Nano‐Selenium Elevating Leaf Quality and Growth Via Microbial‐Regulating Nitrogen Availability Under Ammonium and Nitrate Spraying in Tea Plants

ABSTRACT Nano‐selenium fertilizers can promote plant growth and nitrogen availability. However, little information is available on the effects of nano‐selenium on tea leaf quality, soil nutrient availability and associated microbe‐driven mechanisms. This study examined the effects of nano‐selenium on the tea leaf quality and soil nitrogen cycling in 20‐year‐old tea plantations when the leaves were sprayed with ammonium or nitrate. Leaf selenium and amino acid contents increased ninefold and 9%, respectively, with nano‐selenium in “Zhongcha108” and “Longjing43.” Rhizosphere bacterial and fungal community compositions were more sensitive to selenium and nitrogen applications in “Longjing43” than in “Zhongcha108.” “Zhongcha108” enriched more taxa related to microbial growth, while more taxa related to cellular maintenance and nutrient acquisition enriched in “Longjing43.” Nano‐selenium application decreased the copy number of AOA and AOB genes, and nosZ and nirK genes by 59%, 53%, 37% and 46% under ammonium, and by 77%, 43%, 38% and 65%, respectively, under nitrate spraying, in “Longjing43.” However, the expression of these genes increased by nano‐selenium in “Zhongcha108” with ammonium spraying. It is concluded that a nano‐selenium application increases tea leaf quality, and this effect on nitrogen cycling and ecological functioning largely depends on the tea cultivar‐specific bacterial and fungal composition and function.