Application of celosia cristata in preparation of soil conditioner and soil conditioner

Abstract

The invention discloses application of leguminous green manure in preparation of a multifunctional soil conditioner for improving soil enzyme activity, relieving soil microbial metabolism limitation and / or enhancing a soil ecosystem. The leguminous green manure is small crown flowers. By means of the controllable decomposition characteristic and specific secretions, the activity of soil carbon (BG and CBH), nitrogen (NAG and LAP) and phosphorus (AKP) circulation key enzymes can be remarkably enhanced, the activity of the AKP is improved by 406%, the activity of the BG is improved by 158%, the microbial carbon limitation is effectively relieved by 12%, and the resource utilization strategy is optimized. The microcelosia cristata treatment can synchronously improve the soil ecological multi-functional index (EMF) and improve the nutrient circulation synergistic efficiency. Compared with the traditional leguminous green manure, the method has the advantages that the improvement effect of the microcelosia cristata in the degraded orchard is more continuous and ecologically adaptive, and an effective and feasible new soil remediation way is provided for agricultural sustainable development.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of soil ecological restoration technology, specifically involving the application of Corona vulgaris in the preparation of soil conditioners and the soil conditioners themselves. Background Technology

[0002] In intensive orchard management, unreasonable practices such as long-term clean cultivation and excessive application of chemical fertilizers lead to soil degradation. The core problems are reduced soil enzyme activity, restricted microbial metabolism, and decreased ecosystem multifunctionality. Soil enzymes (such as β-1,4-glucosidase related to carbon cycling, leucine aminopeptidase related to nitrogen cycling, and alkaline phosphatase related to phosphorus cycling) are key biocatalysts driving nutrient cycling. Insufficient activity of these enzymes directly leads to low efficiency and poor synergy in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling.

[0003] While existing technologies have employed leguminous green manures such as milkvetch and clover to improve soil fertility, they generally suffer from problems such as excessively rapid decomposition of residues, mismatch between nutrient release and soil needs, and lack of targeted activation of specific soil enzymes. This often leads to a rapid decline in nutrient levels after a short-term surge, making it difficult to achieve sustained and stable improvement effects in degraded orchards. Therefore, developing a green manure technology that can precisely regulate the soil microenvironment, target the activity of key enzymes, and provide long-term relief for microbial metabolic limitations has become a pressing technical challenge in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies and provide an application of *Corona vulgaris* in the preparation of soil conditioners, as well as the soil conditioner itself. This invention utilizes a targeted regulation method of *Corona vulgaris*, a leguminous green manure, to enhance soil enzyme activity, alleviate microbial metabolic limitations, and strengthen the multifunctionality of the soil ecosystem. It is particularly suitable for the ecological restoration of degraded orchard soils caused by long-term clean cultivation.

[0005] The specific technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0006] The first objective of this invention is to provide the application of a leguminous green manure in the preparation of a soil conditioner for enhancing soil enzyme activity, alleviating soil microbial metabolic limitations, and / or enhancing the multifunctionality of soil ecosystems, wherein the leguminous green manure is Coronata.

[0007] The soil enzyme activity includes enzyme activities for carbon acquisition, nitrogen acquisition, and phosphorus acquisition.

[0008] The soil enzymes include at least one of β-1,4-glucosidase, cellobiase, leucine aminopeptidase, β-1,4-N-acetylglucosidase, and alkaline phosphatase.

[0009] The soil in question is degraded orchard soil.

[0010] The degraded orchard soil is soil with low enzyme activity and limited microbial metabolism due to long-term clean cultivation.

[0011] The crown vetch is applied by returning the entire plant to the field, and the sowing rate is 30-60 kg / hm². -2 .

[0012] The sowing rate of the crown jasmine was 45 kg·hm². -2 .

[0013] The application includes the following steps:

[0014] (a) Sow crown vetch seeds between rows in the orchard in March or April;

[0015] (b) Harvesting management during the growing season, with stubble height not exceeding 40 cm;

[0016] (c) Cover the harvested biomass with soil between July and September.

[0017] The present invention also provides a soil conditioner comprising plant residues of Corona vulgaris and / or root exudates of Corona vulgaris.

[0018] The soil conditioner is used to enhance soil enzyme activity, alleviate soil microbial metabolic limitations, and / or enhance the multifunctionality of soil ecosystems.

