Abstract
Purpose
Crop straw and biochar application can potentially increase carbon sequestration and lead to changes in the microbial community in agricultural soils. Sequestration of CO2 by autotrophic microorganisms is key to biogeochemical carbon cycling in soil ecosystems. The effects of straw and its biochar, derived from slow pyrolysis, on CO2 fixation bacteria in sandy soils, remain unclear. Therefore, this study compared the response of abundance and community of CO2 fixation bacteria to the two straw application methods in a sandy agricultural soil. The overall aim of the study was to achieve an efficient use of straw residues for the soil sustainablility.
Materials and methods
We investigated the soil organic carbon content and autotrophic bacteria over four consecutive years (2014–2018) in a field experiment, including the following four treatments: whole maize straw amendment (S), whole maize straw translated biochar amendment (B), half biochar and half straw amendment (BS), and control (CK) without straw or biochar amendment. The autotrophic bacterial abundance and community structure were measured using molecular methods of real-time PCR, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms (T-RFLP), and a clone library targeting the large subunit gene (cbbL) of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase.
Results and discussion
The results showed that the content of soil total organic carbon (TOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) in B, S, and BS treatments was significantly increased compared with the CK treatment. Soil TOC and available potassium (AK) in the B treatment significantly increased by 15.4% and 23.3%, respectively, but soil bulk density, DOC, and MBC significantly decreased by 8.5%, 10.6%, and 14.5%, respectively, compared with the S treatment. The abundance of the cbbL gene as well as of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene increased significantly in straw or biochar application treatments as compared to the CK treatment. The B treatment, but not the BS treatment, significantly increased the cbbL gene abundance when compared to the S treatment. No significant differences were observed in the bacterial 16S rRNA gene abundance among the three straw or biochar applications. The application of straw biochar could increase the diversity of the autotrophic bacteria, which also altered the overall microbial composition. Physicochemical properties of the soil, such as soil pH, SOC, and bulk density, can help explain the shift in soil microbial composition observed in the study.
Conclusions
Taken together, our results suggest that straw biochar, rather than straw application, leads to an increase in the abundance and diversity of CO2-fixing bacteria, which would be advantageous for soil autotrophic CO2 fixation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abujabhah IS, Doyle R, Bound SA et al (2016) The effect of biochar loading rates on soil fertility, soil biomass, potential nitrification, and soil community metabolic profiles in three different soils. J Soils Sediments 16(9):2211–2222
Asai H, Samson BK, Stephan HM et al (2009) Biochar amendment techniques for upland rice production in Northern Laos: 1. Soil physical properties, leaf SPAD and grain yield. Field Crop Res 111(3):81–84
Beller HR, Kane SR, Legler TC, Alvarez PJ (2002) A real-time polymerase chain reaction method for monitoring anaerobic, hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria based on a catabolic gene. Environ Sci Technol 36(18):3977–3984
Caporaso JG, Kuczynski J, Stombaugh J, Bittinger K, Bushman FD, Costello EK, Fierer N, Peña AG, Goodrich JK, Gordon JI, Huttley GA, Kelley ST, Knights D, Koenig JE, Ley RE, Lozupone CA, McDonald D, Muegge BD, Pirrung M, Reeder J, Sevinsky JR, Turnbaugh PJ, Walters WA, Widmann J, Yatsunenko T, Zaneveld J, Knight R (2010) QIIME allows analysis of high-throughput community sequencing data. Nat Methods 7(5):335–336
Case SDC, Mcnamara NP, Reay DS et al (2012) The effect of biochar addition on N2O and CO2 emissions from a sandy loam soil – the role of soil aeration. Soil Biol Biochem 51(8):125–134
Fierer N, Jackson RB (2006) The diversity and biogeography of soil bacterial communities. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 103(3):626–631
Glab T, Palmowska J, Zaleski T et al (2016) Effect of biochar application on soil hydrological properties and physical quality of sandy soil. Geoderma 281:11–20
