Effect of different Biochar Types on Soil Microbiota diversity and structure in Agricultural Soils

The soils of our planet constitute the foundation for food production. They are dynamic ecosystems and establish the basis for the settlement and development of a wide diversity of microorganisms of key importance for the functioning of countless physical, chemical, and biological processes. However, this resource is heavily threatened, largely due to the development and implementation of inadequate and unsustainable agricultural management practices. In the agricultural region of our country, significant deterioration in the soil matrix has been reported, such as contamination of groundwater, erosion and desertification, insufficient field capacity, and a reduction in soil quality. Biochar is a residual material produced by the pyrolysis of organic raw materials with the purpose of being used as a soil amendment. In recent decades, it has gained tremendous attention from numerous research groups globally due to its effects on improving soil quality and crop productivity. This project will assess the effect of the application of different types of biochar on the physico-chemical properties and the functional and structural dynamics of microbial communities in agricultural soils. The biochar will be produced from quail excrement and peanut shells. Through scheduled bioassays, the influence of both types of biochar on agricultural soils exposed to different management practices, and consequently, presenting different degrees of deterioration, will be evaluated. The project proposes the use of a wide range of microbial soil quality bioindicators (chemical, biochemical, and molecular). It is expected that the results obtained will contribute to the transition from the exclusive use of chemical fertilizers to the incorporation of organic amendments, promoting the rational use of soil without neglecting the interests of producers, thus directing land use towards greater sustainability.