Biochar and straw amendments drive microbial regulation of phosphorus dynamics in saline-irrigated cotton fields

Saline water drip irrigation is a potential solution for addressing freshwater scarcity in arid regions. However, prolonged use can accumulate soil salinity and reduce phosphorus (P) availability. Biochar and straw amendments have been shown to alleviate these effects, but their mechanisms in regula...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yang Ye, Xiaowen Guo, Yueyao Li, Wei Min, Huijuan Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiomes
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frmbi.2025.1508717/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832087113317744640
author Yang Ye
Xiaowen Guo
Yueyao Li
Wei Min
Huijuan Guo
author_facet Yang Ye
Xiaowen Guo
Yueyao Li
Wei Min
Huijuan Guo
author_sort Yang Ye
collection DOAJ
description Saline water drip irrigation is a potential solution for addressing freshwater scarcity in arid regions. However, prolonged use can accumulate soil salinity and reduce phosphorus (P) availability. Biochar and straw amendments have been shown to alleviate these effects, but their mechanisms in regulating microbial genes involved in P transformation under long-term saline irrigation remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of biochar and straw incorporation on soil microbial community structure and P availability in saline-irrigated cotton fields. Based on a 14-year field trial, three treatments were developed: saline water irrigation alone (CK), saline water irrigation with biochar (BC), and saline water irrigation with straw (ST). Results indicated that both amendments significantly enhanced soil water content, organic carbon, total P, available P, and inorganic P fractions (Ca10-P, Al-P, Fe-P, and O-P) while reducing soil electrical conductivity and Ca2-P and Ca8-P fractions. Biochar increased the relative abundance of Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, and Verrucomicrobia, while straw promoted Proteobacteria and Planctomycetota. Both treatments decreased the abundance of several P mineralization genes (e.g., phoD, phoA) and increased genes associated with P solubilization (e.g., gcd). Microbial populations and P cycling genes were shown to be tightly associated with soil characteristics, with Ca2-P and Al-P serving as important mediators, according to correlation studies. Generally, under long-term salty irrigation, biochar, and straw amendments reduced soil salinity, raised soil P availability, decreased the expression of phosphorus cycling-related microbial genes, and improved soil characteristics. These results made them excellent techniques for sustainable soil management.
format Article
id doaj-art-4264475e753b406990fc3df01adf2f53
institution Kabale University
issn 2813-4338
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Microbiomes
spelling doaj-art-4264475e753b406990fc3df01adf2f532025-02-06T07:10:08ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiomes2813-43382025-02-01410.3389/frmbi.2025.15087171508717Biochar and straw amendments drive microbial regulation of phosphorus dynamics in saline-irrigated cotton fieldsYang YeXiaowen GuoYueyao LiWei MinHuijuan GuoSaline water drip irrigation is a potential solution for addressing freshwater scarcity in arid regions. However, prolonged use can accumulate soil salinity and reduce phosphorus (P) availability. Biochar and straw amendments have been shown to alleviate these effects, but their mechanisms in regulating microbial genes involved in P transformation under long-term saline irrigation remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of biochar and straw incorporation on soil microbial community structure and P availability in saline-irrigated cotton fields. Based on a 14-year field trial, three treatments were developed: saline water irrigation alone (CK), saline water irrigation with biochar (BC), and saline water irrigation with straw (ST). Results indicated that both amendments significantly enhanced soil water content, organic carbon, total P, available P, and inorganic P fractions (Ca10-P, Al-P, Fe-P, and O-P) while reducing soil electrical conductivity and Ca2-P and Ca8-P fractions. Biochar increased the relative abundance of Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, and Verrucomicrobia, while straw promoted Proteobacteria and Planctomycetota. Both treatments decreased the abundance of several P mineralization genes (e.g., phoD, phoA) and increased genes associated with P solubilization (e.g., gcd). Microbial populations and P cycling genes were shown to be tightly associated with soil characteristics, with Ca2-P and Al-P serving as important mediators, according to correlation studies. Generally, under long-term salty irrigation, biochar, and straw amendments reduced soil salinity, raised soil P availability, decreased the expression of phosphorus cycling-related microbial genes, and improved soil characteristics. These results made them excellent techniques for sustainable soil management.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frmbi.2025.1508717/fullsaline water irrigationbiocharstrawP transformationfunctional genes
spellingShingle Yang Ye
Xiaowen Guo
Yueyao Li
Wei Min
Huijuan Guo
Biochar and straw amendments drive microbial regulation of phosphorus dynamics in saline-irrigated cotton fields
Frontiers in Microbiomes
saline water irrigation
biochar
straw
P transformation
functional genes
title Biochar and straw amendments drive microbial regulation of phosphorus dynamics in saline-irrigated cotton fields
title_full Biochar and straw amendments drive microbial regulation of phosphorus dynamics in saline-irrigated cotton fields
title_fullStr Biochar and straw amendments drive microbial regulation of phosphorus dynamics in saline-irrigated cotton fields
title_full_unstemmed Biochar and straw amendments drive microbial regulation of phosphorus dynamics in saline-irrigated cotton fields
title_short Biochar and straw amendments drive microbial regulation of phosphorus dynamics in saline-irrigated cotton fields
title_sort biochar and straw amendments drive microbial regulation of phosphorus dynamics in saline irrigated cotton fields
topic saline water irrigation
biochar
straw
P transformation
functional genes
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frmbi.2025.1508717/full
work_keys_str_mv AT yangye biocharandstrawamendmentsdrivemicrobialregulationofphosphorusdynamicsinsalineirrigatedcottonfields
AT xiaowenguo biocharandstrawamendmentsdrivemicrobialregulationofphosphorusdynamicsinsalineirrigatedcottonfields
AT yueyaoli biocharandstrawamendmentsdrivemicrobialregulationofphosphorusdynamicsinsalineirrigatedcottonfields
AT weimin biocharandstrawamendmentsdrivemicrobialregulationofphosphorusdynamicsinsalineirrigatedcottonfields
AT huijuanguo biocharandstrawamendmentsdrivemicrobialregulationofphosphorusdynamicsinsalineirrigatedcottonfields