In order to study the effect of different fruit-crop compound managements on soil physiochemical properties and soil-water conservation in apple orchard in the gully region of plateau, and to screen dominant factors for soil-water conservation, four fruit-crop compound managements including artificial weeding (M0), Malus-Trifolium (M1), Malus-Wild (M2) and Malus-Zea (M3) were set up as treatments in Mafang plateau, Shaanxi Province. The differences on soil physiochemical characteristics under the treatments of four fruit-crop compound managements were compared and the soil-water conservation function was evaluated. Stepwise regression analysis and path analysis were used to explore the dominant factors affecting soil-water conservation function. The results showed that the soil physiochemical properties, such as soil density, porosity, water-holding capacity, and nutrient content in M1, M2 and M3 were higher than those of the artificial weeding plots. Among them, the soil bulk density scores of M1, M2 and M3 were reduced by 15.13%, 11.84% and 11.18%, respectively, compared with the artificial weeding plot. The organic matter contents increased by 143.76%, 7.14% and 120.46%, respectively. Soil-water conservation function for four fruit-crop managements was ranked as M1 (0.64) > M3 (0.59) > M2 (0.51) > M0 (0.38). Stepwise regression analysis showed that total porosity, bulk density and organic matter content were the main factors affecting soil-water conservation function. Three soil factors could explain 95% of the variation of soil-water conservation function. Path analysis showed that total porosity was the main deciding factor, and bulk density was the main limiting factor of soil water conservation function. The results of this article could provide a scientific basis for the selection of sustainable soil management in apple orchards in the gully region of plateau.