Enhanced roles of biochar and organic fertilizer in microalgae for soil carbon sink

Improved soil carbon sink capability is important for the mitigation of carbon dioxide emissions and the enhancement of soil productivity. Biochar and organic fertilizer (OF) showed a significant improving effect on microalgae in soil carbon sink capacity, and the ultimate soil total organic carbons with microalgae-OF, microalgae-biochar, microalgae-OF-biochar were about 16, 67 and 58% higher than that with microalgae alone, respectively, indicating that carbon fixation efficiency of microalgae applied in soil was improved with biochar and OF whilst the soil carbon capacity was promoted, the mechanism of which is illustrated through simulative experiments. Organic fertilizer could spur algal conversion of carbon into cell molecules by increasing intracellular polysaccharide production of microalgae. Biochar could change carbon metabolism pathway of microalgae through altering the yield of intracellular saccharides, and yield and type of extracellular saccharides. There was a superimposition effect on the soil carbon sink when biochar and OF were both present with microalgae. Copyright © 2017 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.