Soybean green manure intercropping improves citrus quality by improving soil quality and altering microbial communities

This study demonstrates that SGM intercropping enhances fruit quality through dual mechanisms: (1) amelioration of soil properties (pH elevation and improved nutrient availability), and (2) functional restructuring of microbial communities. Notably, specific taxa such as Actinobacteria play pivotal roles in nutrient cycling. Our findings provide empirical evidence for microbiome-mediated optimization of soil functionality, offering a sustainable rehabilitation strategy for degraded orchards and reinforcing the scientific value of ecological intensification in perennial cropping systems.