Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) production has grown significantly in recent decades, increasing demand for specialty crops. Despite improvements in management practices and breeding, maintaining soil health and minimizing environmental impact remain a challenge for agricultural systems. Biochar production and application have been proposed as one effective strategy to mitigate climate change, improve soil health, and promote plant growth. This study, done at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Princess Anne, MD), investigated the effect of biochar on the growth and root associated microbial communities of two selected day-neutral strawberries, Monterey and Seascape, under greenhouse conditions. A pot experiment was conducted with three treatments: No biochar (control), 5% biochar, and 10% biochar. Growth parameters including plant height, number of leaves, number of flowers, runner production, and chlorophyll content were measured at 30, 60 and 90 days after transplanting. The 5% biochar treatment enhanced leaf development, runner production, and yield in Monterey, whereas biochar at 10% improved chlorophyll content in both cultivars. The microbial analysis revealed higher Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) with 10% biochar. Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria were the dominant microbial taxa across all treatments at the phylum level, with no significant differences between biochar treated groups and control. Alpha diversity metrics showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) between treatments, whereas the beta diversity showed a slight shift in microbial community composition in the biochar amendments. A more diverse microbial community was observed in the control group, nevertheless, the biochar amendment demonstrated a more stable and functionally enriched microbiome. These findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on biochar’s role in optimizing crop production and supporting sustainable farming practices.
