Microalgae-based biofertilizer improves fruit yield and controls greenhouse gas emissions in a hawthorn orchard

作者：Fen Ma, Yingchun Li, Xue Han, Kuo Li, Mingyue Zhao, Liping Guo, Shifeng Li, Kangjie Wang, Kangxi Qin, Duan Jian, Yutong Liu, Yuxuan Xu · 发表于：PLoS ONE · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1371/journal.pone.0307774 · 被引用次数：14 · 研究领域：Algal biology and biofuel production、Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics、Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics

Raising attentions have focused on how to alleviate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from orchard system while simultaneously increase fruit production. Microalgae-based biofertilizer represents a promising resource for improving soil fertility and higher productivity. However, the effects of microalgae application more especially live microalgae on GHG emissions are understudied. In this study, fruit yield and quality, GHG emissions, as well as soil organic carbon and nitrogen fractions were examined in a hawthorn orchard, under the effects of live microalgae-based biofertilizer applied at three doses and two modes. Compared with conventional fertilization, microalgae improved hawthorn yield by 15.7%-29.6% with a maximal increment at medium dose by root application, and significantly increased soluble and reducing sugars contents at high dose. While microalgae did not increase GHG emissions except for nitrous oxide at high dose by root application, instead it significantly increased methane uptake by 1.5-2.3 times in root application. In addition, microalgae showed an increasing trend in soil organic carbon content, and significantly increased the contents of soil dissolved organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon, as well as soil ammonium nitrogen and dissolved organic nitrogen at medium dose with root application. Overall, the results indicated that the live microalgae could be used as a green biofertilizer for improving fruit yield without increasing GHG emissions intens...