Biochar enhances carbon storage and changes soil bacterial community structure but not fungal community in peach-tree orchard soil

Biochar, as a soil amendment, offers several benefits, including increased soil fertility, carbon (C) sequestration, and improved water-holding capacity in nutrient-poor soils. This study assesses the impact of adding different rates of pine biochar to sandy peach-tree orchard soils on the relative abundance and structure of soil microbial communities (bacteria and fungi) after one year. Soil samples were collected from biochar-amended plots using two distinct application methods (incorporated and surface-applied) at two rates (5% and 10% v /v) after one year of application. Bacterial and fungal communities were analyzed by sequencing, and microbial metabolic functions were measured using BIOLOG. The addition of biochar proportionally increased SOC content with increasing biochar application rate and also increased the soil mean weight diameter (MWD). The changes in microbial diversity with the addition of biochar were modest for bacterial and fungal diversity. At the same time, individual bacterial taxa were significantly affected by 10%-Inc, including N-cycling bacteria, whereas there was no overall significant difference in the relative abundance of fungal taxa. Overall findings suggest that the 10% incorporated pine-biochar significantly alters soil bacterial community structure, especially N-cycling bacteria, and enhances C storage one year after application. In conclusion, these results indicate a rapid response of the soil bacterial community to high concentrations of biochar, but no corresponding response from the fungal community.