Effects of abandoned pear branches returning to fields on soil and pear trees

To investigate effects of pear branches returning to field on soil physicochemical properties, soil enzyme activity, and pear tree growth and development, field experiments were conducted．Experiment included a control treatment（CK）, a low-dose returning treatment（T₁, 4 kg/plant）, a standard-dose returning treatment（T₂, 8 kg/plant）, and a high-dose returning treatment（T₃, 12 kg/plant）．Results showed that T₁ and T₂ treatments significantly increased soil pH, organic matter content, and soil enzyme activity, while T₃ treatment increased soil potassium and phosphorus availability, decreased soil pH and nitrogen accumulation．T₁ treatment promoted new shoot growth in pear trees, while T₂ treatment yielded in the highest single-fruit weight, which increased by 35.3% compared to control treatment．Soil organic matter content and urease activity were significantly positively correlated with single-fruit weight．Research showed that moderate returning to field（8 kg/plant）could optimize soil function, promote pear tree growth, and improve fruit quality, while excessive returning to field produced adverse effects．