Asymmetric responses of soil multifunctionality to black ground fabric mulching of different Camellia oleifera Abel. varieties

Camellia ( Camellia oleifera Abel.) plantations productivity could be maintained by mulching. However, the impacts of mulching on soil and ecosystem multifunctionalities of camellia are poorly assessed. A field trial was completed to investigate how mulching affected soil and ecosystem multifunctionalities by regulating soil nutrient cycle, bacterial communities and plant characteristics in an intensively managed camellia plantation. In this study, three different camellia varieties (Ganshi 84-8, GS84-8; Ganxing 48, GX48; and Changlin 40, CL40) were selected, and three different mulching practices were conducted: CK, control without mulching; CM, coconut shell mulching; and WBF, black ground fabric mulching. The multifunctionalities of soil and ecosystem was enhanced by 10.39 % and 23.60 % in the CM treatment of GS84–8, respectively, relative to the CK treatment. Although soil and ecosystem multifunctionalities in the WBF treatment were significantly enhanced by 10.70 % and 23.46 % of GS84–8, reduced by 10.56 % and 23.94 % of CL40, relative to the CK treatment, respectively. Significant reduction of soil pH and changes in soil bacterial community structures were observed in the WBF treatment, compared to the CK treatment. At 0–20 cm, the nodes and edges of bacterial community co-occurrence networks in the WBF treatment of CL40 were significantly reduced by 28.34 % and 36.03 %, respectively, relative to the CK treatment. In conclusion, the multifunctionalities of soil and ecosystem were enhanced of GS84–8 but reduced of CL40 after black ground fabric mulching application. Our results suggested that black ground fabric mulching may not be a universally beneficial practice and should be carefully considered based on the specific camellia variety being cultivated. • WBF had opposite results on soil multifunctionality of different camellia varieties. • WBF decreased pH by enriched biomarkers of Acidothermaceae and Acidothermus . • WBF reshaped bacterial community structure, rather than the CM. • Soil multifunctionality was driven by SOC, NH 4 + -N and Verrucomicrobiota . • Ecosystem multifunctionality was driven by SOC, NH 4 + -N and Gemmatimonadota .