In a study published in 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, Ríos Guayasamín et al. examined the effects of biochar amendments on soil invertebrate communities in Amazonian secondary forests. The research was conducted over three years in the Ecuadorian Amazon, focusing on forests enriched with non-timber forest product (NTFP) species and amended with two types of biochar: kiln and traditional mound biochars, applied at 10 tons per hectare. The study was carried out in both poorer alluvial sandy soil and colluvial soil with higher nutrient content.  

Soil invertebrates play a vital role in tropical ecosystems, contributing to soil bioturbation, nutrient cycling, and leaf litter decomposition. These organisms are highly diverse, yet their response to forest management interventions, such as biochar additions, is not well understood. This study aimed to address this gap by assessing how biochar amendments affect invertebrate communities in the Amazon.  

The researchers found that soil conditions and seasonality were the primary factors influencing soil invertebrate community structure. However, the type of biochar also had detectable effects on certain invertebrate groups. Predators, such as ants and spiders, and microbivores, particularly Poduromorpha, were the dominant functional groups. The abundance of microbivores decreased with mound biochar addition in the poorer alluvial soil over three rain-shoulder seasons. In contrast, parasitoid wasps increased in abundance with kiln biochar additions in the colluvial soil.  

The study highlights the complex interactions between soil invertebrates, biochar amendments, soil type, and seasonality in tropical forests. While soil conditions and seasonal changes are the main drivers of invertebrate community structure, biochar type can influence specific invertebrate groups. These findings contribute to a better understanding of biochar’s ecological effects and have implications for forest management and restoration practices in the Amazon.  

SOURCE: Ríos Guayasamín, P., Smith, S. M., & Thomas, S. C. (2025). Invertebrate community responses to biochar addition in NTFP-enriched Amazonian secondary forests. Biochar, 7(1), 66.