Biochar amendment enhances the diversity of phagotrophic and phototrophic protists in citrus orchard soils via fungal-mediated pathways.
Shangguan HY, Wang B, Hu HW, Tang ZH, Feng J
Soil Health
If you've ever struggled to grow citrus or fruit trees in heavy clay or acid soil, biochar made from wood scraps or straw could be the amendment that shifts the whole underground food web in your favor.
Researchers added different types of biochar—made from pig manure, rice straw, and wood—to citrus orchards with acidic soils and watched what happened underground. The biochar raised soil pH, added nutrients, and dramatically increased the variety of tiny organisms living in the soil, especially fungi and microscopic creatures called protists that eat fungi and bacteria. Importantly, the fungi seemed to lead the way: a richer fungal community pulled in a more diverse crowd of other microbes, creating a healthier, more connected soil ecosystem.
Key Findings
Biochar amendment significantly increased soil pH, electrical conductivity, and organic matter content (ANOVA, P < 0.05), with manure- and straw-derived biochars showing the greatest effectiveness.
Biochar enhanced the richness of phagotrophic (predatory) and phototrophic (light-using) protists but did not significantly affect parasitic protist diversity.
Path analysis identified fungal-mediated pathways as the primary driver of protist community changes, with increased fungal diversity triggering bottom-up enrichment of protist communities.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Adding biochar to acidic citrus orchard soils boosts the diversity of beneficial soil microorganisms—particularly fungi and protists—which are linked to improved soil health and citrus yields. The key mechanism appears to be that biochar first enriches fungal communities, which then support a richer community of microscopic single-celled organisms that help regulate soil ecology.
Abstract Preview
Soil acidification severely constrains citrus production across the globe. Biochar, as a soil conditioner, demonstrates potential for enhancing citrus yields and mitigating soil acidity; however, i...
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