Exploring the Relationship Between Biochar Pore Structure and Microbial Community Composition in Promoting Tobacco Growth

The potential benefits of biochar, a carbon-rich substance derived from biomass, for enhancing agricultural yield and soil health have drawn increasing interest. Nevertheless, owing to the lack of specialized studies, the role of its poly-spatial structure in the success of fostering plant growth remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the effects of various biochar pore shapes on tobacco growth and the underlying microbiological processes. Three pyrolysis temperatures (250 °C, 400 °C, and 550 °C) were used to produce biochar from tobacco stems, resulting in different pore structures (T3 > T2 > T1). We then used BET-specific surface area (BET), t.Plot micropore specific surface area (t.Plot), mesopore specific surface area (MSSA), specific pore volume (SPV), average pore size (AP), and mesopore pore volume (MPV) measurements to evaluate the effects of these biochars on tobacco growth and biomass accumulation, and microbial analyses were performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms. When applied to plants, biochar increased their growth compared to untreated controls. The most notable improvement in tobacco growth was observed in the biochar produced at 400 °C (T3), which possessed the largest and most advantageous pore structure among all treatments. Further studies demonstrated that biochars with greater specific surface areas (BET, t.Plot, and MSSA) positively altered the abundance of key microbial taxa (e.g., Stenotrophobacter, Ensifer, Claroideoglomus) and community composition, thereby encouraging plant development and biomass accumulation. Conversely, greater pore volumes (SPV, AP, and MPV) inhibited microbial activity and significantly affected growth and biomass accumulation. Structural equation modeling further demonstrated that the pore structure of biochar greatly affected plant growth by changing the relative abundance and community composition of soil microbes. Maximizing the benefits of biochar in stimulating plant growth and improving soil microbial communities depends on optimizing the material's pore structure, particularly by increasing the specific surface area. These findings will help expand the use of biochar in sustainable agriculture.