Guan S, Liu SJ, Liu RY et al (2019) Soil organic carbon associated with aggregate-size and density fractions in a Mollisol amended with charred and uncharred maize straw. J Integr Agric 18(7):1496–1507
Gunnigle E, Frossard A, Ramond JB et al (2017) Diel-scale temporal dynamics recorded for bacterial groups in Namib Desert soil. Scic Rep UK 7:40189
Hagner M, Penttinen OP, Tiilikkala K et al (2013) The effects of biochar, wood vinegar and plants on glyphosate leaching and degradation. Eur J Soil Biol 58:1–7
Hassink J (1994) Effect of soil texture on the size of the microbial biomass and on the amount of C and N mineralized per unit of microbial biomass in dutch grassland soils. Soil Biol Biochem 26(11):1573–1581
Hou YH, Wang L, Fu XH et al (2015) Response of straw and straw biochar returning to soil carbon budget and its mechanism. Environ Sci 36(7):2655–2661 (in Chinese)
Hu YL, Wu FP, Zeng DH et al (2014) Wheat straw and its biochar had contrasting effects on soil C and N cycling two growing seasons after addition to a Black Chernozemic soil planted to barley. Biol Fertil Soils 50(8):1291–1299
IUSS Working Group (WRB) (2007) Word reference base for soil references 2006, first updata 2007. Word Soil Resources Reports NO. 103. FAO, Rome
Jeffery S, Meinders MBJ, Stoof CR et al (2015) Biochar application does not improve the soil hydrological function of a sandy soil. Geoderma 251-252:47–54
Kim HT (2005) Soil sampling, preparation, and analysis. CRC, Florida, pp 260–283
Kojima H, Fukui M (2010) Sulfuricella denitrificans gen. nov. sp. nov. a sulfur-oxidizing autotroph isolated from a freshwater lake. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 60(12):2862–2866
Kong XX, Kou CL, Sun KG et al (1999) Study on water characteristic of sandy soil. Agric Res Arid Areas 17:98–104 (in Chinese)
Kwan K, Cooper M, La Duc MT et al (2011) Evaluation of procedures for the collection, processing, and analysis of biomolecules from low-biomass surfaces. Appl Environ Microbiol 77(9):2943–2953
Laird DA, Fleming P, Davis DD et al (2010) Impact of biochar amendments on the quality of a typical Midwestern agricultural soil. Geoderma 158(3–4):443–449
Lan Y, Zhang W, Meng J et al (2016) Interactive effects of straw-derived biochar and N fertilization on soil C storage and rice productivity in rice paddies of Northeast China. Sci Total Environ 544:203–210
Li PP, Tong HT, Han YL et al (2019) Effect of straw return, directly or as biochar, on nitrifying microbes in Fluvo-aquic soil. Acta Pedol Sin 56(6):1471–1481 (in Chinese)
Nanba K, King GM, Dunfield K (2004) Analysis of facultative lithotroph distribution and diversity on volcanic deposits by use of the large subunit of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase. Appl Environ Microbiol 70(4):2245–2253
Nelson DW, Sommers LE (1996) Total carbon, organic carbon, and organic matter. In Methods of soil analysis: Part 3. Chemical Methods. Soil Science Society of America Book Series No. 5. Soil Science Society of America, Inc., Madison, WI
Olsen SR, Cole CV, Watanabe FS et al (1954) Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by extraction with sodium bicarbonate. United States Department of Agriculture, Washington
Pan F, Li Y, Chapman SJ, Khan S, Yao H (2016) Microbial utilization of rice straw and its derived biochar in a paddy soil. Sci Total Environ 559:15–23
Pjavan A, Pmvan B, Mulder LM et al (2005) Effect of straw application on rice yields and nutrient availability on an alkaline and a pH-neutral soil in a sahelian irrigation scheme. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 72(3):255–266
Powlson DS, Prookes PC, Christensen BT (1987) Measurement of soil microbial biomass provides an early indication of changes in total soil organic matter due to straw incorporation. Soil Biol Biochem 19(2):159–164
Qayyum MF, Steffens D, Reisenauer HP, Schubert S (2012) Kinetics of carbon mineralization of biochars compared with wheat straw in three soils. J Environ Qual 41(4):1210–1220
Rajeev L, Rocha UND, Klitgord N et al (2013) Dynamic cyanobacterial response to hydration and dehydration in a desert biological soil crust. Isme J 7(11):2178–2191
Selesi D, Schmid M, Hartmann A (2005) Diversity of green-likeand red-like ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenaselarge-subunit genes (cbbL) in differently managed agricultural soils. Appl Environ Microbiol 71(1):175–184
