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Updated: May 26, 2026

Assessment of Waste-Derived Biochars on the Health and Biological Activity of Soil
Published on: October 10, 2025
Biochar influences the microbial community structure during manure composting with agricultural wastes
Keiji Jindo1, Miguel A Sánchez-Monedero, Teresa Hernández
1Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), Department of Soil Conservation and Waste Management, Campus Universitario de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Abstract:
The influence of biochar derived from a hardwood tree (Quercus serrate Murray) on the dynamics of the microbial community during the composting of poultry manure (PM) and cow manure (CM) was evaluated by phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFAs). Changes in the PLFA patterns were related to key composting properties (C/N ratio, temperature, and bulk density) as the major drivers of the dynamics of the microbial community. At the beginning of the process, the fungal biomass was significantly greater in PM and CM than in the respective co-composted materials with biochar (PMB and CMB); this difference declined gradually during the process. In contrast, the Gram+ to Gram- ratio was increased by the presence of biochar. After 12 weeks of composting, factor analysis based on the relative abundances of single PLFAs revealed changes in the microbial community structure which depended on the original organic wastes (CM vs PM).
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