title: Aromatic plants play an important role in promoting soil biological activity related to nitrogen cycling in an orchard ecosystem.
abstract: Aromatic plants can substantially improve the diversity and structure of arthropod communities, as well as reduce the number of herbivore pests and regulate the abundance of predators and parasitoids. However, it is not clear whether aromatic plants are also effective in improving soil quality by enhancing nutrient cycling. Here, field experiments are described involving intercropping with aromatic plants to investigate their effect on soil nitrogen (N) cycling in an orchard ecosystem. The results indicate that the soil organic nitrogen and available nitrogen contents increased significantly in soils intercropped with aromatic plants. Similarly, the activities of soil protease and urease increased, together with total microbial biomass involved in N cycling, including nitrifying bacteria, denitrifying bacteria and azotobacters, as well as the total numbers of bacteria and fungi. This suggests that aromatic plants improve soil N cycling and nutrient levels by enriching the soil in organic matter through the regulation of both the abundance and community structure of microorganisms, together with associated soil enzyme activity, in orchard ecosystems.
authors.affiliation: College of Plant Science and Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Agricultural Application and New Technique, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xinxin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: College of Plant Science and Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Agricultural Application and New Technique, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Beizhou
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: College of Plant Science and Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Agricultural Application and New Technique, Beijing, China. Electronic address: yaoyc_20@126.com.
authors.forename: Yuncong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: College of Plant Science and Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China.
authors.forename: Hongying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: College of Plant Science and Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China.
authors.forename: Jinghui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: College of Plant Science and Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China.
authors.forename: Lingling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D001181:Arthropods / Q000502:physiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D018533:Biomass; D017753:Ecosystem; D005658:Fungi / Q000502:physiology; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D058458:Nitrogen Cycle; D010944:Plants; D012987:Soil; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Aromatic plants; Available nitrogen; Intercropping; N cycling; Organic nitrogen; Soil microbial activity