Assessment of Soil Health Using Nematode Communities in Tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] Plantations of Rize, Türkiye

In this study soil health in tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] plantations of Rize Province, Türkiye, was assessed by analyzing nematode community structure and calculating ecological indices and metabolic footprints. On this purpose a survey was carried out in tea growing areas and soil samples were collected from tea growing areas. The nematodes isolated from these soils were identified. Key indicators included the Maturity Index (MI= 2.45), Plant Parasitic Index (PPI= 2.83), and Sigma Maturity Index (ΣMI= 2.56). A total of 36 nematode genera were identified, comprising 13 plant-parasitic and 23 free-living genera. The nematode community was predominantly composed of bacterivores and plant-parasitic taxa, each representing 36.1% of the total population. Omnivores accounted for 16.6%, while fungal feeders and predators each comprised 5.6%. Functional indices reflected a moderately structured and enriched soil food web, with an Enrichment Index of 63.89, Structure Index of 68.16, Basal Index of 16.06, and Channel Index of 24.81. Metabolic footprint analysis revealed a relatively high Composite Footprint, driven primarily by bacterivore and predator contributions, demonstrating active trophic interactions and moderate soil biodiversity. In the soil food web structure a majority of samples were located in the upper-right quadrant, typically reflecting nematode assemblages found in nutrient-enriched and structurally stable soils.