A Comparison of Soil Treatments and Amendments for Forest Re-establishment on Oil Sands Leases

油砂租赁森林重建的土壤处理和修正比较

• 批准号: 538440-2018
• 负责人: Rogers, Kevin
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: Saskatchewan Polytechnic
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=680216
• 关键词: Comparison; Soil; Treatments; Amendments; Forest

Sandy soil poses challenges for reclamation professionals due to wind erosion, low organic matter content and low water holding capacity. In Canada's boreal forest, reclamation efforts involving sandy soil are further exacerbated by length of growing season and impact of soil disturbance on saprobic and symbiotic elements of the microbial community. Disruption of this living component reduces the soil's ability to decompose litter and translocate nutrients, minerals, and water to newly established plants. For Alberta and Saskatchewan's oil sands sector, these challenges have contributed to mixed success regarding reclamation efforts while engendering significant expenditures in manpower and equipment. From 2015 to 2017, the oil industry experienced a 49% decrease in capital investments and a $19 billion loss in revenue. Advances in reclamation science leading to improved reforestation success appear more in demand than ever, particularly if they can be achieved at reduced cost. Saskatchewan Polytechnic, in association with Reclaimit Ltd., aims to address this need through a series of research trials to identify soil treatments and amendments that offer enhanced prospects for jack pine (Pinus banksiana) establishment and growth. The research will focus on organic content, microbial community development, and plant growth. The proposed setting for this research will be Saskatchewan Polytechnic's Hanin Creek Education and Research Facility (HCEARF) in the Mid-boreal Upland Ecoregion of north central Saskatchewan. This ecological setting is consistent with many oil sands developments in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Our objective is to identify the ideal soil treatment for ecologically sustainable forest reclamation on coarse-textured soils. Results will be compared to reference ecosystems. These advancements in reclamation science should prove beneficial for carbon sequestration as well.

由于风蚀、低有机质含量和低持水能力，沙质土壤给围垦专业人员带来了挑战。在加拿大的北方森林，由于生长季节的长短和土壤干扰对微生物群落的腐生和共生成分的影响，涉及沙质土壤的开垦工作进一步加剧。这种活性成分的破坏降低了土壤分解落叶的能力，并将养分、矿物质和水转移到新生的植物中。对于艾伯塔省和萨斯喀彻温省的油砂行业来说，这些挑战在开垦工作方面取得了好坏参半的结果，同时也带来了大量的人力和设备支出。从2015年到2017年，石油行业的资本投资减少了49%，收入损失了190亿美元。尤其是如果能够以更低的成本实现这一目标的话，人们似乎比以往任何时候都更需要在开垦科学方面取得进步，从而获得更多的重新造林成功。萨斯喀彻温省理工学院与Reclaimit Ltd.合作，旨在通过一系列研究试验来满足这一需求，以确定土壤处理和改良剂，为杰克松树的建立和生长提供更好的前景。这项研究将集中在有机含量、微生物群落发展和植物生长方面。这项研究的拟议背景将是萨斯喀彻温省中北部高原生态区的萨斯喀彻温省理工学院哈宁溪教育和研究设施(HCEARF)。这种生态环境与萨斯喀彻温省和艾伯塔省的许多油砂开发项目相一致。我们的目标是确定在粗质土壤上进行生态可持续森林复垦的理想土壤处理。结果将与参考生态系统进行比较。回收科学方面的这些进步应该也会对碳封存有利。