Abstract:
Objectives The intensive utilization of soil in protected cultivation systems leads to prominent issues such as high-intensity land use, nutrient imbalances, and low availability, which impair the soil microorganisms' capacity to maintain nutrient cycling and soil health. This study investigates the effects of combining biochar with functional bacteria on enhancing soil nutrient availability, enzyme activities, and crop nutrient uptake. The findings provide a scientific basis for the development of biochar-based microbial fertilizers.
Methods A pot experiment was conducted using soil from a three-year continuous cropping system of protected cherry tomatoes as the test substrate. Eight treatments were established: single applications of rice straw derived biochar (B), Azotobacter chroococcum (P1), Bacillus megaterium (P2), and Bacillus mucilaginosus (P3), as well as their combined applications (BP1, BP2, BP3), alongside a blank control (CK). All treatments received an equal amount of base compound fertilizer. At the maturity stage (90 days after transplanting), root-zone soil samples were collected to determine soil nutrient levels and enzyme activities. Plant N, P, and K contents were measured, and plant biomass and yield were weighed.
Results Compared to the CK treatment, the BP1, BP2, and BP3 treatments increased total carbon in the root-zone soil by 31.0%, 30.1%, and 15.4%, the C/N ratios by 18.2%, 19.2%, and 14.4%, available P by 45.2%, 63.3%, and 47.1%, available K by 50.8%, 56.7%, and 38.4%, and the soil quality index (SQI) were thus increased by 228.6%, 271.3%, and 101.3%, and the cherry tomato yields increased by 65.1%, 44.5%, and 50.4%, respectively. The BP1 treatment significantly increased soil peroxidase and urease activities by 11.3% and 29.8% compared to CK, and by 36.2% and 24.5% compared to P1. The BP2 treatment increased soil acid and alkaline phosphatase activities by 25.7% and 8.4% compared to CK. Compared to CK, the BP1, BP2, and BP3 treatments increased root N content by 33.5%, 24.9%, and 17.8%, P content by 46.7%, 47.3%, and 76.9%, and K content by 214.6%, 159.8%, and 252.8%, respectively. The BP2 treatment significantly increased root N, P, and K uptake by 140.0%, 175.0%, and 405.0%, respectively. Overall, nutrient contents in both shoots and roots showed significant linear correlations with the soil quality index (SQI), with the strongest correlations observed in roots.
Conclusions The combined application of biochar with different functional bacteria had varying effects on improving soil quality. All three combinations effectively increased total carbon and available P and K contents in the root-zone soil of continuously cropped land, enhanced the C/N ratio, and ultimately improved nutrient uptake and yield of cherry tomatoes. The combination of biochar with Azotobacter chroococcum notably increased soil peroxidase and urease activities, while the combination with Bacillus megaterium was most effective in enhancing phosphatase activity. The primary function of biochar is to improve soil nutrient availability and carbon content, whereas the functional bacteria enhance soil enzyme activities, thereby promoting nutrient uptake and accumulation in cherry tomatoes.