The Effects of Sewage Sludge Biochar on Rhizosphere Microbial Community, Soil Quality, and <i>Ryegrass</i> and <i>Cosmos</i> Growth in Pot Culture

Sewage sludge biochar (SSB) is an innovative environmental material with remediation capabilities and significant potential for soil enhancement. This study aimed to accurately assess the dual regulatory effects of SSB on plant growth and soil quality. We conducted potting experiments with <i>...

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Main Authors: Yang Yang, Hongjie Wang, Wenyi Dong, Qitian Li, Qi Han, Chaoxiang Li, Tianhao Liu, Pingyan Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/5/641
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author Yang Yang
Hongjie Wang
Wenyi Dong
Qitian Li
Qi Han
Chaoxiang Li
Tianhao Liu
Pingyan Zhou
author_facet Yang Yang
Hongjie Wang
Wenyi Dong
Qitian Li
Qi Han
Chaoxiang Li
Tianhao Liu
Pingyan Zhou
author_sort Yang Yang
collection DOAJ
description Sewage sludge biochar (SSB) is an innovative environmental material with remediation capabilities and significant potential for soil enhancement. This study aimed to accurately assess the dual regulatory effects of SSB on plant growth and soil quality. We conducted potting experiments with <i>ryegrass</i> and <i>cosmos</i> to analyze the impacts of SSB on plant growth, soil quality, and microbial communities. The partial least squares path model (PLS-PM) analysis was employed to elucidate the intrinsic relationships between SSB application and soil environmental factors, microbial communities, and plant growth. The results indicated that the application of SSB significantly enhanced the growth of <i>ryegrass</i> and <i>cosmos</i>, improved the soil quality, and increased the quantity of soil beneficial bacteria in the inter-root soil microbial communities. The addition of 9% and 3% (w w<sup>−1</sup>) SSB resulted in the most substantial growth of <i>ryegrass</i> and <i>cosmos</i>, with aboveground biomass increasing 68.97% and 68.12%, respectively, and root biomass increasing by 49.87% and 45.14%. PLS path analysis revealed that SSB had a significant effect on the number of bacteria, which also played an important role in soil environmental factors such as pH and conductivity. This study provides a scientific basis for the utilization of sludge resources, green agriculture, and soil improvement. Additionally, it offers technical support for optimizing the application strategy of sludge biochar.
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spelling doaj-art-1b95a75a32c449f0a770eba98d9e3bec2025-08-20T02:59:00ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-02-0114564110.3390/plants14050641The Effects of Sewage Sludge Biochar on Rhizosphere Microbial Community, Soil Quality, and <i>Ryegrass</i> and <i>Cosmos</i> Growth in Pot CultureYang Yang0Hongjie Wang1Wenyi Dong2Qitian Li3Qi Han4Chaoxiang Li5Tianhao Liu6Pingyan Zhou7School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaSchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaSchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaSchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaSchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaSchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaSchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaSchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaSewage sludge biochar (SSB) is an innovative environmental material with remediation capabilities and significant potential for soil enhancement. This study aimed to accurately assess the dual regulatory effects of SSB on plant growth and soil quality. We conducted potting experiments with <i>ryegrass</i> and <i>cosmos</i> to analyze the impacts of SSB on plant growth, soil quality, and microbial communities. The partial least squares path model (PLS-PM) analysis was employed to elucidate the intrinsic relationships between SSB application and soil environmental factors, microbial communities, and plant growth. The results indicated that the application of SSB significantly enhanced the growth of <i>ryegrass</i> and <i>cosmos</i>, improved the soil quality, and increased the quantity of soil beneficial bacteria in the inter-root soil microbial communities. The addition of 9% and 3% (w w<sup>−1</sup>) SSB resulted in the most substantial growth of <i>ryegrass</i> and <i>cosmos</i>, with aboveground biomass increasing 68.97% and 68.12%, respectively, and root biomass increasing by 49.87% and 45.14%. PLS path analysis revealed that SSB had a significant effect on the number of bacteria, which also played an important role in soil environmental factors such as pH and conductivity. This study provides a scientific basis for the utilization of sludge resources, green agriculture, and soil improvement. Additionally, it offers technical support for optimizing the application strategy of sludge biochar.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/5/641sewage sludge biocharplant growthsoil nutrientsenzyme activitiesrhizosphere soil microbial community
spellingShingle Yang Yang
Hongjie Wang
Wenyi Dong
Qitian Li
Qi Han
Chaoxiang Li
Tianhao Liu
Pingyan Zhou
The Effects of Sewage Sludge Biochar on Rhizosphere Microbial Community, Soil Quality, and <i>Ryegrass</i> and <i>Cosmos</i> Growth in Pot Culture
Plants
sewage sludge biochar
plant growth
soil nutrients
enzyme activities
rhizosphere soil microbial community
title The Effects of Sewage Sludge Biochar on Rhizosphere Microbial Community, Soil Quality, and <i>Ryegrass</i> and <i>Cosmos</i> Growth in Pot Culture
title_full The Effects of Sewage Sludge Biochar on Rhizosphere Microbial Community, Soil Quality, and <i>Ryegrass</i> and <i>Cosmos</i> Growth in Pot Culture
title_fullStr The Effects of Sewage Sludge Biochar on Rhizosphere Microbial Community, Soil Quality, and <i>Ryegrass</i> and <i>Cosmos</i> Growth in Pot Culture
title_full_unstemmed The Effects of Sewage Sludge Biochar on Rhizosphere Microbial Community, Soil Quality, and <i>Ryegrass</i> and <i>Cosmos</i> Growth in Pot Culture
title_short The Effects of Sewage Sludge Biochar on Rhizosphere Microbial Community, Soil Quality, and <i>Ryegrass</i> and <i>Cosmos</i> Growth in Pot Culture
title_sort effects of sewage sludge biochar on rhizosphere microbial community soil quality and i ryegrass i and i cosmos i growth in pot culture
topic sewage sludge biochar
plant growth
soil nutrients
enzyme activities
rhizosphere soil microbial community
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/5/641
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