Effects of Biochar and Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria on Plant Performance and Soil Environmental Stability

(1) Background: Biochar and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are widely used as amendments to increase the availability of nutrients and the diversity of the bacterial community within soil. (2) Methods: In this study, we investigated the effects of biochar and PGPR amendments on plant pe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sustainability 2022-09, Vol.14 (17), p.10922
Main Authors: Ren, Han, Li, Zilu, Chen, Hualin, Zhou, Jiangmin, Lv, Chengqun
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural production
Bacteria
Carbohydrates
Carbon
Carbon sources
Charcoal
Diversity indices
Environmental aspects
Eucalyptus
Fertilizers
Growth (Plants)
Microorganisms
Nitrogen
Nutrient availability
Nutrient concentrations
Nutrients
Phosphorus
Physicochemical properties
Plant growth
Plant resistance
Plantations
Potassium
Properties
Soil amendment
Soil amendments
Soil fertility
Soil improvement
Soil microorganisms
Soil properties
Soil stability
Soils
Sustainability
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Summary:(1) Background: Biochar and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are widely used as amendments to increase the availability of nutrients and the diversity of the bacterial community within soil. (2) Methods: In this study, we investigated the effects of biochar and PGPR amendments on plant performance, soil physicochemical property, and soil microbial diversity, as well as their relationship in a Eucalyptus (clone DH32−29) plantation in Guangxi, China. We determined the microbial AWCD, Simpson, Shannon, and McIntosh indices, and soil inorganic nitrogen (NH4+, NO3−), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), total nitrogen (TN), and plant growth and nutrient concentrations; (3) Results: Biochar-only had a significant impact on soil microbial community function, although the effects on plant performance were limited. PGPR plus biochar was found to significantly increase the diversity indices of soil microbes, as well as soil TK and TP. Besides, soil microbes displayed a preference for carbohydrates rather than other carbon sources. (4) Conclusion: Soil microbial functional diversity responded to changes in plant performance and, therefore, it could indicate soil ecological stability and ecosystem productivity. These findings may suggest that biochar and PGPR could potentially maintain ecological sustainability in the soil and improve plant performance through altering soil physicochemical properties in a eucalyptus plantation.
ISSN:2071-1050
2071-1050
DOI:10.3390/su141710922