Life in the ‘charosphere’ – Does biochar in agricultural soil provide a significant habitat for microorganisms?

• Published in: Soil biology & biochemistry Vol. 65; pp. 287 - 293
• Main Authors: Quilliam, Richard S., Glanville, Helen C., Wade, Stephen C., Jones, Davey L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: agricultural land; agricultural soils; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; application rate; biochar; Biochemistry and biology; Biological and medical sciences; Black carbon; carbon sequestration; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; crop production; crop quality; Decomposition; ecosystem services; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; glucose; microbial colonization; microbial communities; Microbiology; mineralization; niches; Organic matter; physicochemical properties; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Pore volume; scanning electron microscopy; soil ecology; Soil microbial ecology; soil microorganisms; Soil organic matter; soil pore system; soil quality; Soil science; Soil–microbe interactions; surface area; topsoil; Soil organic matter; Decomposition; Pore volume; Soil–microbe interactions; Black carbon; Soil microbial ecology; Microbial activity; Organic matter; Ecology; Agricultural soil; Biochar; Soil―microbe interactions; Carbonization; Pore; Soil biology; Habitat; Soil science; Microorganism; Charcoal

Biochar application has become a novel and emergent technology for sequestering C, improving soil quality and crop production, and is a potential win–win strategy for ecosystem service delivery. Biochar addition can also stimulate soil microbial activity, and although it is unclear exactly why bioch...