[0019] This invention utilizes leguminous green manure (Corona vulgaris) mulching technology to analyze its effects on the activities of soil carbon-acquired enzymes (BG, CBH), nitrogen-acquired enzymes (NAG, LAP), and phosphorus-acquired enzymes (AKP). It also delves into the enzyme activity-microbiological mechanism and, using in-situ enzymatic profiling, discovers that applying leguminous green manure mulching can stimulate microbial biomass, comprehensively enhancing the activities of these three types of enzymes, thereby altering microbial metabolic limitations. Simultaneously, Corona vulgaris mulching optimizes the synergistic efficiency of soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles, coordinating the dynamic balance between nutrient mineralization and sequestration. This effectively improves the problems of suppressed soil enzyme activity, microbial metabolic limitations, and the inhibition of soil ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF). Specifically addressing the core issues of insufficient carbon cycle enzyme activity, imbalanced nitrogen cycle enzyme function, and poor alkali tolerance of phosphorus cycle enzymes in long-term clean-cultivated degraded orchard soils, this invention achieves an overall improvement in soil enzyme system function by simultaneously activating carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycle enzymes.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial technical effects of this invention are mainly reflected in the following aspects:

[0021] 1. Highly targeted, precisely enhancing the activity of key enzymes. Compared to the broad-spectrum but uneven activation of soil enzyme activity by traditional leguminous green manures (such as milkvetch and clover), this invention discovers that crown vetch can specifically and intensely activate key enzymes in the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles. Experimental data confirms that it increases the activity of alkaline phosphatase (AKP) by up to 406% and the activity of β-1,4-glucosidase (BG) by up to 158%, achieving precise improvement of the core problem of "insufficient enzyme activity" in degraded orchard soils.

[0022] 2. Effectively alleviates microbial metabolic limitations and optimizes soil microecology. This invention overcomes the limitations of traditional green manure, which only provides nutrients. Through the specific secretions and controllable decomposition characteristics of crown vetch, it can significantly alleviate the metabolic limitations of soil microorganisms. Specifically, it reduces the carbon limitation intensity of microorganisms by 12%, effectively regulates the resource allocation strategy of microorganisms, breaks the vicious cycle of "low enzyme activity - poor nutrient conversion - limited microbial metabolism," and fundamentally improves soil ecological function.

[0023] 3. Synergistic effect, significantly improving ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF). Compared with traditional green manure, which easily leads to nutrient cycling imbalance, crown vetch can simultaneously and evenly increase the enzyme activity of the three major cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, enhancing the synergy of nutrient transformation processes. This synergistic effect ultimately translates into a significant increase in the soil ecosystem multifunctionality index (EMF), indicating a systematic improvement in the overall health and stability of the soil.

[0024] 4. The improvement effect is continuous and stable, with better adaptability. Addressing the problem that traditional green manure in degraded orchards suffers from short-lived effects and easily causes soil environmental fluctuations due to rapid decomposition, crown vetch, with its tolerance to poor soil and drought and its controllable decomposition rate, can form a good fit with the microenvironment of degraded orchards, establishing a stable nutrient supply gradient. This results in a more lasting and stable soil improvement effect, solving the industry pain point of unsustainable improvement effects of existing technologies. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a comparative graph showing the effects of leguminous green manure mulch on soil enzyme activity. CK represents the control group, and XG represents the crown vetch group.

[0026] Figure 2 The effect of leguminous green manure mulch on the activity of soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling enzymes;

[0027] Figure 3 The effects of leguminous green manure mulch on microbial carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus limitation;

[0028] Figure 4 The impact of leguminous green manure mulch on soil ecological function diversity. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0030] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of the invention. However, the invention may also be practiced in other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar extensions without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0031] Secondly, the term "one embodiment" or "embodiment" as used herein refers to a specific feature, structure, or characteristic that may be included in at least one implementation of the present invention. The phrase "in one embodiment" appearing in different places in this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a single or selective embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments.

[0032] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] Example 1: Planting and returning crown vetch to the field in degraded orchards

[0034] 1. Application Location: Yuanzhishan Orchard, Mizhi Experimental Station, Yindou Town, Mizhi County, Yulin City, Shaanxi Province (37.78°N, 110.25°E). Located in a temperate semi-arid climate zone, the area has low annual precipitation and a dry climate, and the orchard relies on natural rainfall for irrigation. The experimental site is located at the top of the mountain (1050 meters above sea level).

[0035] 2. Experimental Design

[0036] The control group (CK) consisted of orchards with clean cultivation between rows, no green manure planting, and regular manual weeding.

