Intercropping of Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) and Chinese Chestnut: Variation in the Structure of Rhizosphere Bacterial Communities

Abstract

This study was to determine the composition and diversity of soil microbial communities and evaluate the effect of intercropping on soil fertility in the tea-Chinese chestnut intercropping system. The Illumina platform was used to characterize the rhizosphere bacteria in the intercropping systems. The rhizospheric soil in intercropping systems in fall was enriched in soil organic matter, available phosphorus, and available potassium, and these were positively correlated with several bacterial taxa including Chloroflexi, WPS-2, Bacteroidota, Myxococcota, Bacteroidota, and Patescibacteria. These bacteria permitted the tea plants to obtain sufficient amounts of nutrients from the soil. In spring, the total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total potassium of the intercropping system of tea and Chinese chestnut planted in the 1980s (80 T) increased, and these nutrients were positively correlated with Myxococcota, Latescibacterota, Bacteroidota, Deinococcota, Bdellovibrionota, SAR324 Clade (Marine Group B), and Patescibacerlai. In addition, several bacteria (Geobacter, Halomonas, Luteolibacter, Adhaeribacter, and Paludibaculum) contained in the 80 T sample in spring and fall were determined to be beneficial for the soil based on previous studies. The effects of intercropping and monocropping on soils were more complex in spring compared to those with fall, and Chinese chestnut tree age had a strong effect on soil. Our results highlight the need to fully consider factors such as tree age and season in the design of intercropping systems as well as collect additional data for scientific applications of intercropping systems.

Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on the Growth of Malus hupehensis Rehd. Seedlings

“…There were significant differences in the relative abundances of Myxococcota, Cyanobacteria and Verrucomicrobiota among the treatments. A previous study has demonstrated that some bacteria, such as Patescibacteria, Chloroflexi, Myxococcota and Bacteroidota, allow tea plants to obtain sufficient nutrients from the soil (Wu et al, 2021). Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic bacteria that are a fundamental component of soil biocrusts, as well as enhance soil function and structure and promote plant growth (Chua et al, 2020).…”

Tea plant–legume intercropping simultaneously improves soil fertility and tea quality by changing Bacillus species composition

“…Compared with monoculture, intercropping improves soil fertility and plant diversity, reduces weeds, and improves light interception and utilization [ 8 , 9 ]. Tea plants are perennial shrubs, and intercropping with other plants such as chestnut and legumes has been developed in a wide range of forms and applied in different tea gardens [ 10 , 11 ]. In some intercropping systems, intercropped plants may compete for soil N, and the yield and/or tea quality may be adversely affected.…”

Pea-Tea Intercropping Improves Tea Quality through Regulating Amino Acid Metabolism and Flavonoid Biosynthesis

“…In addition, some other protective factors, such as allantoic acid, sugars, and unsaturated fatty acids, were higher in Chinese chestnut intercropped tea than mono-cropped tea [ 1 ]. Meanwhile, the soil nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and organic matter, were increased in the Chinese chestnut-tea intercropping field, and some beneficial bacteria were enriched in the intercropped soil [ 2 ]. In the rubber intercropped tea garden, the land expectation value was significantly higher than that in rubber or tea mono-cropped gardens, and the prices for rubber and tea were also improved [ 3 ].…”