Topsoil samples were collected from plots in a dry
cropland in the North China Plain 3 years after a single incor-
poration of biochar at 20 and 40 t ha
−
1
and analyzed for abun-
dances and composition of microbial community and for res-
piration under controlled laboratory conditions at 15, 20, and
25 °C. The addition of biochar generally reduced soil respira-
tions at the three temperatures and the temperature sensitivity
(Q
10
)at15
–
20 °C. Biochar amendment significantly in-
creased bacterial 16S rRNA gene abundances and fungal
ITS gene diversity and induced clear changes in their commu-
nity compositions due to improvements in soil chemical prop-
erties such as soil organic C (SOC) and available N contents
and pH. Illumina Miseq sequencing showed that the relative
abundances of Actinobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria,
Firmicutes, and
Alternaria
within Ascomycota, capable of
decomposing SOC, were significantly decreased under bio-
char at 40 t ha
−
1
.TheQ
10
values at 15
–
20 °C were signifi-
cantly correlated with fungal diversity and dehydrogenase ac-
tivity. Our results suggest that after 3 years a single biochar.

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EB00000004126K			Available