Grazing, soil, and biochar: U.S.-China scientists uncover a carbon-boosting superpower in karst lands

Groundbreaking research by Dr. Daniel F. Petticord (Cornell University) and Dr. Xuxin Song (Guilin University of Technology) reveals how biochar supercharges soil health in fragile ecosystems

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University

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Biochar efficacy in enhancing soil carbon fractions is mediated by parent soil type in grazing karst grassland

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Credit: Shiwen Zhu, Yili Guo, Hanhan Zhou, Wenjia Luo, Xun Yi, Yangming Zhou, Yuanlong Wu, Daniel F. Petticord & Xuxin Song

The Grazing Challenge

Pastures feed the world. But grazing animals? They can disturb the soil, speed up carbon loss, and weaken long-term fertility—especially in vulnerable karst soils. With climate change intensifying, scientists are racing to find ways to keep carbon in the ground, not in the air.

Enter: biochar. Think of it as “soil probiotics”—a charcoal-like substance made from organic waste that supercharges soil life and locks away carbon for decades, even centuries.

The Biochar Breakthrough

In a series of clever lab experiments using tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and simulated grazing, the team tested how biochar affects soil organic carbon (SOC) in two very different soils: iron-rich red soils and calcium-packed calcareous soils—both common in karst regions. And the results? Absolutely off the charts:

• Biochar boosted total soil organic carbon by a jaw-dropping 595%
• It increased mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC)—the most stable form of soil carbon—by 39%
• And it did so across both soil types!

How? By waking up the soil’s microbial workforce. Biochar doesn’t just sit there—it feeds beneficial microbes, which in turn break down organic matter and form ultra-stable carbon complexes with metals like iron, aluminum, and calcium. It’s nature’s own carbon-capture technology, turbocharged.

Why Soil Type Matters

Here’s the kicker: biochar works even better in red soils, where its alkaline nature helps fight acidification and teams up with iron to lock in carbon. But in calcareous soils, while still effective, the benefits unfold more slowly—proving that one size doesn’t fit all. And when it comes to grazing? It reduced SOC in calcareous soils—but biochar helped buffer the damage. This means farmers and land managers can use biochar as a shield, protecting soil health while keeping pastures productive.

A Blueprint for the Future

This isn’t just lab magic—it’s a real-world roadmap for precision land management in karst regions, where thin soils and high erosion risk make sustainability a challenge. The study calls for:

• Tailored biochar strategies based on soil chemistry
• Long-term protection against acidification in sensitive karst ecosystems
• Smarter pasture management that balances grazing with carbon storage

“Biochar isn’t a silver bullet,” says Dr. Petticord, “but it’s a powerful tool—especially when we match it to the right soil.” Adds Dr. Song, “In China’s karst landscapes, where millions depend on fragile ecosystems, this could be a game-changer for food security and climate resilience.”

Join the Soil Revolution

So next time you walk through a grassy field, remember: beneath your feet is a hidden world of microbes, minerals, and carbon—waiting to be nurtured. Thanks to visionary science from Cornell University and Guilin University of Technology, we’re learning how to heal the earth, one handful of soil at a time.

Stay tuned for more from this dynamic U.S.-China research team. Together, we can grow a greener, more resilient planet—one biochar-boosted field at a time.

 

 

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• Title: Biochar efficacy in enhancing soil carbon fractions is mediated by parent soil type in grazing karst grassland
• Keywords: Biochar; Calcareous soil; Mineral–associated organic carbon; Red soil; Simulated grazing
• Citation: Zhu, S., Guo, Y., Zhou, H. et al. Biochar efficacy in enhancing soil carbon fractions is mediated by parent soil type in grazing karst grassland. Carbon Res. 4, 52 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44246-025-00222-8 

 

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About Carbon Research

The journal Carbon Research is an international multidisciplinary platform for communicating advances in fundamental and applied research on natural and engineered carbonaceous materials that are associated with ecological and environmental functions, energy generation, and global change. It is a fully Open Access (OA) journal and the Article Publishing Charges (APC) are waived until Dec 31, 2025. It is dedicated to serving as an innovative, efficient and professional platform for researchers in the field of carbon functions around the world to deliver findings from this rapidly expanding field of science. The journal is currently indexed by Scopus and Ei Compendex, and as of June 2025, the dynamic CiteScore value is 15.4.

