Xiancan Zhu

1 INTRODUCTION Rice stands as a principal food crop globally, with China being the top producer and consumer. Paddy soils are vital components of agricultural soil ecosystems, significantly impacting food security and terrestrial ecosystem functions (Hou et al., 2020; Zhang et al., 2024). Soil microorganisms are essential in agricultural ecosystems, playing pivotal roles in soil processes and agricultural productivity.

1. Introduction Rhododendron mucronulatum, a deciduous shrub of the Ericaceae, has excellent cold hardiness and poor heat tolerance (Liu et al., 2022). R. mucronulatum is an important flowering plant in early spring in northern China. However, it is only widely distributed in the Yan Mountains in the Beijing area, rarely appearing in other areas. Soil is a complex and dynamic ecosystem containing many microorganisms (Bryant et al., 2008; Liu et al., 2021).

1. Background Rice is a crucial staple crop for more than half of the world’s population, and China is a significant producer, responsible for 18.5% of global cultivation area and 28.0% of global production output. Ensuring sustainable rice production is imperative for global food security (Zhou et al., 2020).