Effects of Intercropping Tea Plants with Bamboo Fungus on Soil Physical/Chemical Properties and Microbial Community Diversity

Long-term monoculture of tea plants can harm soil ecosystems, while intercropping is considered a sustainable agricultural strategy that enhances ecological stability. However, the effects of intercropping tea plants with bamboo fungus on their growth remain unclear. This study conducted a field experiment to compare the soil physicochemical properties of tea plants under monoculture and intercropping with bamboo fungus, and assessed microbial community diversity through high-throughput sequencing. Results indicated that intercropping with bamboo fungus significantly improved soil water retention, with soil water-holding capacity and field water-holding capacity increasing by 49.07% and 48.77%, respectively. Soil nutrient availability was notably enhanced, with organic matter, available phosphorus, and available potassium increasing by 22.5%, 80.21%, and 56.13%, respectively. Bacterial community composition shifted markedly under intercropping, with significant enrichment of <i>Gemmatimonadota</i>, <i>Devosia</i>, and <i>Conexibacter</i>. Functional analysis revealed a restructuring of nitrogen cycling processes, characterized by increased nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and nitrogen respiration. Co-occurrence network analysis indicated higher modularity and eigencentrality in intercropped soils, suggesting enhanced microbial interactions and ecological resilience. These findings highlight that bamboo fungus intercropping reshapes soil physicochemical properties and enriches beneficial microbial taxa, thereby offering a sustainable approach to improve soil fertility and ecosystem functionality in tea plantations.