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Journal

Carbon Research

DOI

10.1007/s44246-025-00222-8 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Biochar efficacy in enhancing soil carbon fractions is mediated by parent soil type in grazing karst grassland

Biochar boost: Smart monitoring shows sustainable growth for basil

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University

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Optimizing sustainable basil cultivation with smart-monitoring: a comparative study of biochar and soilless growth media
 

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Credit: Sirjana Adhikari, Michael Vernon, Scott Adams, Lawerence Webb & Wendy Timms

Geelong, Australia — A team of researchers has discovered that adding biochar to potting mix can significantly improve basil growth while also advancing sustainable farming practices. Using Internet of Things (IoT) technology to track plant health in real time, the study highlights how small changes in growth media can benefit both agriculture and the environment.

The research, published in Biochar, tested six different growth media for basil cultivation over 30 days in “smart growth cabinets.” These controlled chambers allowed continuous monitoring of factors like light, humidity, and plant leaf area using sensors and high-resolution cameras.

The study compared traditional potting mix with soilless blends made from sand, coconut coir, perlite, and biochar — a porous carbon material produced from heating plant waste. Biochar has gained attention for its ability to retain water and nutrients, improve soil health, and lock away carbon for decades.

The results were striking: incorporating 10–20% biochar into potting mix enhanced basil root growth and leaf development without harming overall plant performance. In particular, nutrient-enriched biochar produced three times more plant weight compared to untreated biochar, showing its potential as a slow-release fertilizer.

“Our findings show that moderate levels of biochar can replace part of conventional potting mix, offering a more sustainable and climate-friendly alternative,” said lead author Sirjana Adhikari from Deakin University’s Centre for Sustainable Bioproducts. “Biochar not only improves plant growth but also contributes to carbon sequestration, making it a win-win for farmers and the environment.”

The team also observed that potting mix combined with biochar supported higher levels of key nutrients like potassium, essential for leaf growth in basil. However, too much biochar or untreated mixes with sand and coir reduced growth, underscoring the importance of optimizing biochar type and application rates for different crops.

Beyond basil, the approach has wider implications. Smart monitoring using IoT provides researchers and growers with valuable insights into how different growth media affect plant health over time. This data-driven method could accelerate the adoption of sustainable horticultural practices worldwide.

“With global agriculture under pressure from soil degradation and climate change, soilless growth systems enriched with biochar offer a practical pathway toward resilient food production,” Adhikari said.

The research also points to biochar’s role in supporting the circular economy. By converting organic waste into a long-lasting carbon-rich material, biochar not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also creates new value for agricultural byproducts.

The authors recommend further research into biochar’s long-term nutrient dynamics and its potential to substitute other common growth media, such as perlite, in commercial horticulture.

 

 

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Reference:
Adhikari, S., Vernon, M., Adams, S., Webb, L., & Timms, W. (2025). Optimizing sustainable basil cultivation with smart-monitoring: a comparative study of biochar and soilless growth media. Biochar, 7:89. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-025-00480-0 

 

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About Biochar

Biochar is the first journal dedicated exclusively to biochar research, spanning agronomy, environmental science, and materials science. It publishes original studies on biochar production, processing, and applications—such as bioenergy, environmental remediation, soil enhancement, climate mitigation, water treatment, and sustainability analysis. The journal serves as an innovative and professional platform for global researchers to share advances in this rapidly expanding field. 

