Journal of Wetland Ecobiology
Volume 17, Issue 1 (Spring 2025)
2025, 17(1): 25-36 |
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The Effect of Biochar on Soil Microbial Indicators and Biodiversity and Its Role in Stimulating Plant Growth. Wetland Ecobiology 2025; 17 (1) : 3
URL: http://jweb.ahvaz.iau.ir/article-1-1090-en.html
URL: http://jweb.ahvaz.iau.ir/article-1-1090-en.html
Abstract: (529 Views)
The biodiversity of soil microorganisms is a key indicator for evaluating soil function and identifying contaminants. Biochar, a solid organic material produced from plant residues and agricultural waste under low-oxygen conditions, is recognized as a soil amendment that improves the soil's physical and chemical properties and influences microbial biodiversity. This study investigated the effects of biochar on soil microbial indicators, microbial biodiversity, and the growth of rye plants. For this purpose, biochar was prepared from wheat straw and stubble in an electric furnace and added to 400 grams of loamy soil at concentrations of 0% (control), 1%, 3%, and 5%. Subsequently, 10 rye seeds were planted in some samples, and other samples were prepared without plants. The samples were allowed to rest for two months before soil property measurements. The results showed that the addition of biochar to the soil increased the growth of rye, with increases in the fresh weight, dry weight, and height of the plant. For example, the fresh weight was 0.30 grams in the control sample and reached 0.50 grams at the 5% biochar level. Furthermore, biochar positively affected soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC) parameters, increasing the pH from 7.65 in the control sample to 7.83 at the 1% level. Soil microbial respiration also increased with increasing biochar; the respiration reached 0.12 mg CO2/g.day at the 1% level and 0.16 mg CO2/g.day at the 3% level. This study demonstrates that biochar not only increases microbial respiration but also improves the soil's capacity to support plant growth, and the changes in the measured parameters were greater in the samples containing rye plants compared to those without plants.
Article number: 3
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/07/8 | Accepted: 2025/12/3 | Published: 2025/12/3
Received: 2025/07/8 | Accepted: 2025/12/3 | Published: 2025/12/3
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