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Enhanced Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Reshaped Phyllosphere Microbiome through Biochar Application and Nitrogen
Min Zhu1, Kexin Huang1, Xuao Wang1
1College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|January 14, 2026
Summary
Adding biochar to reduced nitrogen fertilizer significantly improves paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) growth, forage quality, and soil health. This sustainable approach enhances nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and beneficial soil microbes.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Soil Science
- Microbiology
Background:
- Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) is a valuable high-protein forage crop.
- Conventional nitrogen fertilization leads to low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in paper mulberry.
- Sustainable fertilization strategies are needed to improve crop yield and NUE.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of coapplying biochar with reduced nitrogen fertilizer on paper mulberry.
- To assess impacts on plant physiology, forage quality, soil properties, and phyllosphere microbiome.
- To identify an optimal sustainable fertilization strategy for paper mulberry production.
Main Methods:
- Field experiment evaluating biochar and reduced nitrogen fertilizer treatments.
- Analysis of plant physiological parameters and forage quality.
- Soil property analysis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing for phyllosphere microbiome profiling.
Main Results:
- Moderate biochar addition significantly enhanced paper mulberry growth, forage quality, and soil health.
- Coapplying biochar with 15% reduced nitrogen improved NUE without compromising plant performance.
- Biochar treatment increased diazotroph abundance, suppressed pathogens, and enhanced microbial network complexity in the phyllosphere.
Conclusions:
- Coapplying biochar with 15% reduced nitrogen is a sustainable strategy for paper mulberry cultivation.
- This approach improves NUE, plant performance, and soil properties.
- Biochar application beneficially reshapes the phyllosphere microbiome, promoting plant health.
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