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Journal

Biochar

DOI

10.1007/s42773-025-00480-0 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Optimizing sustainable basil cultivation with smart-monitoring: a comparative study of biochar and soilless growth media

 

Rivers’ hidden helpers: microbes that clean up nitrogen pollution across China

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University

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Relative contributions of denitrification and anammox to nitrogen removal in riverine wetlands across China

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Credit: Danli Deng, Di Xu, Gang He, Bangjing Ding & Wenzhi Liu

A new study has revealed how tiny microbes in rivers and wetlands across China help clean up excess nitrogen pollution, offering fresh insights into the health of freshwater ecosystems and the global nitrogen cycle.

Nitrogen is essential for life, but too much of it—often from fertilizer use, fossil fuel burning, and agriculture—ends up in rivers and lakes. This overload can trigger harmful algal blooms, oxygen loss, fish die-offs, and long-term damage to ecosystems. Scientists have long known that microbes play a critical role in removing nitrogen from water, but how these processes vary across landscapes has remained unclear.

In the study, published in Nitrogen Cycling, researchers examined 30 major riverine wetlands spanning a 3,500-kilometer transect from southern to northern China. Using advanced isotope tracing and genetic tools, they measured two key microbial processes: denitrification, which converts nitrate into nitrogen gas, and anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation), which turns ammonium and nitrite into nitrogen gas without producing greenhouse gases. Both processes permanently remove nitrogen from ecosystems.

The results revealed striking spatial patterns. Denitrification rates were higher in northern rivers than in southern ones, showing a strong latitudinal trend. In contrast, anammox was less tied to geography but emerged as especially important in deeper riparian soils, where it often dominated nitrogen removal.

“Denitrification has long been considered the main pathway for nitrogen removal, but our findings show that anammox plays an equally crucial role—particularly in sandy soils along riverbanks,” said senior author Wenzhi Liu of the Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Across river sediments and soils, the team found that denitrification was responsible for most nitrogen removal in sediments and root-associated soils, contributing 56–64% of nitrogen gas production. Meanwhile, anammox dominated in bulk riparian soils, accounting for up to 58%. Environmental conditions such as soil carbon, iron content, and nitrate availability were key drivers of these processes.

“These findings suggest that both denitrification and anammox must be included in models of river nitrogen cycling,” Liu explained. “By better understanding how microbes work in different habitats, we can improve predictions of water quality and design more effective conservation strategies.”

The research also highlights the overlooked role of natural river wetlands in buffering human impacts on water quality. As agriculture and urbanization continue to add nitrogen to rivers, knowing how and where microbes remove it will be vital for managing pollution and protecting biodiversity.

 

 

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Journal Reference: Deng D, Xu D, He G, Ding B, Liu W. 2025. Relative contributions of denitrification and anammox to nitrogen removal in riverine wetlands across China. Nitrogen Cycling 1: e003  https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/nc-0025-0004 

 

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About Nitrogen Cycling:
Nitrogen Cycling is a multidisciplinary platform for communicating advances in fundamental and applied research on the nitrogen cycle. It is dedicated to serving as an innovative, efficient, and professional platform for researchers in the field of nitrogen cycling worldwide to deliver findings from this rapidly expanding field of science.

Follow us on Facebook, X, and Bluesky. 

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DOI

10.48130/nc-0025-0004 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Relative contributions of denitrification and anammox to nitrogen removal in riverine wetlands across China

Article Publication Date

17-Sep-2025

 

Shortfin mako sharks show enhanced thermoregulation abilities during deep dives

The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI

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After about one day, the logger detached from the shark, floated to the surface, and was retrieved to obtain the data.

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Credit: Zola Chen

Tunas, billfishes, and some sharks, such as white sharks and shortfin mako sharks, have an ability known as regional endothermy, which allows them to maintain body temperatures higher than the ambient water. This ability has been regarded as an adaptation to cold environments. However, its role in warm-water species such as shortfin mako sharks, bigeye tuna, and swordfish has been unclear.