[0037] Treatment group (XG) involved planting crown vetch between rows in the orchard, with sowing done via broadcasting in March-April at a rate of 45 kg / hm². -2 The grass strips are 2 meters wide. Weeding is done manually during the seedling stage. When the crown lily plants reach a height of 50 cm, they are cut and stubble is left at a height of 40 cm. The first cut is made in early July of the same year and the cut material is evenly spread on the soil surface between the rows. The final cut is made in late September and all the material is returned to the field.

[0038] 3. Soil collection

[0039] One growing season after planting and returning crown vetch to the field (i.e., March of the following year), soil samples were collected from both the treated soil (XG) and untreated soil (CK) for index determination. Before the experiment, soil samples were collected to determine basic physicochemical properties (organic matter, total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, pH, etc.). After collection, the soil samples were mixed by hand, removing tree roots and stones, and then sealed in bags and stored at -20°C.

[0040] 4. Soil enzyme activity assay

[0041] The activities of key enzymes related to the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) cycles were determined using a microplate fluorescence assay. Carbon cycle enzymes: β-1,4-glucosidase (BG), cellobiosidase (CBH); nitrogen cycle enzymes: leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), β-1,4-N-acetylglucosidase (NAG); phosphorus cycle enzyme: alkaline phosphatase (AKP).

[0042] Figure 1 This is a comparative diagram showing the effects of leguminous green manure mulch on soil enzyme activity. Figure 1 It can be seen that, compared with the CK group, the soil in the XG treatment group showed the following significant improvements:

[0043] β-1,4-glucosidase (BG) activity increased significantly from 19.68±0.14 nmol / (g·h) in the control to 50.76±4.00 nmol / (g·h); cellobiase (CBH) activity increased significantly from 3.05±0.50 nmol / (g·h) to 11.25±0.20 nmol / (g·h); β-1,4-N-acetylglucosidase (NAG) activity increased from 2.08±0.40 nmol / (g·h) to 9.04±1.31 nmol / (g·h); leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) activity increased from 11.39±1.03 nmol / (g·h) to 29.87±2.25 nmol / (g·h); and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity increased from 10.32±0.28 nmol / (g·h) to 50.76±4.00 nmol / (g·h). The concentration of nmol / (g·h) significantly increased to 52.20±3.20 nmol / (g·h), indicating that *Corona vulgaris* has a comprehensive activating effect on the activities of three types of enzymes. Different letters a and b in the figure indicate significant differences.

[0044] Figure 2 To investigate the effects of leguminous green manure mulch on soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycle enzyme activity, based on Figure 2It can be seen that, in terms of microbial metabolic limitation, the control (CK) treatment was subject to microbial carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus limitation, while the crown lily mulch (XG) alleviated carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus limitation through litter carbon input and nitrogen accumulation. Compared with the control group (CK), it showed significant advantages in the activities of carbon cycle enzymes (BG, CBH), nitrogen cycle enzymes (NAG, LAP), and phosphorus cycle enzymes (AKP). The activities of the three types of cycle enzymes increased simultaneously and at a balanced rate, indicating that crown lily can coordinate and optimize the transformation process of soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus nutrients, and avoid the cycle imbalance caused by the increase of a single enzyme activity.

[0045] Figure 3 To illustrate the impact of leguminous green manure mulching on microbial carbon and nitrogen limitation, Figure (a) is a vector diagram used to analyze the carbon and nitrogen limitation of microorganisms under leguminous green manure mulching treatments. The "1:1 line" in the figure is a reference line. If data points fall on this line, it indicates that the carbon and nitrogen limitation of microorganisms is in a certain equilibrium state; if data points deviate from this line, it indicates that the carbon and nitrogen limitation of microorganisms has changed. Different colored points (CK and XG, different treatment groups) are distributed in different positions on the figure. By observing the position of these points relative to the "1:1 line," and combining the information of "Length" (vector length, reflecting the intensity of carbon limitation, etc.) and "Angle" (vector angle, reflecting the direction of nitrogen and phosphorus limitation, etc.), the differences in the impact of different leguminous green manure mulching treatments on microbial carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus limitation can be analyzed. Figure 3 It can be seen that, compared with the control group (CK), crown vetch coverage (XG) reduced the intensity of carbon and nitrogen limitation of microorganisms, changed the bias of limitation type, and overall regulated the carbon and nitrogen limitation status of microorganisms. This indicates that crown vetch effectively alleviates microbial metabolic limitation by activating the activity of carbon and nitrogen cycle enzymes.

