Table_1_Intercropping Walnut and Tea: Effects on Soil Nutrients, Enzyme Activity, and Microbial Communities.DOCX

The practice of intercropping, which involves growing more than one crop simultaneously during the same growing season, is becoming more important for increasing soil quality, land-use efficiency, and subsequently crop productivity. The present study examined changes in soil physicochemical properties, enzymatic activity, and microbial community composition when walnut (Juglans spp.) was intercropped with tea (Camellia sinensis L.) plants in a forest and compared with a walnut and tea monocropping system. The results showed that walnut–tea intercropping improved the soil nutrient profile and enzymatic activity. The soil available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), organic matter (OM) content, and sucrase activity were significantly boosted in intercropped walnut and tea than in monocropping forests. The interaction between crops further increased bacterial and fungal diversity when compared to monoculture tea forests. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Chlamydiae, Rozellomycota, and Zoopagomycota were found in greater abundance in an intercropping pattern than in monoculture walnut and tea forest plantations. The walnut–tea intercropping system also markedly impacted the abundance of several bacterial and fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which were previously shown to support nutrient cycling, prevent diseases, and ameliorate abiotic stress. The results of this study suggest that intercropping walnut with tea increased host fitness and growth by positively influencing soil microbial populations.

间作（intercropping）指在同一生长季同时种植多种作物的耕作方式，其对于提升土壤质量、土地利用效率，进而提高作物生产力的重要性日益凸显。本研究考察了核桃属（Juglans spp.）与茶树（Camellia sinensis L.）林间间作模式下的土壤理化性质、酶活性及微生物群落组成变化，并与单作核桃林、单作茶园系统进行了对比。研究结果显示，核桃-茶间作模式可改善土壤养分状况与酶活性：与单作林相比，间作核桃与茶树的土壤有效氮（AN）、有效磷（AP）、有效钾（AK）、有机质（OM）含量及蔗糖酶活性均显著提升。相较于单作茶园，作物间的互作进一步提升了细菌与真菌群落多样性。间作模式下，变形菌门（Proteobacteria）、拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）、厚壁菌门（Firmicutes）、衣原体门（Chlamydiae）、罗兹菌门（Rozellomycota）及捕虫霉门（Zoopagomycota）的菌群丰度均显著高于单作核桃林与单作茶园。核桃-茶间作系统还显著影响了若干细菌与真菌操作分类单元（operational taxonomic units, OTUs）的丰度，此类单元此前被证实可促进养分循环、抵御病害并缓解非生物胁迫。本研究结果表明，核桃与茶树间作可通过正向调控土壤微生物群落，提升宿主适应性与植株生长量。