 

In this study, we attached data loggers to shortfin mako sharks caught off southeastern Taiwan to record water temperature, body temperature, and swimming depth (Fig. 1). During repeated deep dives, the body temperatures slowly decreased in deep cold waters, and rapidly increased when they returned to warm surface waters. Their warming rates were over 10 times higher than their cooling rates, only comparable to bigeye tuna and swordfish among fish species studied to date. Since deep waters contain abundant food resources, regional endothermy likely helps them stay longer in prey-rich deep waters while minimizing recovery time at the surface.

 

One shark showed unique thermoregulation before a deep dive. After quickly warming at the surface, it stayed there even longer, raising its body temperature above the ambient water before starting a deep dive. This suggests intentional “pre-dive warming” in preparation for deep cold waters. To our knowledge, no other fish species has been reported to show similar thermoregulation.

 

Shortfin mako sharks showed enhanced thermoregulation abilities during repeated dives. For warm-water species like shortfin mako sharks, regional endothermy allows not only heat retention but also flexible body temperature control. Our findings help explain the success of regionally endothermic fishes as apex predators across the world’s pelagic oceans.

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Journal

Journal of Animal Ecology

DOI

10.1111/1365-2656.70116 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Enhanced thermoregulation abilities of shortfin mako sharks as the key adaptive significance of regional endothermy in fishes

 

Fishy forensics improves tracking of fish migrations

University of Adelaide

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A school of Australian Mado in a temperate kelp forest in Narooma, New South Wales.

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Credit: Chloe Hayes.

As the world’s oceans warm, tropical fish species are moving into cooler waters and exploring new habitats beyond their traditional ranges. Researchers have discovered a new way to track their migration patterns by combining environmental DNA with visual surveys.

“Climate change has already caused more than 12,000 species to shift their homes across land, freshwater and the sea,” says the University of Adelaide’s Dr Chloe Hayes, who has published a study on the new approach.

“In the ocean, we have seen some tropical fish move into temperate reefs to seek cooler waters, particularly along the east coast of Australia, which is considered one of the fastest warming marine regions on Earth.”

Study co-author Professor David Booth, from the University of Technology Sydney, says the migrations are already evident.

“New coral and fish species arrive in Sydney's oceans every year, and this is expected to increase with future climate change,” he says.

Researchers have traditionally relied upon visual surveys to monitor these migrations, but that alone does not capture the full picture.

“Many of the early-arrival species are small, rare, or cryptic, so they can be easily missed. As a result, we may be underestimating the true rate of species on the move,” says co-author Dr Angus Mitchell, from the University of Adelaide.

To help fill the potential knowledge gaps, Dr Hayes took inspiration from forensic science.

“Every organism leaves behind traces of itself in its environment – fish shed mucus, scales and waste, all of which contain DNA. By collecting and filtering samples of seawater, we can extract this DNA and identify the species that have lived in a particular area,” says Dr Hayes, whose study was published in Diversity and Distributions.

Project leader Professor Ivan Nagelkerken, from the University of Adelaide, says the data improves knowledge of our oceans.

“Just as detectives solve crimes by analysing fingerprints or hair left at a scene, ecologists can build a picture of marine life from the genetic fingerprints floating invisibly in the ocean,” he says.

To test how well eDNA can reveal species on the move, the study’s team members surveyed fish communities along 2,000 kilometres of Australia's east coast, from the tropical reefs of the Great Barrier Reef to the temperate kelp forests of New South Wales.

“When we compared traditional visual surveys with eDNA water samples, the results were interesting. Each method revealed a somewhat different fish community, but together gave us a more complete picture than either method could on its own,” Dr Hayes says.

“eDNA detected tropical species in temperate ecosystems that had never been recorded there before, such as the lined surgeonfish, the striated surgeonfish, and the common parrotfish, as well as cryptic species like the black-blotched porcupinefish, the silver sweeper, and the speckled squirrelfish, which hide in caves or only emerge at night. These are exactly the kinds of fish that divers are most likely to miss.”

