Abstract
Saline–alkali soils in southern Xinjiang present significant challenges for sustainable jujube cultivation, necessitating innovative fertilization strategies to improve soil health and enhance fruit quality. This study investigated the synergistic effects of biochar–nitrogen (N) co-application on soil amelioration and the improvement of jujube quality in saline–alkali jujube orchards. A field experiment was conducted using different biochar application rates (0, BC1, BC2) combined with various N fertilizer types (conventional nitrogen N1, N2, UI-N (urease inhibitor), and NI-N (nitrification inhibitor)), which systematically analyzed soil physicochemical properties, nutrient dynamics, enzyme activities, microbial community structure, and jujube fruit yield and quality parameters. The BC1 biochar application rate emerged as the optimal threshold for soil carbon and N sequestration, with BC1 + N2 treatment achieving the highest total carbon and total nitrogen concentrations, representing increases of 12.4% and 21.42%, respectively, compared to controls. Biochar–N co-application significantly enhanced soil available nutrients, with BC1 + UI-N treatment producing the greatest soil organic matter increase within the BC1 group (9.20–14.51% enhancement). Notably, the treatments modulated soil microelement profiles, suppressing potentially toxic Cu and Mn while enhancing the availability of beneficial Mg and Fe. Soil enzyme activities responded differently, with urease and sucrase activities reaching maximum levels under BC2 + N1 and BC1 + UI-N treatments, respectively. Microbial community analysis revealed that biochar–N combinations significantly restructured both bacterial and fungal communities, with BC1 + NI-N treatment demonstrating superior bacterial α-diversity across all indices. Soil enzyme activities exhibited distinct response patterns, with urease and sucrase activities reaching their peak under the BC2 + N1 and BC1 + UI-N treatments, respectively. Moreover, the co-application of biochar (BC1) with N fertilizer significantly improved fruit performance, increasing per-tree yield by 24.23% and fruit vitamin C content by 16.47%, compared to the control. This study demonstrates that moderate biochar application (BC1) combined with urease inhibitor- enhanced N fertilizer (UI-N) represents an optimal fertilization strategy for saline–alkali jujube orchards, achieving simultaneous soil amelioration and fruit quality enhancement through coordinated regulation of soil–microbe–plant interactions. The established quantitative relationships provide a scientific foundation for the implementation of precision agriculture in arid saline–alkali regions, offering significant implications for sustainable specialty fruit production and soil health restoration in environmentally challenged agricultural systems.
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Claims 14
Claim · model-written summary
BC1 was identified as the optimal threshold for soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration.
Verbatim
e0“The BC1 biochar application rate emerged as the optimal threshold for soil carbon and N sequestration”
t0“Jujube”
Claim · model-written summary
BC1 + N2 raised soil total carbon by 12.4% versus controls.
Verbatim
e0“BC1 + N2 treatment achieving the highest total carbon and total nitrogen concentrations, representing increases of 12.4% and 21.42%, respectively, compared to controls.”
t0“Jujube”
Claim · model-written summary
BC1 + N2 raised soil total nitrogen by 21.42% versus controls.
Verbatim
e0“BC1 + N2 treatment achieving the highest total carbon and total nitrogen concentrations, representing increases of 12.4% and 21.42%, respectively, compared to controls.”
t0“Jujube”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar–nitrogen co-application significantly enhanced soil available nutrients.
Verbatim
e0“Biochar–N co-application significantly enhanced soil available nutrients”
t0“Jujube”
Claim · model-written summary
BC1 + UI-N produced the greatest soil organic-matter increase within the BC1 group, at 9.20–14.51%.
Verbatim
e0“BC1 + UI-N treatment producing the greatest soil organic matter increase within the BC1 group (9.20–14.51% enhancement).”
t0“Jujube”
Claim · model-written summary
Treatments suppressed soil Cu and Mn.
Verbatim
e0“the treatments modulated soil microelement profiles, suppressing potentially toxic Cu and Mn while enhancing the availability of beneficial Mg and Fe.”
t0“Jujube”
Claim · model-written summary
Treatments enhanced soil availability of Mg and Fe.
Verbatim
e0“the treatments modulated soil microelement profiles, suppressing potentially toxic Cu and Mn while enhancing the availability of beneficial Mg and Fe.”
t0“Jujube”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil urease activity peaked under BC2 + N1.
Verbatim
e0“urease and sucrase activities reaching maximum levels under BC2 + N1 and BC1 + UI-N treatments, respectively.”
t0“Jujube”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil sucrase activity peaked under BC1 + UI-N.
Verbatim
e0“urease and sucrase activities reaching maximum levels under BC2 + N1 and BC1 + UI-N treatments, respectively.”
t0“Jujube”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar–nitrogen combinations significantly restructured bacterial and fungal soil communities.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“biochar–N combinations significantly restructured both bacterial and fungal communities”
t0“Jujube”
Claim · model-written summary
BC1 + NI-N had superior bacterial alpha diversity across all indices.
Verbatim
e0“BC1 + NI-N treatment demonstrating superior bacterial α-diversity across all indices.”
t0“Jujube”
Claim · model-written summary
BC1 with nitrogen fertilizer raised per-tree fruit yield by 24.23% versus control.
Verbatim
e0“co-application of biochar (BC1) with N fertilizer significantly improved fruit performance, increasing per-tree yield by 24.23% and fruit vitamin C content by 16.47%, compared to the control.”
t0“Jujube”
Claim · model-written summary
BC1 with nitrogen fertilizer raised fruit vitamin C by 16.47% versus control.
Verbatim
e0“co-application of biochar (BC1) with N fertilizer significantly improved fruit performance, increasing per-tree yield by 24.23% and fruit vitamin C content by 16.47%, compared to the control.”
t0“Jujube”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors identify moderate BC1 with UI-N as the optimal strategy for these orchards.
Verbatim
e0“moderate biochar application (BC1) combined with urease inhibitor- enhanced N fertilizer (UI-N) represents an optimal fertilization strategy for saline–alkali jujube orchards”
t0“Jujube”
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