Objective The aim was to clarify the comprehensive soil quality status of wolfberry orchards in the main production area of Jingyuan County, Gansu Province, under different planting durations.

Method Soil samples from two soil layers (0 ~ 20 cm and 20 ~ 40 cm) were collected from low-age orchards (tree age ≤ 4 years, n = 10) and peak-age orchards (tree age ≥ 5 years, n = 18). Seven physical indicators and seven chemical indicators were measured. A minimum dataset (MDS) was established using principal component analysis (PCA) combined with Norm values to evaluate soil quality in orchards with different planting durations.

Result Significant positive correlations (P < 0.01) were observed between the MDS and total dataset (TDS) in both soil layers of low-age and peak-age orchards, confirming the validity of MDS for assessing comprehensive soil quality. The soil quality index (SQI) results showed that in the 0 ~ 20 cm layer, the SQI of low-age orchards was 0.477, while that of peak-age orchards was 0.481. In the 20 ~ 40 cm layer, the SQI values were 0.458 and 0.471 for low-age and peak-age orchards. Overall, soil quality exhibited a trend of peak-age orchards > low-age orchards, though no significant differences were observed between them, with both categorized as moderate. Analysis using the soil obstacle factor diagnosis model revealed no physicochemical constraints limiting soil quality improvement in either soil layer of both orchard types.

Conclusion The soil quality of wolfberry orchards in Jingyuan County was generally favorable. These findings provided valuable insights for sustainable health management, high-yield and high-quality production of wolfberry orchards in the study area.