Implication of Temporal Dynamics of Microbial Abundance and Nutrients to Soil Fertility under Biochar Application – Field Experiments Conducted in a Brown Soil Cultivated with Soybean, North China

Abstract

<jats:p>A short-term experiment was conducted to investigate responses of microbial community composition and nutrients dynamics to biochar-amended brown soil. We examined the effect of biochar on microbial abundance by plate counting method and microbial community composition changes by DGGE, as well as effect on total and available nutrients N, P and K content. Soil pH measurement was also incorporated into our study. The overall results showed that bacterial abundance increased more than actinomycetes, but fungal abundance decreased slightly in biochar amended soil in later sampling times. In terms of microbial community composition, DGGE analysis for bacteria exhibited some specific lanes in biochar treatments. Bacterial community was more sensitive to sampling time, but fungal community was influenced greatly by biochar addition. In our study, total C content increased significantly, as biochar rate and sampling time preceded. Total N increased slightly in later sampling time, and thus C and N ratio increase was obtained. Total P and K changes were not obvious. Extractable N and pH increased. Microbial utilization was assumed to contribute to extractable P and K decrease in later sampling times. Results suggested that biochar incorporation to brown soil might bring potential benefit to soil fertility from N retention in soil. Microbial turnover may feedback P and K to soil as well in the long term. There may also be an implication of beneficial effect on disease alleviation lead by microbial community imbalance.</jats:p>

Effects of biochar application on morphological traits in maize and soybean

“…Also, soil types had less effect to morphological trait manifestation in soybean compared to maize. Sun et al [2012] suggested that biochar incorporation to brown soil might bring potential benefit to soybean production from N retention in soil and enhanced microbial turnover that resulted with P and K feedback. Our results correspond with Yin et al [2012] study on acid black soil where soybean yield increased by 35.97% compared with the control.…”

Impact of biochar properties on soil conditions and agricultural sustainability: A review

“…However, biochar aging yields low pH, which promotes the establishment and growth of fungi within the pores of biochar (Zimmermann et al, ). Sun et al () reported that the bacterial communities were more active and dynamic in biochar‐treated brown soils than the fungal communities under natural field conditions, and Gomez, Denef, Stewart, Zheng, and Cotrufo () observed much lower fungi:bacteria (F:B) ratios in four soils (two sandy‐loam, a clay, and a clay‐loam) treated with fast pyrolyzed biochar after 12 months of incubation. It is worth mentioning that F:B of the biochar amended is regulated by the C:N ratio resulting from biochar application (Farrell et al, ) or the natural C:N ratio of the soil (Rousk, Dempster, & Jones, ).…”

Sunflower Husk Biochar as a Key Agrotechnical Factor Enhancing Sustainable Soybean Production

“…Soil types had less effect on morphological trait manifestation in soybeans. Sun et al [41] suggested that biochar incorporation to brown soil can benefit soybean production by N retention in the soil and enhanced microbial turnover that resulted in P and K feedback. Results obtained by Seremesic et al [40] correspond with a study of Yin et al [42] on acid black soil, in which soybean yield increased by 35.97% compared to the control.…”