The Aggregate-Mediated Restoration of Degraded Black Soil via Biochar and Straw Additions: Emphasizing Microbial Community Interactions and Functions

Shaojie Wang, Siyang Liu, Yingqi Wen, Wenjun Hao, Yiyi Zhao and Shasha Luo ()
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Shaojie Wang: Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Soil Resources in Commodity Grain Base of Jilin Province, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Siyang Liu: State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Research Center of Mollisols Agroecology, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China
Yingqi Wen: Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Soil Resources in Commodity Grain Base of Jilin Province, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Wenjun Hao: Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Soil Resources in Commodity Grain Base of Jilin Province, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Yiyi Zhao: Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Soil Resources in Commodity Grain Base of Jilin Province, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Shasha Luo: State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Research Center of Mollisols Agroecology, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 22, 1-26

Abstract: The synergistic application of biochar and straw could improve soil properties and influence soil microbial community. However, its impacts on microbial community interactions and functions within various aggregate fractions remain unclear. We conducted a three-year field trial in black soil in northeastern China, under the restoration measures of biochar application (BR, 30 t ha −1 once), straw return (SR, 5 t ha −1 year −1 ), and the combination of BR and SR (BS, BR at 30 t ha −1 once and SR at 5 t ha −1 year −1 ). Utilizing high-throughput sequencing, we assessed the influence of different straw-returning methods on the structure and function of microbial communities in the mega-aggregates (ME, >2 mm), macroaggregates (MA, 0.25–2 mm), and microaggregates (MI, <0.25 mm). Relative to the control (CK), the BR, SR and BS treatments significantly decreased the bacterial Shannon index, mainly dependent on ME ( p < 0.05). Conversely, compared with the CK and SR treatments, both BR and BS treatments notably reduced the fungal Shannon index, largely influenced by MI ( p < 0.05). Moreover, the BS treatment significantly increased the relative abundance (RA) of Mortierellomycota ( p < 0.05) compared to the CK, BR and SR treatments. Meanwhile, the SR and BS treatments substantially reduced the RA of Nitrospirae ( p < 0.05) in comparison to the CK and BR treatments. Furthermore, compared with the CK, the BR and SR treatments enhanced microbial network connectivity, while the BS treatment diminished it, especially in ME and MI. Concurrently, the keystone of co-occurrence networks shifted from Phycisphaeraceae, Blastocatellaceae, and Glomeraceae in the CK treatment to uncultured_bacterium_c_JG37-AG-4 and DA111 in the BS treatment. Additionally, BR and SR exhibited synergistic effects on most microbial community functions (e.g., enhanced chitinolysis and carbon fixation but reduced nitrogen-cycling functions), but they also possessed distinct differential functions. In short, the combined application of biochar and straw adversely impacted soil microbial community diversity and stability, especially in ME and MI.

Keywords: biochar application; straw return; soil aggregate; microbial interaction; microbial function (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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