Effects of maize straw and its biochar application on soil organic carbon chemical composition and carbon degradation genes in a Moso bamboo forest.

We investigated the effects of maize straw and its biochar application on soil organic carbon chemical composition, the abundance of carbon degradation genes (I) and the composition of I gene community in a Moso bamboo forest, to provide the theoretical and scientific basis for enhancing carbon sequestration. We conducted a one-year field experiment in a subtropical Moso bamboo forest with three treatments: control (0 t C·hm), maize straw (5 t C·hm), and maize straw biochar (5 t C·hm). Soil samples were collected at the 3 and 12 months after the treatment.