The Camellia oleifera industry is hindered by the substandard quality of its fruits and the low yield of camellia seed oil. Although soil factors have been shown to affect the productivity of this plant, the relationship between C. oleifera characteristics and soil properties and nutrients remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated soil factors within the central distribution area of this species. Our findings revealed that this plant thrives in acidic soils with a medium cation exchange capacity. There were moderate differences in the main and medium element contents in the soils, while the variation of microelements was significant. Overall, C. oleifera cultivated soils were poor, with an uneven distribution of soil nutrients. Most of the shape characteristics of camellia fruits showed moderate variability, whereas dry kernel rate and oil content exhibited minor variability. The fatty acid profiles remained stable across different planting sites, but there were higher variations in the content of active compounds. Fruit shape characteristics were primarily influenced by soil properties, while soil nutrients mainly affected the seeds and kernels of the fruit. Minor fatty acid content could be influenced by soil properties and nutrients, except for total nitrogen (TN), which specifically affected the content of palmitic acid and oleic acid. There was no significant correlation between soil factors and sterols, polyphenols, and tocopherols, while squalene was affected by soil properties. Our study highlights the importance of considering soil properties and nutrients in the cultivation of C. oleifera and emphasizes the need for rational fertilizer application.

The exacerbation of Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a leading cause of forest degradation. However, the effects of Al on clone bamboo are not well-characterized. This study examined the influence of Al on bamboo growth using one-year-old Phyllostachys edulis seedlings subjected to control Al treatments, which aim to provide theoretical support for improving the soil quality of bamboo forests. The results indicated that the Al content in the seedlings increased by 86.42% to 162.79% compared to the control. However, it remained within a relatively stable range, with the root being the primary site of accumulation. Among the treatments, the 0.3 mM Al group (Al³⁺) exhibited the highest values in biomass indexes (LB, RB and AGB). In contrast, the 2.0 mM Al treatment led to a significantly higher root-to-shoot ratio (RSR) than other groups. Physiological analyses revealed coordinated responses in key antioxidant enzymes (POD, SOD, CAT) and osmotic adjustment substances (Pro, SP, Bet). These findings demonstrate that P. edulis possesses considerable tolerance to Al, with a significant phenotypic inhibitory effect that was not observed with 2.0 mM Al treatment. Bamboo responds to Al stress through controlling Al absorption, optimizing resource reallocation, and enhancing adaptability physiology capacity, illustrating a comprehensive collaboration adaptive mechanism.

The impact of pretreatment methods on the fermentation quality and nutritional profile of bamboo silage was assessed to determine the optimal ensiling strategy. Tender bamboo underwent microwave, ultrasound, alkali, and irradiation pretreatments. Subsequently, a four-factor, three-level L9 (3⁴) orthogonal experiment was employed, utilizing pretreated bamboo as the substrate. The experiment evaluated the effects of silage time (30, 45, 60 days), moisture content (55%, 60%, 65%), cellulase addition [2, 4, and 6 mg/g FM (Fresh weight)], and silage inoculant addition (0.5, 5, 50 mg/g FM). Results indicated that γ-ray irradiation pretreatment effectively reduced lignin and cellulose content while increasing reducing sugars levels approximately fourfold compared to the control group. Six out of the nine treatment groups exhibited superior comprehensive fermentation quality scores, with silage time demonstrating the most significant influence on the fermentation quality of tender bamboo silage. The order of influence was silage time > silage inoculant level > moisture content > cellulase, with a silage time of 30 days, a silage inoculant level of 0.5 mg/g FM, a moisture content of 65%, and a cellulase level of 2 mg/g FM, all contributing to enhanced fermentation quality. Regarding nutritional composition, silage time significantly impacted crude protein and soluble sugar levels, with optimal levels observed at 30 and 60 days, respectively. Moisture content primarily affected soluble sugar levels, followed by neutral detergent fiber, with an optimal level of 55%. Other factors showed minimal effects. Based on fermentation quality and nutritional component analysis, and prioritizing fermentation quality while considering cost-effectiveness, the optimal ensiling conditions for bamboo were determined to be a silage time of 30 days, a moisture content of 65%, an addition of 2 mg/g FM of cellulase, and an addition of 0.5 mg/g FM of silage inoculant.