Biochar effects on ecosystems: Insights from lipid-based analysis

Abstract

To reflect the microbial ecology techniques being applied currently, this chapter aims to explore how the phospholipid fatty acids can be used to determine how biochar affects the structural, compositional, and functional capacities of microbial communities in different soil ecosystems. Used in combination with natural isotope or radioisotope (13C or 14C)-labeled substrates, it has the potential to determine soil organic matter cycling rate, monitor C flows from plants to soil microbes, and identify below-ground trophic relationships. Insights into biochar effects on soil phospholipid fatty acids, alternatives to data analysis, its limitations, and knowledge gaps are highlighted.