Study on the changes of soil microecology in pear orchards covered with Indian strawberries

ABSTRACT

Indian-strawberry ( Duchesnea indica ) covering (IC) represents an environmentally friendly and cost-effective ‘grass- to-grass’ weed suppression strategy in orchard management, warranting further investigation into its impacts on soil microecology. Soil samples under IC were analysed for nutrient content, microbiome composition, and metabolome profiles to elucidate the effects of snakeberry coverage on soil microbial communities and metabolite dynamics. IC significantly improved soil physicochemical properties, with longer coverage duration yielding more pronounced enhancements. Soil organic matter and available phosphorus showed heightened environmental sensitivity and relatively rapid accumulation rates. IC exerted regulatory influence on soil microbial community structure without altering the dominant taxonomic composition, which remained primarily Proteobacteria and Ascomycota . Metabolites in covered soils were significantly enriched in pathways such as ‘biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites’ with arachidonic acid identified as a potential key metabolite of interest. Overall, IC contributes positively to the regulation of soil microecology and enhancement of soil quality, providing theoretical support for the promotion and application of snakeberry coverage in orchard soil management.