Fertilization differences alter the diversity and function of tea plant rhizosphere soil microbial communities, thus affecting tea plant growth

Qi Zhang^1*Songhan Guo²Yulin Wang²Yankun Liao²Xiaoli Jia¹Bitong Zhu¹Qiqi Weng²Wang Haibin²Jianghua Ye¹

• ¹Wuyi University, Wuyishan, China
• ²Longyan University, Longyan, China

Fertilization is one of the main agronomic measures in tea plantation management, but the effects of different fertilization patterns on the structure, function, and growth of tea plant rhizosphere soil microbial communities are still unclear. This study compared the effects of 100% chemical fertilizer (CF), 50% chemical fertilizer + 50% organic fertilizer (COF), and 100% organic fertilizer (OF) treatments on tea plant growth and rhizosphere soil microorganisms, revealing the synergistic effects of combined chemical and organic fertilizer application and their microbiological mechanisms. The results showed that the COF treatment significantly increased chlorophyll content (30.47 SPAD), leaf area (18.76 cm2), and hundred-bud weight (18.22 g) in tea plant leaves, performing significantly better than the single fertilizer treatments. Soil microbial analysis revealed that while COF treatment significantly increased microbial biomass carbon (151.05 mg/kg) and phosphorus (105.56 mg/kg), CF treatment was more conducive to accumulating microbial biomass nitrogen (130.47 mg/kg). High-throughput sequencing indicated that COF treatment exerted the strongest impact on bacterial community structure, while OF treatment enhanced the migration rate and α diversity of both bacteria and fungi. Different fertilization treatments primarily altered the abundance of key microorganisms Opitutus and Coccocarpia, thereby influencing microbial fermentation and lichenized functions. Compared to the treatment of single fertilizers, the combined chemical and organic fertilizers increased the abundance of the characteristic fungus Coccocarpia in tea plant rhizosphere soil, reduced the abundance of the characteristic bacterium Opitutus, promoted soil lichenized functions while reducing fermentation functions. This, in turn, enhanced the accumulation of soil microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, ultimately promoting tea plant growth. It is suggested that when fertilizing tea plantations, the COF can be further optimized to obtain better ratios. This study provides a theoretical basis for scientific fertilization management to regulate tea plant growth in tea plantations.