Rhizosphere processes and quality responses underlying reduced fertilizer inputs and enhanced efficiency in maize cropping on black soils driven by cyanobacterial biochar

BIAN Huichang; GU Xuejia; SUN Qi; ZHANG Yibiao; SHEN Yao; LÜ Shiwei; WANG Shuo; LI Ji

doi:10.13205/j.hjgc.202610019

Volume 44 Issue 10

Oct. 2026

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BIAN Huichang, GU Xuejia, SUN Qi, ZHANG Yibiao, SHEN Yao, LÜ Shiwei, WANG Shuo, LI Ji. Rhizosphere processes and quality responses underlying reduced fertilizer inputs and enhanced efficiency in maize cropping on black soils driven by cyanobacterial biochar[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(10): 189-199. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202610019

Citation:

BIAN Huichang, GU Xuejia, SUN Qi, ZHANG Yibiao, SHEN Yao, LÜ Shiwei, WANG Shuo, LI Ji. Rhizosphere processes and quality responses underlying reduced fertilizer inputs and enhanced efficiency in maize cropping on black soils driven by cyanobacterial biochar[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(10): 189-199. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202610019

Citation:

BIAN Huichang, GU Xuejia, SUN Qi, ZHANG Yibiao, SHEN Yao, LÜ Shiwei, WANG Shuo, LI Ji. Rhizosphere processes and quality responses underlying reduced fertilizer inputs and enhanced efficiency in maize cropping on black soils driven by cyanobacterial biochar[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(10): 189-199. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202610019

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Rhizosphere processes and quality responses underlying reduced fertilizer inputs and enhanced efficiency in maize cropping on black soils driven by cyanobacterial biochar

doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202610019

1. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China;
2. Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environment in Northeast China Plain, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Heilongjiang Academy of Black Soil Conservation and Utilization, Harbin 150000, China;
3. Jiangsu College Water Treatment Technology and Material Collaborative Innovation Center, Suzhou 215009, China

Received Date: 2026-01-24
Available Online: 2026-11-10

Abstract

Abstract

To evaluate the performance of Taihu cyanobacterial biochar under reduced fertilization in the maize-growing black soils of Northeast China， a field trial was conducted with two treatments： conventional fertilization （CF） and CF with 10% less chemical fertilizer plus a one-time basal application of cyanobacterial biochar at 150 kg/mu （TC）（1 mu≈666.7 m²）. The biochar exhibited a poorly developed pore structure （BET surface area 0.2682 m²/g） but contained abundant N— and O—bearing functional groups （e.g.， amide， hydroxyl， and carbonyl）， suggesting that its effects are primarily governed by surface functional groups and mineral fractions that mediate interfacial chemical processes relevant to nutrient retention and transformation. Comparing to CF， TC partially alleviated soil acidification， increasing soil pH to 5.78， and simultaneously enhanced hydrolysable N （AN）， available K （AK）， and soil organic carbon （SOC） under the reduced-fertilizer regime. Rhizosphere microbial α-diversity did not differ significantly between treatments， whereas Bacteroidota and Paenibacillus were relatively enriched under TC. Untargeted metabolomics identified 65 differential metabolites； oligosaccharides and small peptides were upregulated， with significant enrichment of pathways including starch and sucrose metabolism. These improvements in bulk soil properties and rhizosphere functioning ultimately translated into the enhanced crop output. Comparing to CF ［（683±79） kg/mu］， TC increased grain yield to （832±101） kg/mu， by 21.7%， grain starch concentration rose from 65.5 g/100 g under CF to 67.9 g/100 g， and total amino acids increased by approximately 12.1%， with particularly pronounced gains in key amino acids such as glutamate and proline. Overall， cyanobacterial biochar， when coupled with a 10% reduction in chemical fertilizer， supported maize yield and quality by improving the soil nitrogen supply context and optimizing rhizosphere processes， providing field-based evidence for black-soil improvement and the agricultural valorization of cyanobacterial bloom biomass.
- cyanobacterial biochar,
- black soil,
- maize,
- soil nutrients,
- rhizosphere process

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References(49)

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