Influence of individual and combined application of biochar, Bacillus megaterium, and phosphatase on phosphorus availability in calcareous soil

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) in calcareous soil often needs to be replenished repeatedly. P-enriched biochar is expected to improve soil available P. However, the effect of acid biochar incorporated with other P activators on the P availability in calcareous soil is rarely reported. One soil incubation for 56 days was conducted to investigate the influence of individual application of acid biochar (B), phosphatase (E), Bacillus megaterium (M), and their combined application (BE, BM, EM, BEM) on soil P availability, based on analysis of Olsen-P, water-soluble P, P forms, acid phosphomonoesterase (AcP), alkaline phosphomonoesterase (AlP) activity, and pH after 7, 14, 28, and 56 days of incubation. Results indicated that individual application of B significantly increased soil Olsen-P and AcP compared with CK in the whole incubation period. Individual application of M significantly increased soil AcP and AlP on the 14th and 56th day of incubation, but decreased soil Olsen-P significantly in the whole incubation. Individual application of B was the best measure for improving P availability in calcareous soil, followed by application of BM. But individual application of E or M was not recommended. Further investigations are required to investigate the influence of acid biochar on P availability in calcareous soil at the field scale.