Exploring from Soil Acidification to Neutralization in Tea Plantations: Changes in Soil Microbiome and Their Impacts on Tea Quality

Abstract

The soil neutralization process is usually accompanied by various kinds of changes including soil physicochemical properties and microbial diversity and composition. This is especially significant for tea plants, which thrive in acidic soils. The neutralization process, which involves reducing soil acidity through organic management, has been continuously occurring in tea plantations to mitigate the negative effects of soil acidification. However, there is limited information on how soil neutralization affects microbial communities, particularly in terms of nutrient cycling, decomposition of organic matter, and plant growth promotion. Therefore, we summarized the current study focusing on soil neutralization in tea plantations. Firstly, we identified some effective and sustainable management for soil neutralization that balance pH modification with enhancing soil health and investigated the dynamic changes in soil microbial communities in tea plantations. Besides, we highlighted the role of beneficial microbes linked to specific attributes of tea quality. Our study provides insights, from improving soil health and microbial communities to enhancing tea quality during soil neutralization, ultimately supporting the production of high-quality tea in sustainable management.