[0046] Figure 4 To investigate the impact of leguminous green manure mulch on soil ecological function diversity, based on Figure 4 It was found that the soil ecological functional diversity (EMF) of the crown vetch mulch treatment (XG) was significantly higher than that of the control group (CK). The core reason for this is that crown vetch comprehensively enhances the activity of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycle enzymes. Increased carbon enzyme activity promotes organic matter decomposition and carbon source supply; increased nitrogen enzyme activity optimizes nitrogen conversion and utilization; and increased phosphorus enzyme activity releases available phosphorus. The synergistic effect of these three types of enzymes improves soil nutrient cycling efficiency, provides more balanced resources for microorganisms, and thus enhances the functional complexity and stability of the soil ecosystem, ultimately achieving a significant increase in EMF. This indicates that crown vetch, as a leguminous green manure, can not only enhance soil enzyme activity and alleviate microbial metabolic limitations, but also plays a positive role in improving soil ecological functional diversity, contributing to the enhancement of the stability and functional complexity of the soil ecosystem.

[0047] This invention delves into the enzyme activity-microbial metabolic mechanism. Through analysis of soil enzyme activity, enzyme stoichiometry, and the ecological multifunctionality index (EMF), it was discovered that *Corona vulgaris*, with its controllable decomposition rate and specific secretions, can specifically enhance the activity of enzymes related to carbon acquisition (BG, CBH), nitrogen acquisition (NAG, LAP), and phosphorus acquisition (AKP). Specifically, it increased AKP activation by 406% and BG activation by 158%, while precisely alleviating microbial carbon and nitrogen limitation (reducing carbon limitation intensity by 12%) and regulating microbial resource allocation strategies. *Corona vulgaris* and its root exudates can directionally alter the nutrient dynamics and microenvironment of degraded orchard soils, precisely addressing the problems of low efficiency and poor synergy in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling caused by insufficient enzyme activity. Compared to traditional leguminous green manure, its improvement effect is more sustainable and adaptable. This invention provides a practical and feasible technology for improving the health of degraded orchard soils, offering a new approach for sustainable agricultural development.

[0048] The above detailed description is a specific description of one of the feasible embodiments of the present invention. This embodiment is not intended to limit the patent scope of the present invention. All equivalent implementations or modifications that do not depart from the present invention should be included within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

[0049] It should be particularly noted that the various embodiments listed in this specification and accompanying drawings are intended to illustrate the technical solutions and advantages of the present invention, and not to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Without departing from the core ideas and technical effects of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make any form of improvement, substitution, combination, or modification to the structural arrangement, process parameters, material selection, control logic, etc., of the described embodiments; any obvious changes based on the same concept should be considered equivalent solutions of the present invention and should be included within the scope of protection defined by the claims of the present invention. The actual scope of protection of the present invention is determined by the appended claims and should be correctly understood in conjunction with the specification and accompanying drawings.

Claims

1. The application of a leguminous green manure in the preparation of a soil conditioner for enhancing soil enzyme activity, alleviating soil microbial metabolic limitations, and / or enhancing the multifunctionality of soil ecosystems, characterized in that, The legume green manure mentioned is Corona vulgaris.

2. The application as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The soil enzyme activity includes enzyme activities for carbon acquisition, nitrogen acquisition, and phosphorus acquisition.

3. The application as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The soil enzymes include at least one of β-1,4-glucosidase, cellobiase, leucine aminopeptidase, β-1,4-N-acetylglucosidase, and alkaline phosphatase.

4. The application as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The soil in question is from a degraded orchard.

5. The application as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The degraded orchard soil is soil with low enzyme activity and limited microbial metabolism due to long-term clean cultivation.

6. The application as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The crown vetch is applied by returning the entire plant to the field, and the seeding rate is 30-60 kg·hm². -2 .

7. The application as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The sowing rate of the crown vetch was 45 kg·hm. -2 .

8. The application as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The application includes the following steps: (a) Sow crown vetch seeds between rows in the orchard in March or April; (b) Harvesting management during the growing season, with stubble height not exceeding 40 cm; (c) Cover the harvested biomass with soil between July and September.

9. A soil conditioner, characterized in that, The soil conditioner contains plant residues of Corona vulgaris and / or root exudates of Corona vulgaris.

10. The soil conditioner as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The soil conditioner is used to enhance soil enzyme activity, alleviate soil microbial metabolic limitations, and / or enhance the multifunctionality of soil ecosystems.

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