Insight into mechanisms of biochar-fertilizer induced of microbial community and microbiology of nitrogen cycle in acidic soil

Abstract

Biochar has been shown to affect the nitrogen (N) cycle in soil, however, it is unknown how this occurs. Therefore, we used metabolomics, high-throughput sequencing, and quantitative PCR to explore biochar and nitrogen fertilizer effects on the mitigation mechanisms of adverse environments in acidic soil. In the current research, we used acidic soil and maize straw biochar (pyrolyzed at 400 °C with limited oxygen). Three maize straw biochar levels (B1; 0t ha−1, B2; 45 t ha−1, and B3; 90 t ha−1) along with three N fertilizer (urea) levels (N1; 0 kg ha−1, N2; 225 kg ha−1 mg kg−1, and N3; 450 kg ha−1 mg kg−1) were employed in a sixty-day pot experiment. We found that the formation of NH+ 4-N was faster at 0–10 days, while the formation of NO- 3-N occurred at 20–35 days. Furthermore, the combined application of biochar and N fertilizer most effectively boosted soil inorganic N contents compared to biochar and N fertilizer treatments alone. The B3 treatment increased the total N and total inorganic N by 0.2–24.2% and 55.2–91.7%, respectively. Soil microorganism, N fixation, and nitrification capabilities increased with biochar and N fertilizer addition in terms of N-cycling-functional genes. Biochar-N fertilizer had a greater impact on the soil bacterial community and their diversity and richness. Metabolomics revealed 756 distinct metabolites, including 8 substantially upregulated metabolites and 21 significantly downregulated metabolites. A significant amount of lipids and organic acids were formed by biochar-N fertilizer treatments. Thus, biochar and N fertilizer triggered soil metabolism by affecting bacterial community structure, and N-cycling of the soil micro-ecological environment.