ABSTRACT
Biochar is the product of incomplete combustion of biomass produced under low or limited oxygen supply. It is highly diverse regarding its chemical (Czimczik et al. 2002, Schimmelpfennig and Glaser 2012) and physical properties (Downie et al. 2009). Three physico-chemical features of biochar are potentially involved in its ecological impacts (Fig. 1). Poly-condensed aromatic moieties in biochar are resistant against microbial degradation and, therefore, are responsible for its long-term C sequestration potential (Fig. 1, Glaser et al. 2002, Kuzyakov et al. 2009). Functional groups on the edges of biochar can enhance soil quality by providing exchange sites for cationic soil nutrients (Glaser et al. 2002, Glaser and Birk 2012). Last but not least, the porous physical structure of biochar enables a high water holding capacity and enlarges the surface area, leading to a higher physical sorption of dissolved organic molecules and serving as habitat for soil
microorganisms including penetration by fungal hyphae (Fig. 1). Therefore, it is obvious that biochar amendment to soil changes the physical and chemical environment, and therefore have an infl uence on soil microbial community and activity (e.g., Yin et al. 2000, Kim et al. 2007, O’ Neill et al. 2009, Grossman et al. 2010). However, little is known on how soil fungi interact with biochar.
