Multivariate analysis of relationship between soil nutrients and fruit quality in ‘Donghong’ kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis) orchards

Soil nutrients and fruit quality were determined for 32 ‘Donghong’ kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis) orchards. Canonical correlation analysis and linear regression were used to screen the major soil nutrient elements affecting fruit quality and to determine existing soil problems in the surveyed orchards. Canonical correlation analysis showed that at-harvest dry matter, at-softening soluble solids content, and titratable acid were mainly affected by soil organic matter; at-softening hue angle was mainly affected by soil alkaline N, olsen-K, and available S; at-softening firmness was mainly affected by soil olsen-K and exchangeable Ca; at-softening soluble sugar was mainly affected by olsen-K and available S. Hence, soil organic matter was the most important impact factor on fruit quality, including dry matter, soluble solids content, and titratable acid, followed by olsen-K, available S, and alkaline N.