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To understand the response of grape (Hutai No.8) quality and soil respiration (Rs) to different soil relative water contents (SRWCs), this study was designed with three soil moisture levels (A: 80-95%, B: 60-75%, and C: 40-55% of SRWC) for grape cultivation. Meanwhile, environmental factors, including air temperature (Ta), air relative humidity, and light intensity, were also recorded. The results showed the following: (1) Through the comprehensive analysis of fruit quality by the method of subordinate function, we concluded that the optimum soil moisture treatment was 60-75% SRWC, and the soluble sugars, proanthocyanidin, and resveratrol were most abundant. In addition, vitamin C (Vc) content was the largest under C treatment. (2) Photosynthetic characteristic under high soil moisture was better than those under low soil moisture condition during grape coloring periods, and it was largest under A treatment in 2015. Rs rate was in accordance with the trend of grape photosynthesis. High soil moisture could accelerate the photosynthetic rate of grape leaves and increase Rs. (3) Correlation analysis showed that higher soil moisture and air humidity and lower soil temperature (Ts) and Ta could promote the accumulation of more nutrients in grape berries; it also could increase photosynthetic rate and Rs during grape coloring periods. In conclusion, 60-75% SRWC was the optimum soil moisture condition, which could improve the nutrient contents and accumulate more bioactive substances. Of course, keeping a lower Ts and Ta, as well as higher air humidity, was also necessary. Abbreviations: SRWC: soil relative water content; A, 90-95% SRWC; B, 70-75% SRWC; C, 40-55% SRWC; Rs: soil respiration; Ta: air temperature; Ts: soil temperature; OPC: proanthocyanidin; TSS: total soluble solids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil degradation resulting from recropping of greenhouse-cultivated cucumber (Cucumis statirus L.) has become a serious problem for production. The objective was to determine the soil degradation processes and make suggestions for prevention. Experiments were conducted in a solar greenhouse 4.0 m long and 0.7 m wide during 2001–2005 in northern China. In 2001, every fourth plot was filled with continuously cropped typical sandy soils from the winter–spring cucumber season for 0, 1, 4, or 8 years, respectively. Soil particle composition, nutrient content, and species of soil microbes were analyzed. A grafted cucumber with squash root was transplanted to the continuously cropped soil. Results indicated that cucumber fruit productivity increased with increases of recropping year up to the fourth year and then decreased thereafter with continuous cropping. Soil particle percentages did not change significantly as recropping years increased. Soil nutrients were not the main factor for decreased productivity. As the number of recropping years increased, the soil available nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), available potassium (K), and organic content increased. The soil bacteria and fungi increased after 3 or 5 years of recropping, and soil actinomycetes decreased significantly after 5 years of recropping. The ratio of bacteria–fungi–actinomycetes changed, populations of fungi and bacteria increased, and the ratio of actinomycetes decreased, which led to an increase in the occurrence of pathogenic and soil-borne microbes and a decrease in fruit productivity, which were assumed to be the main factors of soil degradation. To stop recropping from influencing populations of fungi, bacteria, and actinomycetes, recropping should not be utilized after 4 years of recropping in order to continue with vegetable productivity in greenhouses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]