Response of microbial community structure and function to short-term biochar amendment in an intensively managed bamboo (Phyllostachys praecox) plantation soil: Effect of particle size and addition rate

Published Date
Science of The Total Environment
1 January 2017, Vol.574:24–33, doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.08.190

Author 

• Junhui Chen ^a
• Songhao Li ^b
• Chenfei Liang ^a
• Qiufang Xu ^a,,
• Yongchun Li ^a
• Hua Qin ^a
• Jeffry J. Fuhrmann ^c

• aZhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Carbon Cycling in Forest Ecosystems and Carbon Sequestration, School of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou 311300, China
• bAgricultural Technology Extension Centre, Lin'an Municipal Bureau of Agriculture, Lin'an, Hangzhou 311300, China
• cDepartment of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, Delaware 19716, USA

Received 31 May 2016. Revised 23 August 2016. Accepted 29 August 2016. Available online 10 September 2016. Editor: Simon Pollard

Highlights

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  The fine biochar increased microbial abundances and altered community structure.
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  The fine biochar resulted in higher CO₂ emission than the other fractions.
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  Higher addition rate generally reduced soil enzyme activities involving in C cycling.
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  Biochar effects on soil microbial community are particle size and rate dependent.

Abstract

Biochar incorporated into soil has been known to affect soil nutrient availability and act as a habitat for microorganisms, both of which could be related to its particle size. However, little is known about the effect of particle size on soil microbial community structure and function. To investigate short-term soil microbial responses to biochar addition having varying particle sizes and addition rates, we established a laboratory incubation study. Biochar produced via pyrolysis of bamboo was ground into three particle sizes (diameter size < 0.05 mm (fine), 0.05–1.0 mm (medium) and 1.0–2.0 mm (coarse)) and amended at rates of 0% (control), 3% and 9% (w/w) in an intensively managed bamboo (Phyllostachys praecox) plantation soil. The results showed that the fine particle biochar resulted in significantly higher soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), available potassium (K) concentrations than the medium and coarse particle sizes. The fine-sized biochar also induced significantly higher total microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) concentrations by 60.28% and 88.94% than the medium and coarse particles regardless of addition rate, respectively. Redundancy analysis suggested that the microbial community structures were largely dependent of particle size, and that improved soil properties were key factors shaping them. The cumulative CO₂ emissions from biochar-amended soils were 2–56% lower than the control and sharply decreased with increasing addition rates and particle sizes. Activities of α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase, β-xylosidase, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, peroxidase and dehydrogenase decreased by ranging from 7% to 47% in biochar-amended soils over the control, indicating that biochar addition reduced enzyme activities involved carbon cycling capacity. Our results suggest that biochar addition can affect microbial population abundances, community structure and enzyme activities, that these effects are particle size and rate dependent. The fine particle biochar may additionally produce a better habitat for microorganisms compared to the other particle sizes.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

• Biochar
• PLFA
• Enzyme activity
• Soil C cycling

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  Corresponding author.
  
  

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