Hydrothermal biochar enhances the photosynthetic efficiency and yield of alfalfa by optimizing soil chemical properties and stimulating the activity of microbial communities
Abstract Hydrothermal biochar has demonstrated potential in enhancing crop growth by improving soil properties and microbial activity; however, its effectiveness varies with application rate, with excessive amounts potentially inhibiting plant growth. This study employed a pot experiment approach to...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83098-9 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846101308065447936 |
|---|---|
| author | Xingquan Yan Zhijun Wang Muqier Zhao Junfeng Hao Jingyi Liu Yuting Yan Pengbo Sun Yushan Jia Gentu Ge |
| author_facet | Xingquan Yan Zhijun Wang Muqier Zhao Junfeng Hao Jingyi Liu Yuting Yan Pengbo Sun Yushan Jia Gentu Ge |
| author_sort | Xingquan Yan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Hydrothermal biochar has demonstrated potential in enhancing crop growth by improving soil properties and microbial activity; however, its effectiveness varies with application rate, with excessive amounts potentially inhibiting plant growth. This study employed a pot experiment approach to compare varying application rates of hydrothermal biochar (ranging from 0 to 50 t/ha) and to analyze its effects on alfalfa biomass, photosynthetic efficiency, soil nutrient content, and microbial community composition. Biochar application increased alfalfa dry weight by 12.22-21.20% in leaves, 31.60-55.60% in stalks, and 5.62-38.05% in roots. It also enhanced the light utilization efficiency of photosystem II. However, excessive biochar (50 t/ha) reduced biomass and photosynthesis. The addition of biochar amendments enhances soil nutrient availability, particularly increasing the accessibility of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, while also lowering soil pH and enriching microbial interactions within bacterial communities. However, the effects on fungal communities are not pronounced. In conclusion, a moderate application of biochar (10-20t/ha) is recommended to maximize the growth of alfalfa and improve soil health, offering a practical approach for the sustainable cultivation of alfalfa. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-00c3a788dc1a4ed0bc58c43969e9a951 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-00c3a788dc1a4ed0bc58c43969e9a9512024-12-29T12:15:42ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-0114111410.1038/s41598-024-83098-9Hydrothermal biochar enhances the photosynthetic efficiency and yield of alfalfa by optimizing soil chemical properties and stimulating the activity of microbial communitiesXingquan Yan0Zhijun Wang1Muqier Zhao2Junfeng Hao3Jingyi Liu4Yuting Yan5Pengbo Sun6Yushan Jia7Gentu Ge8College of Grassland Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityAbstract Hydrothermal biochar has demonstrated potential in enhancing crop growth by improving soil properties and microbial activity; however, its effectiveness varies with application rate, with excessive amounts potentially inhibiting plant growth. This study employed a pot experiment approach to compare varying application rates of hydrothermal biochar (ranging from 0 to 50 t/ha) and to analyze its effects on alfalfa biomass, photosynthetic efficiency, soil nutrient content, and microbial community composition. Biochar application increased alfalfa dry weight by 12.22-21.20% in leaves, 31.60-55.60% in stalks, and 5.62-38.05% in roots. It also enhanced the light utilization efficiency of photosystem II. However, excessive biochar (50 t/ha) reduced biomass and photosynthesis. The addition of biochar amendments enhances soil nutrient availability, particularly increasing the accessibility of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, while also lowering soil pH and enriching microbial interactions within bacterial communities. However, the effects on fungal communities are not pronounced. In conclusion, a moderate application of biochar (10-20t/ha) is recommended to maximize the growth of alfalfa and improve soil health, offering a practical approach for the sustainable cultivation of alfalfa.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83098-9Hydrothermal biocharAlfalfaChlorophyll a fluorescenceRhizosphere soil microbial communities |
| spellingShingle | Xingquan Yan Zhijun Wang Muqier Zhao Junfeng Hao Jingyi Liu Yuting Yan Pengbo Sun Yushan Jia Gentu Ge Hydrothermal biochar enhances the photosynthetic efficiency and yield of alfalfa by optimizing soil chemical properties and stimulating the activity of microbial communities Scientific Reports Hydrothermal biochar Alfalfa Chlorophyll a fluorescence Rhizosphere soil microbial communities |
| title | Hydrothermal biochar enhances the photosynthetic efficiency and yield of alfalfa by optimizing soil chemical properties and stimulating the activity of microbial communities |
| title_full | Hydrothermal biochar enhances the photosynthetic efficiency and yield of alfalfa by optimizing soil chemical properties and stimulating the activity of microbial communities |
| title_fullStr | Hydrothermal biochar enhances the photosynthetic efficiency and yield of alfalfa by optimizing soil chemical properties and stimulating the activity of microbial communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydrothermal biochar enhances the photosynthetic efficiency and yield of alfalfa by optimizing soil chemical properties and stimulating the activity of microbial communities |
| title_short | Hydrothermal biochar enhances the photosynthetic efficiency and yield of alfalfa by optimizing soil chemical properties and stimulating the activity of microbial communities |
| title_sort | hydrothermal biochar enhances the photosynthetic efficiency and yield of alfalfa by optimizing soil chemical properties and stimulating the activity of microbial communities |
| topic | Hydrothermal biochar Alfalfa Chlorophyll a fluorescence Rhizosphere soil microbial communities |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83098-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xingquanyan hydrothermalbiocharenhancesthephotosyntheticefficiencyandyieldofalfalfabyoptimizingsoilchemicalpropertiesandstimulatingtheactivityofmicrobialcommunities AT zhijunwang hydrothermalbiocharenhancesthephotosyntheticefficiencyandyieldofalfalfabyoptimizingsoilchemicalpropertiesandstimulatingtheactivityofmicrobialcommunities AT muqierzhao hydrothermalbiocharenhancesthephotosyntheticefficiencyandyieldofalfalfabyoptimizingsoilchemicalpropertiesandstimulatingtheactivityofmicrobialcommunities AT junfenghao hydrothermalbiocharenhancesthephotosyntheticefficiencyandyieldofalfalfabyoptimizingsoilchemicalpropertiesandstimulatingtheactivityofmicrobialcommunities AT jingyiliu hydrothermalbiocharenhancesthephotosyntheticefficiencyandyieldofalfalfabyoptimizingsoilchemicalpropertiesandstimulatingtheactivityofmicrobialcommunities AT yutingyan hydrothermalbiocharenhancesthephotosyntheticefficiencyandyieldofalfalfabyoptimizingsoilchemicalpropertiesandstimulatingtheactivityofmicrobialcommunities AT pengbosun hydrothermalbiocharenhancesthephotosyntheticefficiencyandyieldofalfalfabyoptimizingsoilchemicalpropertiesandstimulatingtheactivityofmicrobialcommunities AT yushanjia hydrothermalbiocharenhancesthephotosyntheticefficiencyandyieldofalfalfabyoptimizingsoilchemicalpropertiesandstimulatingtheactivityofmicrobialcommunities AT gentuge hydrothermalbiocharenhancesthephotosyntheticefficiencyandyieldofalfalfabyoptimizingsoilchemicalpropertiesandstimulatingtheactivityofmicrobialcommunities |