Bacterial and fungal taxon changes in soil microbial community composition induced by short-term biochar amendment in red oxidized loam soil

Abstract

To take full advantage of biochar as a soil amendment, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of biochar addition on soil bacterial and fungal diversity and community composition. Incubation experiments with a forest soil (a red oxidized loam soil) with and without biochar amendment were conducted for 96 days. The culture-independent molecular method was utilized to analyze soil bacterial and fungal species after the incubation experiments. Results showed that bacteria and fungi responded differently to the biochar addition during the short-term soil incubation. Twenty four and 18 bacterial genara were observed in the biochar amended and unamended soils, respectively, whereas 11 and 8 fungal genera were observed in the biochar amended and unamended soils, respectively. Microbial taxa analysis indicated that the biochar amendment resulted in significant shifts in both bacterial and fungal taxa during the incubation period. The shift for bacteria occurred at the genus and phylum levels, while for fungi only at the genus level. Specific taxa, such as Actinobacteria of bacteria and Trichoderma and Paecilomyces of fungi, were enriched in the biochar amended soil. The results reveal a pronounced impact of biochar on soil microbial community composition and an enrichment of key bacterial and fungal taxa in the soil during the short time period.

Effect of biochar and Trichoderma application on fungal diversity and growth of Zea mays in a sandy loam soil

“…Similar effect of BC on this fungal genus has been described also in another study on the effect of BC influence on soil microbial populations (Hu et al 2014). All treatments increased the relative abundance of plant pathogenic fungi (Fig.…”

Soil biochar amendment affects the diversity of nosZ transcripts: Implications for N2O formation

“…Higher diversity indices in biochar-amended compared to biochar-free soils have been reported frequently in studies targeting 16S rRNA genes 31, 35, 57 . The reason for the biochar-induced increase in microbial diversity is mostly unknown.…”

“…The reason for the biochar-induced increase in microbial diversity is mostly unknown. However, as mentioned in other studies, it seems likely that organic compounds attached to the biochar particles 58, 59 , the high pH of biochar-amended soils 35 , or other biochar properties (surface area, pore space) promoted the formation of specific niches, which supported the growth and activity of a diverse range of taxa 33, 35, 57, 60 .…”

Induced systemic resistance in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) against Botrytis cinerea by biochar amendment involves jasmonic acid signaling

“…The phytohormone is involved in symbiotic interactions and moreover, it is well established that resistance which is induced by PGPR is JAmediated in many cases (Ahn et al 2011;Pieterse et al 1996;Pozo et al 2005;Van der Ent et al 2008; Van der Ent et al 2009;Van Loon et al 1998). Biochar amendment of soil has been shown to modify the composition of microbial communities in the bulk soil as well as in the plant rhizosphere (Hu et al 2014;Kolton et al 2011;Lehmann et al 2011;Thies et al 2015;Warnock et al 2007). Among the biochar induced microorganisms, PGPR and PGPF such as Pseudomonas, Mesorhizobium, Microbacterium, Brevibacillus, Bacillus, Streptomyces strains and Trichoderma spp.…”