Effect of Different Mulching Practices on Bacterial Community Composition and Fruit Quality in a Citrus Orchard

Summary

Citrus fruit, the most abundant global fruit, is primarily concentrated in China. Mulching techniques have demonstrated a favorable effect on the soil’s hydrothermal environment, resulting in enhanced plant growth, yield, and quality. Nevertheless, the impact of mulching on the soil microbiome and fruit quality of Beni Madonna tangor (Citrus nanko × C. amakusa) remains unknown. This study aimed to examine the impact of different mulching techniques, namely traditional flat planting (CK), reflective film mulching (RM), black film mulching (BM), corn stalk mulching (CS), green film mulching (GM), and transparent plastic film mulching (TM), on the bacterial diversity, composition, cooccurrence networks, and bulk soil assembly during the ripening stage of Beni Madonna tangor. The various treat