Zheng et al., investigated the effects of bamboo-derived biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More and dicyandiamide (DCD) on soil urease kinetics in forest and agricultural soils. Urease is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea, playing a crucial role in nitrogen mineralization. The researchers hypothesized that abiotic factors, such as soil nutrient conditions, would have a stronger influence on urease kinetics than biotic factors, such as microbial community composition.  

The study involved four treatments: a blank control, bamboo-derived biochar application, DCD application, and a combined application of biochar and DCD. The results showed that both biochar and DCD significantly reduced the urease kinetic half-saturation constant (Km) in both forest and agricultural soils, indicating an increase in the affinity of urease for urea. However, there was no significant difference in urease decomposition rates at saturated substrate concentrations (Vmax) among the treatments.  

The researchers found that soil abiotic and biotic properties contributed 58.6% and 41.4%, respectively, to the variability in Km. The application of biochar and DCD improved the catalytic potential of urease, which could lead to increased nitrogen loss from the soil. The increases in urease catalytic potential were associated with increased mineral nitrogen content and fungal community diversity.  

The study concluded that abiotic factors were more influential than microbial community composition in altering urease kinetics. These findings highlight the need for nitrogen-fixing measures in soils amended with biochar or DCD and provide a better understanding of how abiotic and biotic factors influence urease kinetics in agricultural and forest soils.  

Source: Zheng, Q., Wang, W., Zhang, P., Zhang, M., Yu, F., Yu, L., Liu, W., Zhang, W., & Zhang, M. (2025). Combined bamboo-derived biochar and DCD improves the catalytic potentials of ureases in forest and agricultural soils. Industrial Crops & Products, 226, 120761. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2025.120761