Evaluate if and where biochar applications are appropriate on forest soils. Determine if biochar can be used to remediate mine soils. Field trials will be established on either single tree or larger plots (depending on the availability of biochar) and pre-and post-biochar application soil and vegetation samples will be collected. In addition, lab and/or field trials on select mine land sites will be used to determine the feasibility of biochar being used to absorb heavy metals.
Organizations completing task
- USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
- University of Washington
Milestones
- Field test the use of biochar to improve soil characteristics on (1) a thinning study and (2) a mine site
Deliverables
- Installation of field sites that can be used for long-term assessments of the application of biochar to forest sites
- Publication on forest responses to biochar vs. other treatments
- Publication of lab leaching study from mine site
- Publication of field mine restoration activities
Reports
- Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, D.S. Page-Dumroese. 2015. Long-term effects on distribution of forest biomass following different harvesting levels in the northern Rocky Mountains. Forest Ecology and Management. 385: 281-290.
- Scott, D.A., D.S. Page-Dumroese. 2016. Wood bioenergy and soil productivity research. Bioenergy Research. doi: 10.1007/s12155-016-9730-6.
- Jang, W; Keyes, CR; Page-Dumroese DS. 2016. Long-term changes from forest harvesting and residue management in the northern Rocky Mountains. Soil Science Society of America Journal. May 27. [NOTE: Also claimed under 4.2 as 4.2.2]doi:10.2136/sssaj2015.11.0413
- Bergman, R., H. Gu, D.S. Page-Dumroese, and N. Anderson. 2017. Life cycle analysis of biochar. In: Biochar: a regional supply chain approach in view of climate change mitigation. Chapter 3. Cambridge University Press.
- Page-Dumroese, D.S., M. Coleman, S.C. Thomas. 2017. Opportunities and uses of biochar on forest sites in North America. In: Biochar: a regional supply chain approach in view of climate change mitigation. Chapter 15. Cambridge University Press.
- Page-Dumroese, D.S., M.D. Busse, J.G. Archuleta, D. McAvoy, and E. Roussel. 2017. Methods to reduce forest residue volume after timber harvesting and produce black carbon. Scientifica. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2745764
- Jang, W., D.S. Page-Dumroese, and H.-S. Han. 2017. Comparison of heat transfer and soil impacts of air curtain burner burning and slash pile burning. Forests, 8: 297-312.
