Ding Junnan, Yu Shaopeng
Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Cold Region Wetland Ecology and Environment Research, Harbin University, Harbin 150086, China.
Life (Basel). 2024 Dec 9;14(12):1631. doi: 10.3390/life14121631.
Biochar has gained considerable attention as a sustainable soil amendment due to its potential to enhance soil fertility and mitigate nitrogen (N) losses. This study aimed to investigate the effects of biochar application on the abundance of key N-cycling genes in Mollisol and alkaline soils, focusing on nitrification (AOA, AOB, and ) and denitrification (, , and ) processes. The experiment was conducted using soybean rhizosphere soil. The results demonstrated that biochar significantly altered the microbial community structure by modulating the abundance of these functional genes. Specifically, biochar reduced and abundance in both soil types, indicating a potential reduction in NO emissions. In contrast, it promoted the abundance of , particularly in alkaline soils, suggesting enhanced nitrite oxidation. The study also revealed strong correlations between N-cycling gene abundances and soil properties such as pH, EC (electrical conductivity. Biochar improved soil pH and nutrient availability, creating favorable conditions for AOB and Nitrospira populations, which play key roles in ammonia and nitrite oxidation. Additionally, the reduction in / ratios in biochar-treated soils suggests a shift towards more efficient NO reduction. These findings highlight biochar's dual role in enhancing soil fertility and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in Mollisol and alkaline soils. The results provide valuable insights into the sustainable management of agricultural soils through biochar application, emphasizing its potential to optimize nitrogen-cycling processes and improve soil health. Further research is needed to explore the long-term impacts of biochar on microbial communities and nitrogen-cycling under field conditions.
生物炭作为一种可持续的土壤改良剂，因其具有提高土壤肥力和减少氮（N）损失的潜力而备受关注。本研究旨在调查生物炭施用于黑土和碱性土壤中对关键氮循环基因丰度的影响，重点关注硝化作用（氨氧化古菌、氨氧化细菌和）和反硝化作用（、和）过程。实验使用大豆根际土壤进行。结果表明，生物炭通过调节这些功能基因的丰度显著改变了微生物群落结构。具体而言，生物炭降低了两种土壤类型中的和丰度，表明一氧化氮排放量可能减少。相比之下，它促进了的丰度，特别是在碱性土壤中，表明亚硝酸盐氧化增强。该研究还揭示了氮循环基因丰度与土壤性质如pH值、电导率之间的强相关性。生物炭改善了土壤pH值和养分有效性，为在氨和亚硝酸盐氧化中起关键作用的氨氧化细菌和硝化螺菌种群创造了有利条件。此外，生物炭处理土壤中的/比值降低表明向更有效的一氧化氮还原转变。这些发现突出了生物炭在提高黑土和碱性土壤肥力以及减少温室气体排放方面的双重作用。研究结果为通过施用生物炭实现农业土壤的可持续管理提供了有价值的见解，强调了其优化氮循环过程和改善土壤健康的潜力。需要进一步研究以探索生物炭在田间条件下对微生物群落和氮循环的长期影响。
