Enhanced cornstalk decomposition by a psychrotrophic bacterial consortium comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin degraders with biochar as a carrier for carbonneutrality

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2022-01, Vol.344 (Pt B), p.126259-126259, Article 126259
• Main Authors: Cheng, Yi, Huang, Mingyan, Shen, Xiaohui, Jiang, Cheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biochar; Cellulose; Charcoal; Cornstalk degradation; Lignin; Low temperature; Microbial community; Polysaccharides; Psychrotrophic bacterial consortium; Soil
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126259

[Display omitted] •The optimal PSBM comprising 9 psychrotrophic lignocellulose degraders was obtained.•Biochar as a carrier provided microhabitat and enhance soil microflora diversity.•The novel PSBC accelerated cornstalk decomposition and nutrient release to soil.•Genera contained in PSBC became the dominant members in the soil microbiota. To explore an effective approach for accelerating cornstalk decomposition and return under low temperature, nine psychrotrophic cellulose-, hemicellulose-, and lignin-degrading bacterial strains were used with biochar as the carrier to prepare a novel psychrotrophic stalk-degrading bacterial consortium (PSBC). With PSBC, the maximum cornstalk degradation rate reached 59.3% after 50 d at 10–15 °C, which accelerated cornstalk decomposition, resulting in increases in organic matter, phosphorus, and potassium in the soil. Microbial community analysis demonstrated that PSBC enhanced microbial community diversity and altered specific selection. Genera Arthrobacter, Pseudomonas, and Pantoea in PSBC became dominant in the soil microbiota, which benefited cornstalk degradation. Therefore, this work provides a promising strategy to facilitate the degradation of cornstalks in cold regions, which has potential application value for carbon neutrality.