Biochar as a soil amendment in northern forests: ecology, biogeochemistry, and bioenergy tradeoffs

生物炭-生物能源系统最近被认为是为数不多的技术之一，不仅有很大的希望减少化石燃料的使用，而且还可以通过加强碳固存直接缓解人为气候变化。虽然生物炭-生物能源系统的研究很有前途，但仍处于起步阶段。 这里提出的研究探讨生物炭生物能源系统在加拿大的林业部门，以增加环境和经济价值的可再生能源生产与森林生物质和提高森林采伐的可持续性。 我们之前已经在哈利伯顿森林和野生动物保护区有限公司建立了一个研究规模的热解系统，以从木屑和其他工厂残留物（例如，木屑、树皮）。这一地区的森林对磷有很强的限制，可能是由于长期的氮沉降，也表现出钙的共同限制。在这些土壤条件下，生物炭，提高土壤pH值和增加土壤磷的可用性，可以作为一种具有成本效益的森林土壤改良剂，可以潜在地提高生产力和增强环境服务，如碳封存。 拟议的工作汇集了在森林生态系统动态、土壤过程、木材分解产物的化学特性和生物多样性评估方面有着良好记录的科学家。 我们将解决关键的未知问题，关于不同类型的生物炭与森林生物量产生的影响土壤肥力和碳循环，进而影响植物和林分动态。生物炭对地上和地下生物多样性的任何积极或消极影响也将被描述，并寻求最大限度地减少影响的解决方案。 此外，生命周期分析将用于确定生物炭生物能源系统效益的整体碳、能源和经济成本。基本上没有以前的研究生物炭作为土壤改良剂在温带森林土壤：在这里的方法的整合，因此将提供一个前所未有的增加在这方面的知识基础。

Biochar-bioenergy systems have recently been heralded as one of the few technologies with substantial promise not only to reduce fossil fuel usage, but also to directly mitigate anthropogenic climate change by enhancing carbon sequestration. While promising, research on biochar-bioenergy systems is in its infancy. The research proposed here explores biochar-bioenergy systems in Canada's forestry sector in order to add environmental and economic value to renewable energy production with forest biomass and to improve the sustainability of forest harvesting. We have previously established a research-scale pyrolysis system at Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve Ltd to produce biochar from wood chips and other mill residues (e.g., sawdust, bark) under controlled conditions. Forests in this region are strongly phosphorus limited, likely as a result of chronic nitrogen deposition, and also show co-limitation bycalcium. Under these soil conditions, biochar, which increases soil pH and increases soil P availability, may act as a cost-effective forest soil amendment that can potentially increase productivity and enhance environmental services such as carbon sequestration. The proposed work brings together scientists with a strong track record in forest ecosystem dynamics, soil processes, chemical characterization of wood breakdown products, and biodiversity assessment. We will address key unknown questions regarding how different types of biochar produced with forest biomass influence soil fertility and carbon cycling and, in turn, influence plant and stand dynamics. Any positive or negative impacts of biochar on above- and below-ground biodiversity will also be characterized and solutions sought to minimize impacts. In addition life cycle analysis will be used to determine the holistic carbon, energy, and economic costs of benefits of biochar bioenergy systems. There are essentially no prior studies on biochar as a soil amendment in temperate forest soils: the integration of approaches here will thus offer an unprecedented increase in the knowledge base in this area.