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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (4): 54-66.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025170

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Mitigation of soil microbial carbon and phosphorus limitations through organic fertilizer and biochar inputs in subtropical cultivated grassland

Chang LIU1,2,3(), Ji-shan CHEN2,3, Rui-fen ZHU2,3, Wan-bin SUN2,3, Bo YAO2,3, Shi-kui DONG1,4()   

  1. 1.Veterinary Medicine and Qinghai Academy of Animal Science,Veterinary Medicine and Academy of Animal Science,Qinghai University,Xining 810016,China
    2.Chongqing Academy of Animal Science,Chongqing 402460,China
    3.Pratacultural Engineering and Technology Research Center of Chongqing,Chongqing 402460,China
    4.School of Grassland Science,Beijing Forestry University,Beijing 100083,China
  • Received:2025-04-30 Revised:2025-07-01 Online:2026-04-20 Published:2026-02-07
  • Contact: Shi-kui DONG

Abstract:

The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of fertilization on soil enzyme activities and soil enzyme stoichiometry in subtropical cultivated grassland. We conducted a field experiment in which organic fertilizer and biochar were applied to subtropical grassland. Then, changes in soil physicochemical properties were monitored and the impacts of these inputs on soil enzyme activities and enzyme stoichiometric indices were determined. Additionally, microbial nutrient limitations were assessed through determination of the stoichiometric characteristics of soil extracellular enzyme activities. The results show that the application of organic fertilizer and biochar to subtropical cultivated grassland significantly increased the soil organic carbon and total nitrogen contents, as well as soil pH (P<0.05). The application of organic fertilizer significantly increased β-1,4-glucosidase activity in the 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, and 20-30 cm soil layers by 36.18%, 37.21%, and 59.30%, respectively (P<0.05). It also increased β-1,4-N-acetyl aminidinidase activity in the 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, and 20-30 cm soil layers by 21.16%, 17.25%, and 30.24%, respectively (P<0.05). Application of biochar significantly increased leuine ameptiase and β-1,4-N-acetyl aminidinidase activity in all three soil layers (P<0.05). The average ratio of C∶N∶P for enzyme acquisition in subtropical cultivated grassland soil was 1∶1.31∶1.72, deviating from 1∶1∶1, indicating that microorganisms in this area are phosphorus-limited. After fertilization, the vector length and vector angle decreased, suggesting that fertilization can alleviate carbon and phosphorus limitations in the soil of subtropical grassland. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the improvement and management of subtropical cultivated grassland. Our results show that the appropriate application of organic fertilizers or biochar can contribute to the enhancement and restoration of subtropical artificial grassland, thereby alleviating carbon and phosphorus limitation in soil.

Key words: soil enzyme activity, soil enzyme stoichiometry, nutrient limitation, organic fertilizer, biochar