Scholarlink

Aims <p>Pruning branch mulching can address the challenge of disposing orchard waste branches; however, its regulatory effects on soil microecology remain unclear. This study investigated the impacts of six-year pruning branch mulching in a pear orchard on soil microecology and fruit quality.</p> Methods <p>Soil physicochemical properties, microbial communities, soil transcriptome, soil metabolites, and fruit quality were analyzed under pruning branch mulching. Multi-omics approaches were integrated to elucidate changes in the soil microecological system.</p> Results <p>Pruning branch mulching significantly increased soil nutrients (SOM +49.94%, TN +17.03%, TP +17.95%, AN +30.28%, AP +20.63%, AK +22.57%), enzyme activities (SACP +16.98%, SUE +14.81%), and fruit quality (fructose +11.37%, glucose +19.08%). Although dominant microbial species remained unchanged, mulching modulated community composition by reducing high-abundance taxa (Acidobacteriota −5.35%, Ascomycota −1.16%) and enriching low-abundance ones (Planctomycetota +3.82%, Basidiomycota +1.37%), thereby enhancing community stability. Both bacterial and fungal community assembly were predominantly governed by stochastic processes, yet bacterial stochasticity exhibited an increasing trend while fungal stochasticity showed a decreasing trend. Key metabolic pathways included “Metabolic pathways” and “Biosynthesis of antibiotics,” with critical metabolites identified as 4-guanidinobutanal, theobromine, chorismate, histamine, and D-glucuronic acid 1-phosphate. Six differentially expressed genes were identified, including GM5_TRINITY_DN187820_c0_g1 associated with chorismate regulation and GM2_TRINITY_DN296510_c0_g1 linked to D-glucuronic acid 1-phosphate. Six bacterial microorganisms, including <i>Paraburkholderia caffeinilytica CF1</i> and <i>Paenarthrobacter aurescens TC1</i>, were found to regulate chorismate via chorismate lyase and chorismate synthase. Additionally, mulching reduced diaminochlorotriazine and histamine, suggesting a role in mitigating pesticide residues.</p> Conclusion <p>Pruning branch mulching improves soil microecology and enhances fruit quality while offering a sustainable solution for orchard waste management, representing an effective eco-friendly soil management strategy.</p> Graphical Abstract <p>Changli Fruit Research Institute, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences.</p> <p></p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Mulching with orchard pruning branches exerts positive effects on improving the soil micro-ecological environment and enhancing fruit quality

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月8日

查看全文
  • Minghui Ji,
  • Longfei Li,
  • Jintao Xu,
  • Lijuan Gao,
  • Huan Liu,
  • Yue Yao,
  • Gang Niu,
  • Liyuan Zhang,
  • Baofeng Hao

摘要

Aims

Pruning branch mulching can address the challenge of disposing orchard waste branches; however, its regulatory effects on soil microecology remain unclear. This study investigated the impacts of six-year pruning branch mulching in a pear orchard on soil microecology and fruit quality.

Methods

Soil physicochemical properties, microbial communities, soil transcriptome, soil metabolites, and fruit quality were analyzed under pruning branch mulching. Multi-omics approaches were integrated to elucidate changes in the soil microecological system.

Results

Pruning branch mulching significantly increased soil nutrients (SOM +49.94%, TN +17.03%, TP +17.95%, AN +30.28%, AP +20.63%, AK +22.57%), enzyme activities (SACP +16.98%, SUE +14.81%), and fruit quality (fructose +11.37%, glucose +19.08%). Although dominant microbial species remained unchanged, mulching modulated community composition by reducing high-abundance taxa (Acidobacteriota −5.35%, Ascomycota −1.16%) and enriching low-abundance ones (Planctomycetota +3.82%, Basidiomycota +1.37%), thereby enhancing community stability. Both bacterial and fungal community assembly were predominantly governed by stochastic processes, yet bacterial stochasticity exhibited an increasing trend while fungal stochasticity showed a decreasing trend. Key metabolic pathways included “Metabolic pathways” and “Biosynthesis of antibiotics,” with critical metabolites identified as 4-guanidinobutanal, theobromine, chorismate, histamine, and D-glucuronic acid 1-phosphate. Six differentially expressed genes were identified, including GM5_TRINITY_DN187820_c0_g1 associated with chorismate regulation and GM2_TRINITY_DN296510_c0_g1 linked to D-glucuronic acid 1-phosphate. Six bacterial microorganisms, including Paraburkholderia caffeinilytica CF1 and Paenarthrobacter aurescens TC1, were found to regulate chorismate via chorismate lyase and chorismate synthase. Additionally, mulching reduced diaminochlorotriazine and histamine, suggesting a role in mitigating pesticide residues.

Conclusion

Pruning branch mulching improves soil microecology and enhances fruit quality while offering a sustainable solution for orchard waste management, representing an effective eco-friendly soil management strategy.

Graphical Abstract

Changli Fruit Research Institute, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences.