Changes in soil properties and CO2 emissions after biochar addition: Role of pyrolysis temperature and aging

Biochar has been regarded as an effective amendment for soil carbon sequestration and soil quality improvement. However, it remains unclear how pyrolysis temperature and biochar aging impact the responses of soil properties and CO2 emissions to biochar addition. Here, we investigated the effect of biochar on soil properties and CO2 emissions in a laboratory incubation using soils amended with/without fresh biochar produced at 300 (BC300), 450 (BC450), and 600 °C (BC600) and their corresponding naturally aged samples (aged in soil for 360 days). The results showed that biochar significantly increased soil total nitrogen (by 8–36%), available phosphorus (by 19–69%) and available potassium (by 1.5–4.2-fold) throughout the incubation. Both fresh and aged biochar promoted the formation of soil macroaggregate at the end of the incubation. Moreover, fresh and aged BC300 increased the soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) content, whereas for BC450 and BC600, at the beginning, the content of soil DOM was reduced, but the effects finally became insignificant. Generally, fresh biochar had no significant effect on soil enzyme activities and soil bacterial richness and diversity, but an inhibitory effect occurred in the aged samples. Both fresh and aged BC300 increased soil CO2 emissions, which was due to the biochar-induced increase in soil DOM content and enrichment of copiotrophic bacteria (Proteobacteria) as well as the decline of oligotrophic bacteria (Acidobacteriota). A significant decrease in soil CO2 emissions was observed after fresh BC450 and BC600 addition, owing to the biochar-induced decline in soil DOM content, while an opposite trend was found in aged samples, which could be attributed to the shift of the dominant soil phylum from Acidobacteriota to Proteobacteria. These findings enhance our understanding of biochar's potential to improve soil quality and sequester soil carbon.