The Effects of Biochar on Microbial Community Composition in and Beneath Biological Soil Crusts in a Pinus massoniana Lamb. Plantation

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) hold promise for reducing erosion in subtropical forest plantations, and microorganisms profoundly affect the formation development of BSCs. The effects biochar as a conditioner on diversity structure microbial communities BSCs are largely unknown. Therefore, our aim was to determine how might improve community composition BSC function. Herein, field experiment conducted P. massoniana plantation; addition treatment, no control (CK). Soil associated with moss (in beneath BSCs) without were analyzed by Illumina sequencing technology. results showed that Acidobacteria (28.35%), Proteobacteria (22.53%), Actinobacteria (17.41%), Chloroflexi (16.74%) dominant bacterial phyla, whereas Basidiomycota (70.00%) Ascomycota (22.76%) fungal phyla OTU number richness higher than those relative abundances Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, BSCs, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Ascomycota, Chytridiomycota opposite trend. Beneath increased (ACE index Chao1) but decreased richness. Biochar had little effect structures BSCs; however, it significantly Chytridiomycota. Biochar-induced changes related environmental factors, especially urease activity, organic matter content, pH, total nitrogen sucrase activity. We demonstrated different plantations; these findings provided new insights into stabilization below canopy regions.