Soil amendment with biochar and manure alters wood stake decomposition and fungal community composition

Abstract Biochar and manure can be used for sustainable land management. However, little is known about how soil amendments might affect surface belowground microbial processes subsequent wood decomposition. In a split‐split‐split plot design, we amended with two rates of (whole plot; 0 9 Mg ha −1 ) biochar (split 10 ). Wood stakes three species (hybrid poplar, triploid Populus tomentosa Carr.; aspen, tremuloides Michx.; pine, Pinus taeda L.) were placed in positions (horizontally on the surface, inserted vertically mineral soil), which served as substrate fungal growth. 3 years, decomposition rate (density loss), moisture content, community (via high‐throughput sequencing methods) evaluated. Results indicated that and/or increased stake rates, operational taxonomic unit abundance. richness diversity fungi dependent position (surface > mineral), (pine ), sample dates. This study highlights amendment alter community, turn enhance an important process (i.e., decomposition).