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Purpose <p>Orchard intensification sustains high pear yields in China. However, these practices have resulted in soil degradation and imbalances in soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N). We tested whether grass-legume cover crops can reconfigure soil microbial communities and functions to support SOC and N management in pear orchards.</p> Methods <p>A two cover cropping cycles field study was conducted to evaluate the effects of clean tillage, cover crop monoculture (Ryegrass, Clover, Lucerne), and mixed cultures (Ryegrass + Clover, Ryegrass + Lucerne) on microbial communities and SOC and N stocks in pear orchard alleys.</p> Results <p>Compared to clean tillage, Lucerne and mixed cultures reduced soil pH. Lucerne also increased soil available phosphorus by 60.0%. In addition, Ryegrass + Lucerne and Clover increased SOC content by 21.1% and 24.3%, respectively. Under cover cropping, although the microbial network became more complex with a greater number of nodes, overall microbial diversity decreased, characterized by a reduction in r-strategists and a rise in K-strategists, with this trend being particularly pronounced in mixed cover crop cultures. Lucerne and Ryegrass + Lucerne had greater impacts on microbial functions associated with organic matter degradation and nitrogen transformation than other treatments. The PLS-PM analysis revealed cover cropping affected SOC and N stocks both directly through residue inputs and indirectly by modifying soil properties and microbial diversity, interaction and functions.</p> Conclusions <p>Cover crops regulate SOC and N through residue inputs and assembly of microbial communities and functions, the use of complementary rooting mixtures (e.g., Lucerne + Ryegrass) is a promising soil management approach. Long-term trials are needed to monitor changes in SOC and N stocks.</p>

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Microbial life strategies in grass-legume intercropping with pear: implications for soil carbon and nitrogen management

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月10日

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  • Yingdong Zhao,
  • Shengjie Wang,
  • Ling Zhang,
  • Yabo Wang,
  • Jing Ma,
  • Xiaozhi Wang,
  • Qiao Xu

摘要

Purpose

Orchard intensification sustains high pear yields in China. However, these practices have resulted in soil degradation and imbalances in soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N). We tested whether grass-legume cover crops can reconfigure soil microbial communities and functions to support SOC and N management in pear orchards.

Methods

A two cover cropping cycles field study was conducted to evaluate the effects of clean tillage, cover crop monoculture (Ryegrass, Clover, Lucerne), and mixed cultures (Ryegrass + Clover, Ryegrass + Lucerne) on microbial communities and SOC and N stocks in pear orchard alleys.

Results

Compared to clean tillage, Lucerne and mixed cultures reduced soil pH. Lucerne also increased soil available phosphorus by 60.0%. In addition, Ryegrass + Lucerne and Clover increased SOC content by 21.1% and 24.3%, respectively. Under cover cropping, although the microbial network became more complex with a greater number of nodes, overall microbial diversity decreased, characterized by a reduction in r-strategists and a rise in K-strategists, with this trend being particularly pronounced in mixed cover crop cultures. Lucerne and Ryegrass + Lucerne had greater impacts on microbial functions associated with organic matter degradation and nitrogen transformation than other treatments. The PLS-PM analysis revealed cover cropping affected SOC and N stocks both directly through residue inputs and indirectly by modifying soil properties and microbial diversity, interaction and functions.

Conclusions

Cover crops regulate SOC and N through residue inputs and assembly of microbial communities and functions, the use of complementary rooting mixtures (e.g., Lucerne + Ryegrass) is a promising soil management approach. Long-term trials are needed to monitor changes in SOC and N stocks.