Abstract: To evaluate effects of canopy on accumulation of N, P, Cu and Zn in sandy agricultural soils, the horizontal variations of soil available N, P, Cu and Zn in a 96 m² plot within a citrus garden in Quzhou City of Zhejiang Province were examined. The spatial distribution of soil nutrients in mature sandy orchard showed obvious heterogeneity. The differences in labile nutrients spatial distributions in the soils were related to the interception of canopy to rainfall, which reduced leaching intensity of the soils under the canopies. The results suggested that it was necessary to consider the variation of available nutrients in citrus garden, when soil samples for chemical analysis were collected and amount of applied fertilizers was recommended.

Key words: canopy, citrus orchard, leaching, nutrients