The increasing use of antibiotics in livestock poses environmental risks, leading to contamination of agricultural soils and propagation of microbial antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs). This study examined the impacts of wood- and manure-derived biochar (BC) on antibiotic residues, ARGs, and microbial communities in sandy loam and clay loam soils amended with manure in Cynodon dactylon pastures. We hypothesized that BC amendments would influence the degradation of antibiotics and the structure of microbial communities based on their physicochemical properties and soil types. Our results demonstrated that wood BC reduced the concentrations of tetracycline and sulfonamides, particularly in sandy loam soil, due to its larger surface area and hydrophobic properties. In contrast, manure BC provided additional nutrients and supported atmospheric nitrogen-fixing microbial groups, especially in clay loam soil, while exhibiting variable efficiency in reducing antibiotic residues due to its lower surface area and higher ash content. These findings underscore the differential impacts of each BC type, emphasizing the need for tailored BC applications based on soil type to effectively mitigate antibiotic contamination and promote sustainable agricultural practices. In conclusion, wood BC was more effective in enhancing soil health by reducing antibiotic residues and improving microbial diversity, particularly in sandy loam soils, while manure BC was beneficial for nutrient cycling in clay loam soils.

Manganese dioxide (MnO2) is a promising cathode material for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) owing to its low cost and high theoretical capacity. However, its practical application is hindered by sluggish reaction kinetics and structural instability arising from Mn dissolution and irreversible phase transitions during repeated cycling. In this study, an amorphous–crystalline MnO2 (AMC-MnO2) heterostructure is constructed to address these limitations, in which amorphous MnO2 (AM-MnO2) provides abundant active sites and structural flexibility, while crystalline MnO2 (C-MnO2) offers continuous ion diffusion pathways and structural robustness. The heterointerface promotes interfacial charge redistribution, thereby improving the charge-transfer kinetics and structural stability through a buffering effect. Electrochemical analyses revealed that AMC-MnO2 exhibited faster H+ diffusion kinetics than AM-MnO2 and C-MnO2 while maintaining comparable Zn2+ diffusion behavior. Consequently, the AMC-MnO2 electrode delivered enhanced rate capability and superior cycling stability compared with AM-MnO2 and C-MnO2. These findings demonstrate that amorphous–crystalline heterostructure engineering effectively regulates Zn2+/H+ storage behavior and provides a rational strategy for developing high-performance MnO2 cathodes for aqueous zinc-ion batteries.