For temperate species, researchers were often better at detecting them with visual surveys than through eDNA, but the two combined still produced greater results.

“By combining the two methods, we can better track species on the move, giving us the clearest view yet of how climate change is reshaping our reefs,” Dr Hayes says.

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DOI

10.1111/ddi.70089 

 

Scientists develop a virus cocktail to combat superbugs

OUR FRIEND THE BACTERIOPHAGE

Monash University

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In a major advance for infectious disease treatment, researchers from Monash University and The Alfred have developed a bespoke phage therapy product that uses bacterial viruses, known as ‘bacteriophages’, to combat a highly problematic, antimicrobial resistant bacteria.

The treatment, named Entelli-02, is a five-phage cocktail designed specifically to target Enterobacter cloacae complex (ECC), a group of bacteria responsible for severe, often difficult-to-treat infections.

The study, published in Nature Microbiology, was led by Professor Jeremy J. Barr from the Monash University School of Biological Sciences, with Professor Anton Peleg from the Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred and Monash University as co-senior author, and represents a new approach for precision medicine in hospitals battling antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

“This is the first time we’ve designed and developed a clinical-ready phage therapy product tailored to an AMR bacterial pathogen at a local hospital,” said Professor Barr, senior author of the study. “Entelli-02 is not just a scientific achievement, it’s a clinical tool built for frontline use against deadly, drug-resistant, bacterial pathogens.”

Enterobacter infections are notoriously difficult to treat and have been linked to over 200,000 deaths globally in 2019. They have emerged in hospitals around the world and have the capacity to develop resistance to many of the last-line antibiotics.

Using a decade’s worth of bacterial isolates, lead author on the study Dr Dinesh Subedi said the research team developed and produced Entelli-02 through a rigorous process of phage isolation, genetics and preclinical testing.

“We initially began with three phages in our cocktail, but through iterative design, we improved the cocktail by genetically adapting the viruses to expand their host range, followed by selection of two additional phages with improved treatment outcomes,” Dr Subedi said.

“The final product, Entelli-02, contains five phages that can kill a broad range of Enterobacter isolates and reduce bacterial loads in infected mice by over 99 per cent.”

Entelli-02 was manufactured as a therapeutic-grade phage product at the Monash Phage Foundry, meeting sterility and safety standards for intravenous use under Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration Special Access Scheme.

“This is a blueprint for how hospitals can respond to AMR outbreaks with precision therapies,” Professor Barr said.

Professor Peleg said: “We’re bridging the gap between broad-spectrum antimicrobial treatments and personalised phage therapy to deliver a ready-to-use solution that’s both targeted and scalable. We are now ready with an off-the-shelf product to promptly support the treatment of some of our most difficult infections”.

The research was a collaboration between Monash University’s Centre to Impact AMR, the Department of Infectious Diseases at The Alfred, and the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute. Lead contributors include Dr Dinesh Subedi, Dr Fernando Gordillo Altamirano and Professor Anton Peleg.

Entelli-02 is now available for compassionate use and sets the stage for future clinical trials using phage products. The team hopes this hospital specific phage cocktail model can be replicated in other hospitals facing similar AMR threats.

“Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest challenges in modern medicine,” Professor Barr said. “With Entelli-02, we’re showing that phage therapy can be precise, powerful, and ready for clinical deployment.”

Read the full paper published in Nature Microbiology, titled Rational design of a hospital specific phage cocktail to treat 3 Enterobacter cloacae Complex infections

DOI: 10.1038/s41564-025-02130-4

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Journal

Nature Microbiology

DOI

10.1038/s41564-025-02130-4 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Rational design of a hospital-specific phage cocktail to treat Enterobacter cloacae complex infections

Article Publication Date

24-Sep-2025