Biochar application ameliorated the nutrient content and fungal community structure in different yellow soil depths in the karst area of Southwest China

Abstract

The influence of biochar on the change of nutrient content and fungal community structure is still not clear, especially in different yellow soil depths in karst areas. A soil column leaching simulation experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of biochar on soil content, enzymatic activity, and fungal community diversity and structural composition. Three biochar amounts were studied, namely, 0%(NB, no biochar), 1.0%(LB, low-application-rate biochar), and 4.0% (HB, high-application-rate biochar). The results showed that biochar increased the pH value and the contents of soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP), and available potassium (AK) but reduced the microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN). Furthermore, this effect was enhanced with increasing biochar amount. Biochar was conducive to improving the nutrient availability in topsoil (0–20 cm), especially TN, AK, and MBN. Meanwhile, biochar affected the enzymatic activity, especially the sucrase activity. Biochar affected the diversity and structure of the fungal community, of which HB treatment had the most obvious effect. Among these treatments, Aspergillus, unclassified_Chaetomiaceae, Mortierella, Spizellomyces, Penicillium, Fusarium, and unclassified_Chromista fungal genera were the highest. Moreover, biochar inhibited the growth of harmful pathogens and increased the abundance of beneficial fungi in soil, and the effect was enhanced with increasing biochar amount and soil depth. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that AK was an important factor in yellow soil, although the main environmental factors affecting the fungal community structure were different in different soil depths. Overall, biochar had a positive effect on improving the land productivity and micro-ecological environment of yellow soil in the karst area.

Optimizing Tomato Cultivation: Impact of Ammonium–Nitrate Ratios on Growth, Nutrient Uptake, and Fertilizer Utilization

“…Our results are consistent with the widely accepted notion that nitrogen forms substantially impact the growth and yield of tomatoes. Recent research, including [38,39], has demonstrated that the efficacy of nutrient uptake and plant growth can be enhanced through using mixed nitrogen sources. In particular, research [40] demonstrated that the physiological functions of tomatoes are enhanced, resulting in an increase in yield and quality, when the ammonium-to-nitrate ratio is balanced.…”

Effects of Biochar and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Soil Health in Chinese Kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra L.) Cultivation

“…Typically, biochar serves as a habitat for beneficial microorganisms that play a pivotal role in nutrient cycling and mineralization. These microbes contribute to breaking down organic matter, rendering nutrients like N, P, and K more abundant and accessible to plants [91]. Additionally, when used in combination with specific microorganisms such as AMF, biochar can enhance nutrient uptake.…”

The Co-Application of PGPR and Biochar Enhances the Production Capacity of Continuous Cropping Peppers in the Karst Yellow Soil Region of Southwest China

“…Similar studies have been conducted using biochar. Biochar can improve soil fertility and reduce the occurrence of diseases and pests by improving the soil microbial environment [20][21][22][23][24][25]. At present, PGPR and biochar are extensively utilized as vital soil amendment materials in agricultural production [26,27].…”