Spokas KA, Koskinen WC, Baker JM et al (2009) Impacts of woodchip biochar additions on greenhouse gas production and sorption/degradation of two herbicides in a Minnesota soil. Chemosphere 77(4):574–581
Tan LS, Sun CC, Wang Y et al (2019) Changes in biochar properties in typical loess soil under a 5-year field experiment. J Soils Sediments:1–12
Uzoma KC, Inoue M, Andry H et al (2011) Effect of cow manure biochar on maize productivity under sandy soil condition. Soil Use Manag 27(2):205–212
Vance ED, Brookes PC, Jenkinson DS (1987) An extraction method for measuring soil microbial biomass C. Soil Biol Biochem 19(6):703–707
Wang JZ, Wang XJ, Xu MG (2015) Crop yield and soil organic matter after long-term straw return to soil in China. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 102(3):371–381
Wang GF, Yan MA, Guo D et al (2017) Application-rate-dependent effects of straw biochar on control of phytophthora blight of chilli pepper and soil properties. Acta Pedol Sin 54(1):204–215 (in Chinese)
Wohlfahrt G, Anderson-Dunn M, Bahn M et al (2008) Biotic, abiotic, and management controls on the net ecosystem CO2 exchange of European Mountain Grassland Ecosystems. Ecosystems 11(8):1338–1351
Wu J, Joergensen RG, Pommerening B (1990) Measurement of soil microbial biomass C by fumigation extraction: an automated procedure. Soil Biol Biochem 22(8):1167–1169
Wu X, Ge T, Yuan H et al (2014) Evaluation of an optimal extraction method for measuring d-ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) in agricultural soils and its association with soil microbial CO2 assimilation. Pedobiologia 57(4–6):277–284
Wu X, Ge T, Wang W et al (2015) Cropping systems modulate the rate and magnitude of soil microbial autotrophic CO2 fixation in soil. Front Microbiol 6:379
Xiao KQ, Bao P, Bao QL, Jia Y, Huang FY, Su JQ, Zhu YG (2014) Quantitative analyses of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) large-subunit genes (cbbL) in typical paddy soils. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 87(1):89–101
Yao Y, Gao B, Zhang M, Inyang M, Zimmerman AR (2012) Effect of biochar amendment on sorption and leaching of nitrate, ammonium, and phosphate in a sandy soil. Chemosphere 89(11):1467–1471
Yin YF, He XH, Gao R et al (2014) Effects of rice straw and its biochar addition on soil labile carbon and soil organic carbon. J Integr Agric 13(3):491–498
Yuan H, Ge T, Wu X, Liu S, Tong C, Qin H, Wu M, Wei W, Wu J (2012) Long-term field fertilization alters the diversity of autotrophic bacteria based on the ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) large-subunit genes in paddy soil. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 95(4):1061–1071
Yuan H, Ge T, Zou S et al (2013) Effect of land use on the abundance and diversity of autotrophic bacteria as measured by ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rubisco) large subunit gene abundance in soils. Biol Fertil Soils 49(5):609–616
Yuan H, Ge T, Chen X, Liu S, Zhu Z, Wu X, Wei W, Whiteley AS, Wu J (2015) Abundance and diversity of CO2-assimilating bacteria and algae within red agricultural soils are modulated by changing management practice. Microb Ecol 70(4):971–980
Zhang J, Chen G, Sun H et al (2016) Straw biochar hastens organic matter degradation and produces nutrient-rich compost. Bioresour Technol 200(1):876–883
Zhao K, Kong WD, Wang F et al (2018) Desert and steppe soils exhibit lower autotrophic microbial abundance but higher atmospheric CO2 fixation capacity than meadow soils. Soil Biol Biochem 127:230–238
Zhou Z, Wang M, Liu W et al (2016) A comparative study of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria in acidic and alkaline purple soils. Ann Microbiol 66(2):615–623
Funding
This work was financially supported by National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFD0301103), the Natural Science Foundation of China (41401273), and the Strategic Priority Research Program (XDB15020200).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible editor: Yuan Ge
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, P., Chen, W., Han, Y. et al. Effects of straw and its biochar applications on the abundance and community structure of CO2-fixing bacteria in a sandy agricultural soil. J Soils Sediments 20, 2225–2235 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-020-02584-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-020-02584-5