the difference was not significant. Compared with clear tillage, during the fruit expansion stage the net photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate of leaves under natural grass treatment increased by 10.62% and 9.60%, respectively and the photosynthetic capacity was significantly improved. Soluble solid content of apricot fruit increased by 16.09%, titratable acid content decreased by 7.87%, and fresh food quality was improved obviously. In conclusion, natural grass was suitable for spreading in the apricot orchard, and long-term implementation had the effect of improving quality and efficiency.

Key words: apricot, natural grass, soil fertility, photosynthetic characteristics, fruit quality