Biochar Enhances Soil Fertility Through Bacterial Community Modulation in Karst Slopes

IF 3.7 2区农林科学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Land Degradation & Development Pub Date : 2025-09-19 DOI:10.1002/ldr.70212

Nana Zhou, Zhen Han, Xiaoai Yin, Ying Hu, Longshan Zhao

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Biochar can markedly modify the activity of soil bacterial communities and enhance soil quality. However, in karst regions, evidence remains limited on whether—and by what mechanisms—biochar enhances soil fertility by reshaping bacterial diversity and co‐occurrence network structure. This study focused on karst yellow soil, conducting a two‐year natural monitoring experiment on runoff plots (2 × 1 m). The experimental design evaluated multiple factors: slope gradient (15°, 25°), biochar application time (1, 2 years), and application rates (B30 = 30 t/ha, B60 = 60 t/ha) to assess changes in soil fertility and bacterial community characteristics. In all treatments, biochar application improved soil fertility. The segmented structural equation model showed that under the 15° condition, fertility enhancement was mainly achieved by increasing bacterial diversity, while under the 25° condition, it depended on the bacterial network structure. During the initial application period (1 year), bacterial diversity regulated the effect, while with long‐term application (2 years), fertility improvement was unrelated to the microbial community. Interaction analysis showed that the amount of biochar added was the main factor for improving soil fertility in different treatments (F = 58.34). Increasing the amount showed a dose‐related improvement in fertility (R2 = 0.706, p < 0.01), and different mechanisms were observed between different amount levels: at B30, bacterial diversity, network structure, and key species (Actinobacteria) had a significant impact on soil fertility, while at B60, biochar application mainly increased bacterial diversity index to improve soil fertility. These results established a functional chain connecting biochar application, microbial community regulation, and enhanced soil fertility in slope ecosystems. The demonstrated efficacy supported biochar implementation as a viable strategy for improving soil quality on sloping lands in karst regions.

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生物炭通过调节喀斯特坡地细菌群落提高土壤肥力

生物炭能显著改善土壤细菌群落活性，提高土壤质量。然而，在喀斯特地区，生物炭是否以及通过何种机制通过重塑细菌多样性和共生网络结构来提高土壤肥力的证据仍然有限。本研究以喀斯特黄壤为研究对象，在2 × 1 m的径流样地进行了为期2年的自然监测试验。试验设计评估了多个因素：坡度（15°，25°），生物炭施用时间（1,2年）和施用量（B30 = 30 t/ha, B60 = 60 t/ha），以评估土壤肥力和细菌群落特征的变化。在所有处理中，施用生物炭提高了土壤肥力。分段结构方程模型表明，在15°条件下，肥力的增强主要通过增加细菌多样性来实现，而在25°条件下，肥力的增强主要取决于细菌网络结构。在初始施用期（1年），细菌多样性调节了肥力的提高，而长期施用（2年），肥力的提高与微生物群落无关。互作分析表明，不同处理下生物炭添加量是提高土壤肥力的主要因素（F = 58.34）。添加量对土壤肥力的改善呈剂量相关（R2 = 0.706, p < 0.01），不同添加量水平对土壤肥力有不同的影响机制：在B30时，细菌多样性、网络结构和关键物种（放线菌）对土壤肥力有显著影响，而在B60时，生物炭主要通过增加细菌多样性指数来提高土壤肥力。这些结果建立了连接生物炭应用、微生物群落调节和提高斜坡生态系统土壤肥力的功能链。所证明的有效性支持生物炭作为改善喀斯特地区坡地土壤质量的可行策略。

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来源期刊

Land Degradation & Development 农林科学-环境科学

CiteScore

7.70

自引率

8.50%

发文量

379

审稿时长

5.5 months

期刊介绍： Land Degradation & Development is an international journal which seeks to promote rational study of the recognition, monitoring, control and rehabilitation of degradation in terrestrial environments. The journal focuses on: - what land degradation is; - what causes land degradation; - the impacts of land degradation - the scale of land degradation; - the history, current status or future trends of land degradation; - avoidance, mitigation and control of land degradation; - remedial actions to rehabilitate or restore degraded land; - sustainable land management.