Pecan Exocarp Mulching
Description
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of pecan (Carya illinoinensis) exocarp mulching on soil microbial community structure after 12-month treatment, including Cover group (F1,F2,FH3,FS4,FS5) and Uncover group (B1,B2,B3,BS4,BX5). The experiment was conducted in a newly established pecan (Carya illinoinensis) orchard located in Shiling Village, Hangtou Town, Jiande City, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province (29°13'56.9512"N, 119°12'12.9016"E). This new orchard block was established for a cultivar configuration trial; before planting, the site was uniformly cleared, deep-tilled, leveled, and planted. The experimental trees were one-year-old transplants after transplanting, with similar age, vigor, and site conditions. Five independent trees were used per treatment, and each tree was considered an experimental unit. Mulched and unmulched trees were arranged in an alternating and randomized spatial pattern within the same orchard block to balance potential environmental gradients. All trees received identical management, including irrigation, fertilization, weed control, and pest management. In the treatment group, crushed pecan exocarp (pieces <3 cm) was evenly applied within a radius of 1.5 m around the tree trunk, avoiding a 20 cm area around the trunk base, at a thickness of approximately 5–10 cm. The control group was managed conventionally without any exocarp covering. The experiment lasted for 12 months (from Year 1 to Year 2). At the end of the experiment, soil samples were collected from the 20–30 cm depth below the surface within a 1 m radius around the trunk base of each tree. For each replicate, soil from three sampling points was pooled to form one composite sample. After removing stones and debris, the samples were brought to the laboratory. A portion of fresh soil was used for microbial community analysis, and the remaining soil was air-dried for determination of soil physicochemical properties.
Files
Institutions
- Zhejiang Academy of ForestryZhejiang, Hangzhou