Impact of Biochar Types on Soil Microbiota in Agricultural Soils
The soils of our planet serve as the foundation for food production. They are dynamic ecosystems and form the basis for the settlement and development of a wide diversity of microorganisms crucial for the functioning of numerous physical, chemical, and biological processes. However, this resource is under severe threat, largely due to the development and implementation of inadequate and unsustainable agricultural management practices. In our country's agricultural region, significant deteriorations in the soil matrix have been reported, such as groundwater contamination, erosion, desertification, reduced field capacity, and soil quality degradation.  Biochar is a residual material produced by the pyrolysis of organic raw materials, intended for use as a soil amendment. In recent decades, it has garnered enormous attention from numerous research groups globally due to its effects on improving soil quality and crop productivity. This project will assess the effect of applying different types of biochar on the physicochemical properties and the functional and structural dynamics of microbial communities in agricultural soils. The biochar will be produced from quail excreta and peanut shells. Through scheduled bioassays, we will evaluate the influence of both types of biochar on agricultural soils exposed to various management practices and, consequently, different degrees of deterioration.  The project proposes the use of a wide range of soil quality microbial bioindicators (chemical, biochemical, and molecular). It is expected that the results obtained will contribute to the transition from the exclusive use of chemical fertilizers to the incorporation of organic amendments, promoting sustainable soil use without neglecting the interests of producers, thereby directing land use towards greater sustainability.