Addition of activated switchgrass biochar to an aridic subsoil increases microbial nitrogen cycling gene abundances |
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| Institution: | 1. Coastal Plains Soil, Water, and Plant Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Florence, SC, United States;2. Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Kimberly, ID, United States;1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China;2. Scion, Riccarton, P.O. Box 29237, Christchurch, 8440, New Zealand;3. School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin, 300134, China;4. School of Science, Tibet University, Lhasa, 850012, China;5. Institute of Wetland Research, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China;6. Rodale Institute, Kutztown, PA, 19530, USA;1. The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Lincoln Campus, Private Bag 4704, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand;2. Bio-Protection Research Centre, PO Box 85084, Lincoln University, Lincoln, 7647 Christchurch, New Zealand;3. Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, PO Box 85084, Lincoln University, Lincoln, 7647 Christchurch, New Zealand;1. Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Kimberly, ID, United States;2. Coastal Plains Soil, Water, and Plant Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Florence, SC, United States;1. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar NSW 2477, Australia;2. Rural Climate Solutions, University of New England, Armidale NSW 2351, Australia;3. Soil Biology and Molecular Ecology Group, School of Earth and Environment, Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Crawley WA 6009, Australia;4. CSIRO Land and Water and Sustainable Agriculture Flagship, Glen Osmond SA 5064, Australia;1. Hebei Key Laboratory of Soil Ecology, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 286 Huaizhong Road, Shijiazhuang 050021, China;2. Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Do?wiadczalna 4, 20-290 Lublin, Poland;3. Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands;1. Environmental Futures Research Institute, School of Natural Sciences, Griffith University, Nathan, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia;2. Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, QLD 4558, Australia;3. Instituto de Ecología A.C., Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Apartado Postal 63, Xalapa, 91000 Veracruz, Mexico;4. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225127, China;5. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar, New South Wales 2477, Australia |
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| Abstract: | It has been demonstrated that soil amended with biochar, designed specifically for use as a soil conditioner, results in changes to the microbial populations that reside therein. These changes have been reflected in studies measuring variations in microbial activity, biomass, and community structure. Despite these studies, very few experiments have been performed examining microbial genes involved in nutrient cycling processes. Given the paucity of research in this area, we designed a 6 month study in a Portneuf subsoil treated with three levels (1%, 2%, and 10% w/w ratio) of a biochar pyrolyzed from switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) at 350 °C and steam activated at 800 °C to measure the abundances of five genes involved in N cycling. Gene abundances were measured using qPCR, with relative abundances of these genes calculated based on measurement of the 16S rRNA gene. At the end of the 6 month study, all measured genes showed significantly greater abundances in biochar amended treatments as compared to the control. In soil amended with 10% biochar, genes involved in nitrogen fixation (nifH), and denitrification (nirS), showed significantly increased relative abundances. Lastly, gene abundances and relative abundances correlated with soil characteristics, in particular NO3-N, % N and % C. These results confirm that activated switchgrass-derived biochar, designed for use as a soil conditioner, has an impact on the treated soils microbial communities. We therefore suggest that future use of biochar as a soil management practice should take into account not only changes to the soil's physiochemical properties, but its biological properties as well. |
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