Effects of biochar on plant and microbial communities in landfill soil

Abstract

Ecological restoration in landfills encounters a significant challenge attributed to unfavourable soil conditions. A three-month field study was conducted to evaluate biochar effects on plant succession and bacterial community in a landfill cover. The topsoil of the cover was amended with 0, 5, and 10 % (v/v) peanut shell biochar. According to the measured results, adding biochar improves the soil pH, nutrition content, and organic matter up to 2 times, promoting plant growth. Bacterial richness and diversity were enhanced, and the heterogeneity of microbial communities was increased in biochar-amended cases. However, the plant diversity was reduced, and the domain plant species changed in biochar-amended soil. Biochar application strengthens the interaction between fungal communities and Cyperus rotundus L. by enhancing soil chemical properties. This study demonstrates biochar effects on soil-plant-microbe interactions for guiding the ecological restoration of landfill covers.