Enhancing Soil Phosphorus and Potassium Availability in Tea Plantation: The Role of Biochar, PGPR, and Phosphorus- and Potassium-Bearing Minerals
The co-application of biochar, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and phosphorus- and potassium-bearing minerals has emerged as a promising strategy for improving soil nutrient availability. However, the synergistic effects and impact factors that facilitate this optimization are yet to be...
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2025-05-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/6/1287 |
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| author | Wen Wei Kunyu Li Changjun Li Siyu Wang Lulu Li Jinchuan Xie Ting Li Zijun Zhou Shirong Zhang Yulin Pu Yongxia Jia Xiaojing Liu Xiaoxun Xu Guiyin Wang |
| author_facet | Wen Wei Kunyu Li Changjun Li Siyu Wang Lulu Li Jinchuan Xie Ting Li Zijun Zhou Shirong Zhang Yulin Pu Yongxia Jia Xiaojing Liu Xiaoxun Xu Guiyin Wang |
| author_sort | Wen Wei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The co-application of biochar, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and phosphorus- and potassium-bearing minerals has emerged as a promising strategy for improving soil nutrient availability. However, the synergistic effects and impact factors that facilitate this optimization are yet to be fully elucidated. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a pot experiment to evaluate the effects of these amendments on tea yield and phosphorus (P)/potassium (K) availability, while employing Random Forest (RF) and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to reveal the underlying mechanisms driving these improvements. The results demonstrated that the tripartite combination significantly enhanced tea yield, leaf P/K concentrations, and soil available P (AP)/available K (AK) levels compared to individual applications or pairwise combinations. Analytical modeling identified <i>Chloroflexi</i> bacteria containing <i>pqqc</i> functional genes as key drivers of AP enhancement. The AP was further modulated by β-glucosidase activity, NaHCO<sub>3</sub>-P, and AK levels. Critical determinants of AK dynamics included phosphorus-solubilizing bacterial populations, catalase activity, and fundamental soil chemical properties. In summary, our research conclusively shows that the co-application of phosphorus- and potassium-bearing minerals, PGPR, and biochar represents an effective approach to enhancing P and K accessibility in soil, thereby offering a viable alternative to conventional P and K fertilizers in tea cultivation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-24e192b3b9404452b63bed45461995e9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj-art-24e192b3b9404452b63bed45461995e92025-08-20T03:26:16ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-05-01156128710.3390/agronomy15061287Enhancing Soil Phosphorus and Potassium Availability in Tea Plantation: The Role of Biochar, PGPR, and Phosphorus- and Potassium-Bearing MineralsWen Wei0Kunyu Li1Changjun Li2Siyu Wang3Lulu Li4Jinchuan Xie5Ting Li6Zijun Zhou7Shirong Zhang8Yulin Pu9Yongxia Jia10Xiaojing Liu11Xiaoxun Xu12Guiyin Wang13College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaSoil and Fertilizer Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610066, ChinaCollege of Environmental Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Environmental Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Environmental Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaThe co-application of biochar, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and phosphorus- and potassium-bearing minerals has emerged as a promising strategy for improving soil nutrient availability. However, the synergistic effects and impact factors that facilitate this optimization are yet to be fully elucidated. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a pot experiment to evaluate the effects of these amendments on tea yield and phosphorus (P)/potassium (K) availability, while employing Random Forest (RF) and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to reveal the underlying mechanisms driving these improvements. The results demonstrated that the tripartite combination significantly enhanced tea yield, leaf P/K concentrations, and soil available P (AP)/available K (AK) levels compared to individual applications or pairwise combinations. Analytical modeling identified <i>Chloroflexi</i> bacteria containing <i>pqqc</i> functional genes as key drivers of AP enhancement. The AP was further modulated by β-glucosidase activity, NaHCO<sub>3</sub>-P, and AK levels. Critical determinants of AK dynamics included phosphorus-solubilizing bacterial populations, catalase activity, and fundamental soil chemical properties. In summary, our research conclusively shows that the co-application of phosphorus- and potassium-bearing minerals, PGPR, and biochar represents an effective approach to enhancing P and K accessibility in soil, thereby offering a viable alternative to conventional P and K fertilizers in tea cultivation.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/6/1287nutrient availabilitytea yieldrandom forestpartial least squares structural equation modelinginfluencing factors |
| spellingShingle | Wen Wei Kunyu Li Changjun Li Siyu Wang Lulu Li Jinchuan Xie Ting Li Zijun Zhou Shirong Zhang Yulin Pu Yongxia Jia Xiaojing Liu Xiaoxun Xu Guiyin Wang Enhancing Soil Phosphorus and Potassium Availability in Tea Plantation: The Role of Biochar, PGPR, and Phosphorus- and Potassium-Bearing Minerals Agronomy nutrient availability tea yield random forest partial least squares structural equation modeling influencing factors |
| title | Enhancing Soil Phosphorus and Potassium Availability in Tea Plantation: The Role of Biochar, PGPR, and Phosphorus- and Potassium-Bearing Minerals |
| title_full | Enhancing Soil Phosphorus and Potassium Availability in Tea Plantation: The Role of Biochar, PGPR, and Phosphorus- and Potassium-Bearing Minerals |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing Soil Phosphorus and Potassium Availability in Tea Plantation: The Role of Biochar, PGPR, and Phosphorus- and Potassium-Bearing Minerals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing Soil Phosphorus and Potassium Availability in Tea Plantation: The Role of Biochar, PGPR, and Phosphorus- and Potassium-Bearing Minerals |
| title_short | Enhancing Soil Phosphorus and Potassium Availability in Tea Plantation: The Role of Biochar, PGPR, and Phosphorus- and Potassium-Bearing Minerals |
| title_sort | enhancing soil phosphorus and potassium availability in tea plantation the role of biochar pgpr and phosphorus and potassium bearing minerals |
| topic | nutrient availability tea yield random forest partial least squares structural equation modeling influencing factors |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/6/1287 |
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