Biochar amendment controlled bacterial wilt through changing soil chemical properties and microbial community

Abstract

Long-term continuous cropping has led to epidemic of bacterial wilt disease in Southern China. Bacterial wilt disease is caused by Ralstonia solanacearum and difficult to control. In order to control bacterial wilt, rice hull biochar was applied to soil with different doses (0, 7.5, 15, 30 and 45 t ha-1) in a field trial. After three years, the influence of biochar on soil properties, incidence of bacterial wilt and microbial community were characterized. Biochar amendment significantly suppressed bacterial wilt through changing soil chemical properties and microbial composition. Compared with control, disease incidence and index of biochar amendments (7.5, 15, 30, and 45 t ha-1) significantly decreased. Disease incidence and index of biochar amendment (15 t ha-1) were the lowest. Compared to the unamended control, contents of soil organic matter in biochar amendments (15, 30 t ha-1), available nitrogen in biochar amendment (15 t ha-1), and urease activity in biochar amendments (7.5, 15 t ha-1) significantly increased. Biochar amendments (15, 30, and 45 t ha-1) increased the relative abundances of potential beneficial bacteria (Aeromicrobium, Bacillus, Bradyrhizobium, Burkholderia, Chlorochromatium, Chthoniobacter, Corynebacterium, Geobacillus, Leptospirillum, Marisediminicola, Microvirga, Pseudoxanthomonas, Telmatobacter). Biochar amendments (7.5, 30, and 45 t ha-1) reduced the relative abundances of denitrifying bacteria (Noviherbaspirillum, Reyranella, Thermus). Biochar amendments (7.5, 15, and 45 t ha-1) significantly decreased pathogen Ralstonia abundance. Overall, application of biochar effectively controlled bacterial wilt through sequestering more carbon and nitrogen, enriching specific beneficial bacteria and decreasing pathogen abundance. This study revealed the potential of biochar in control of bacterial wilt.