Biochar mitigates the mineralization of allochthonous organic matter and global warming potential of saltmarshes by influencing functional bacteria

Abstract Saltmarshes are suffering from severe degradation due to anthropogenic activities, leading to the loss of blue carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Given the significant potential of biochar in mitigating climate change, adding biochar to saltmarshes would alleviate this situation. This study investigated the effects of different biochar (made from Spartina alterniflora , corn straw, and Laminaria japonica ) and their aged biochar on the carbon fraction contents, GHG emissions, and microbial community structure of saltmarsh soils with allochthonous organic matter ( Enteromorpha prolifera ) addition. After 60 days of incubation, total organic carbon (TOC) loss and global warming potential (GWP) of biochar-amended soils were reduced by 67.29–124.33% and 4.91–123.24%, respectively ( p < 0.05). Biochar reduced the proportion of labile carbon (dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC)) in organic carbon by 61.92–86.15% ( p < 0.05). In addition, biochar reduced the relative abundance of specific functional bacteria (inc. cellulolysis, aromatic compound degradation, and xylanolysis) involved in organic carbon decomposition by 20.02–37.82% ( p < 0.05). These results suggest that even in the presence of high levels of liable organic matter, the application of biochar to saltmarshes has a sustained effect in promoting carbon accumulation and reducing GHG emissions, and this effect is regulated by a decrease of functional bacteria associated with carbon metabolism. Therefore, the in situ study of biochar on restoring carbon sink function of saltmarshes is proposed for practical engineering in future. Graphical Abstract