Solution Center for Nutrient Management
Solution Center for Nutrient Management
Solution Center for Nutrient Management
University of California
Solution Center for Nutrient Management

Nutrient Management Research Database

General Information

Research Title

Soil biochar amendment shapes the composition of N2O-reducing microbial communities

Research Specifications

Crop: Wine Grapes
Soil Type:
Country: Switzerland
Year: 2016

Authors

Harter, Johannes, Weigold, Pascal, El-Hadidi, Mohamed, Huson, Daniel H., Kappler, Andreas, Behrens, Sebastian

Summary/Abstract from Original Source

Soil biochar amendment has been described as a promising tool to improve soil quality, sequester carbon, and mitigate nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. N2O is a potent greenhouse gas. The main sources of N2O in soils are microbially-mediated nitrogen transformation processes such as nitrification and denitrification. While previous studies have focused on the link between N2O emission mitigation and the abundance and activity of N2O-reducing microorganisms in biochar-amended soils, the impact of biochar on the taxonomic composition of the nosZ gene carrying soil microbial community has not been subject of systematic study to date. We used 454 pyrosequencing in order to study the microbial diversity in biochar-amended and biochar-free soil microcosms. We sequenced bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicons as well as fragments of common (typical) nosZ genes and the recently described ‘atypical’ nosZ genes. The aim was to describe biochar-induced shifts in general bacterial community diversity and taxonomic variations among the nosZ gene containing N2O-reducing microbial communities. While soil biochar amendment significantly altered the 16S rRNA gene-based community composition and structure, it also led to the development of distinct functional traits capable of N2O reduction containing typical and atypical nosZ genes related to nosZ genes found in Pseudomonas stutzeri and Pedobacter saltans, respectively. Our results showed that biochar amendment can affect the relative abundance and taxonomic composition of N2O-reducing functional microbial traits in soil. Thus these findings broaden our knowledge on the impact of biochar on soil microbial community composition and nitrogen cycling.

Research Highlights

Design and Methods

  • This laboratory study investigated the effects of biochar application on the makeup of soil microbes.
  • The makeup of the soil microbial population is not static, and can change with time and the application of soil amendments, including biochar.

Results

  • Biochar application was found to alter the size and makeup of the soil microbial community.
  • In particular, biochar application stimulated the growth of denitrifying microbes.
  • These results suggest that shift in the makeup of soil microbes is an important factor in biochar’s effect on soil nitrous oxide emissions.

Additional Information

Tags (links to other subject matter in database)

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