Effects of the Physicochemical Properties of Lignocellulosic Artificial Soil Containing Bacillus subtilis on the Growth of Lespedeza cyrtobotrya

Abstract

In this study, we prepared lignocellulosic artificial soil that contains Bacillus subtilis (peat moss/perlite/ steam-exploded oak wood/microbial culture = 3:1:3:3, w/w/w/w) for use in the restoration of damaged soil areas. The prepared lignocellulosic artificial soil was mixed with soil at ratios of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. These mixed soils were then applied to fields, and the resultant physicochemical properties and their effects on the plant growth of Lespedeza cyrtobotrya were observed. The mixture of the prepared artificial soils (mixed at ratios of 25%-100%) with soil had a bulk densities of <0.04 g/cm 3 , porosities of >85%, pH values between 4.3 and 4.7, electrical conductivities of <0.5 dS/m, C/N ratios between 15.0 and 26.5, organic matter content between 23.6% and 43.2%, and bacterial densities between 157 × 10 6 and 624 × 10 6 CFU/g. In addition, the prepared artificial soils mixed with soil at ratios of 25%-50% exhibited higher plant growth rates for L. cyrtobotrya compared with the control. Overall, we identified positive correlations between the plant growth of L. cyrtobotrya and soil bulk density, porosity, water-holding capacity, C/N ratio, organic matter, and bacterial densities.