1. Effects of maize straw and its biochar application on soil organic carbon chemical composition and carbon degradation genes in a Moso bamboo forest.
- Author
-
Zhang WY, Jiang ZH, Pan LX, Zhou JS, Liu J, Cai YJ, and Li YF
- Subjects
- Zea mays, Soil chemistry, Charcoal chemistry, Poaceae, Forests, Organic Chemicals, Carbon analysis, Microbiota
- Abstract
We investigated the effects of maize straw and its biochar application on soil organic carbon chemical composition, the abundance of carbon degradation genes ( cbh I) and the composition of cbh I gene community in a Moso bamboo forest, to provide the theoretical and scientific basis for enhancing carbon sequestration. We conducted a one-year field experiment in a subtropical Moso bamboo forest with three treatments: control (0 t C·hm
-2 ), maize straw (5 t C·hm-2 ), and maize straw biochar (5 t C·hm-2 ). Soil samples were collected at the 3rd and 12th months after the treatment. Soil organic carbon chemical composition, the abundance and community composition of cbh I gene were determined by solid-state13 C NMR, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, and high-throughput sequencing, respectively. The results showed that compared with the control, maize straw treatment significantly increased the content of O-alkyl C and decreased aromatic C content, while maize straw biochar treatment showed an opposite effect. Maize straw treatment significantly increased the abundance of cbh I gene and the relative abundance of Penicillium , Gaeumannomyces and Marasmius. However, maize straw biochar treatment reduced the abundance of this gene. The relative abundance of dominant cbh I in soils was positively correlated with the content of O-alkyl C and negatively correlated with the content of aromatic C. Results of redundancy analysis showed that maize straw treatment had a significant effect on the microbial community composition of cbh I gene by changing soil O-alkyl C content, while maize straw biochar affected the microbial community composition of cbh I gene by changing soil pH, organic carbon, and aromatic C content. Maize straw biochar treatment was more effective in increasing soil organic carbon stability and reducing microbial activity associated with carbon degradation in the subtropical Moso bamboo forest ecosystem compared with maize straw treatment. Therefore, the application of biochar has positive significance for maintaining soil carbon storage in subtropical forest ecosystems.- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF