In Aksu, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwestern China-a representative arid region with low precipitation and alkaline infertile soils-'Dinosaur Egg' pluot (Prunus domestica x Prunus armeniaca) is an economically important horticultural crop for local farmers. To develop a region-adapted fertilization regime, we evaluated five integrated fertilization treatments (conventional fertilization as control, CK; four combinations of increasing drip irrigation fertilizer rates and decreasing foliar fertilizer dilutions) on leaf photosynthetic parameters and fruit quality of pluots. The four treatments were 10, 20, 30, and 40 kg mu(-1) drip irrigation fertilizer paired with 1200-, 1000-, 800-, and 600-fold foliar fertilizer, respectively. Photosynthetic parameters (intercellular CO2 concentration, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate) were quantified at fruit development stages, and fruit quality traits (firmness, soluble solids content, vitamin C, sugar-acid ratio) were determined at commercial ripeness. With three replicate plots per treatment (three trees per plot, 45 trees total), data were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and Duncan's multiple range test (P < 0.05). Treatment 3 (30 kg mu(-1) + 800-fold) had the highest fruit firmness (21.12 +/- 3.58 N), soluble solids content (24.93% +/- 1.54%), and PCA comprehensive quality score (1.03), significantly enhancing photosynthetic assimilate production and partitioning (P < 0.05). Its superior field performance implies potential improved stress tolerance, yet this needs validation with physiological assays. Treatment 1 (10 kg mu(-1) + 1200-fold) promoted secondary metabolite accumulation (vitamin C: 18.70 +/- 0.46 mg 100 g(-1)), whereas treatment 4 (40 kg mu(-1) + 600-fold) induced fruit expansion but nutrient imbalance, limiting flavor synthesis. These find-ings identify treatment 3 as the optimal integrated fertilization strategy for pluot cultivation in Aksu, boosting grower profitability. All conclusions are treatment specific, as the study only assessed combined drip and foliar fertilizer effects.