Chapter 6 - Examining Biochar Impacts on Soil Abiotic and Biotic Processes and Exploring the Potential for Pyrosequencing Analysis

Abstract

Microbial communities are critical to soil ecosystem functions. In order to predict meaningfully their response to biochar addition, properties of a range of biochars must be quantified relative to changes in the chemical, physical, and biological properties that constitute the soil environment. Biochars mostly contain mineral carbon (C) and variable amounts of organic C, the proportion of which is determined partially by production temperature and conditions. Biochars modify several static soil physical properties, which affect soil biota. Feedback between biochar effects on the physical environment and microbial communities may modify soil physical characteristics and contribute to aggregate formation, the basis of soil structure. Soil microbiome indices such as functional gene copy numbers, community structure, and enzyme activities are sensitive to management strategies, including biochar addition. Most soil microorganisms are not yet cultivable. Therefore, metagenomic approaches to evaluate microbial community function relative to biochar type, soil type, and other edaphic factors are promising to establish the role of the soil physical environment in biochar–soil–microbial–plant relationships.