The Variability in Soil Community and Its Enzymatic Function to Plant Promotion after Biochar Addition
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Abstract
The widespread use of chemical inputs in contemporary agriculture has raised concerns regarding long-term soil health and sustainability. Biochar (BC), a carbon-rich byproduct of biomass pyrolysis, presents a viable alternative, offering improvements in soil structure, nutrient retention, and microbial activity. This study investigates the effects of modified biochar on soil microbial diversity and associated metabolic pathways that contribute to soil fertility and plant productivity. Five soil samples (D1 control without BC, D2 paddy field 1, D3 paddy field 2, D4 eggplant field, and D5 long yard bean field) were collected from agricultural sites for microbial community profiling. Metagenomic DNA was extracted and analyzed using QIIME2. A total of 371 microbial species were identified across samples. D1 exhibited dominance of Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, and Halobacterota. In contrast, D2–D5 showed increased abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteriota, with the emergence of phyla such as WPS-2 and the enrichment of functional genera including the ammonia-oxidizing bacterium MND1. Bacilli were detected in all samples, with the highest relative abundance observed in D5 (8.34%). Notably, Bacillus sp.—a component of the applied BC—was more abundant in D4 (0.12%) and D5 (0.58%) than in D1 (0.02%), indicating BC’s potential to retain and promote beneficial microbial taxa. Microbial richness was highest in D2 (4887 OTUs), exceeding that of the control (D1, 4517 OTUs), confirming the diversity-enhancing effect of BC. D4 exhibited the most distinct microbial community (3403 OTUs). Functional annotation revealed increased abundance of proteins such as COG1595 and key enzymes including EC:2.7.7.7 and EC:1.6.5.3, which are associated with nucleotide synthesis and redox metabolism. The metabolic pathway PWY-3781 was most prominent post-BC application, with pathways PWY-7111, PWY-6277, and PWY-6122 also enriched in D3 compared to D1.These findings demonstrate that biochar promotes microbial diversity, enhances beneficial microbial populations, and activates key metabolic pathways, thereby contributing to improved soil quality and supporting sustainable agricultural practices.
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References
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