Fig 4. 0–200 cm soil water storage in each stage for 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Lowercase letters denote significant differences between PC and PGC for the inter-row or in-row (p ≤ 0.05). “*” indicates that the differences between the inter-row and in-row (connected by lines) of the PC or PGC treatment were significant (p ≤ 0.05). Bud formation means the bud formation stage of apple trees (in late March). Before sowing the cover crop refers to the time before sowing the rape (in mid-June). The apple harvest always occurs in early October in this region. Error bars were the standard deviations.