Novel Organic Amendments to Enhance Nutrient Cycling and Organic Matter in Problem Soils

拟议的研究评估了在萨斯喀彻温省的盐渍化土壤中添加新型有机改良剂的影响，包括生物炭、腐殖质材料（leonardite）和堆肥粪便。计划中的研究将解决盐碱地中有机物质的行为和相互作用的基本问题，以及评估和发展使土壤更具生产力的实际手段（改良、轮作）。将在萨斯喀彻温省棕色和深棕色土壤区建立两个受盐影响的土壤（盐碱地、盐碱地）实地研究地点。强调了修正对土壤和植物生产力的影响，盐矿物的性质及其与有机质的相互作用，碳氮的循环和固存。申请人以前的工作已经研究了对非盐碱地进行的新型有机改进剂的影响，这使得人们更好地了解了它们对土壤质量和植物生长的影响。这项工作的继续包括盐渍土壤是合理的，因为加拿大西部有600多万英亩的盐渍土地。此外，近年来降水增加和气温升高导致许多地区地下水位升高和蒸发增加，从而导致盐度扩散。气候变化可能导致盐碱化，但受盐影响的土壤也有望通过修正和提高生产力来固碳。然而，对盐渍土中有机质动态和养分循环的科学研究很少。由于种植前和种植过程中存在的盐度导致植物生产力低下，导致这些土壤中有机质含量低，以及过去施肥积累的大量无机养分。使用能够吸收阳离子和阴离子、改善水分关系和促进微生物活动的有机材料进行修正，将有可能促进更好的养分利用和耐盐牧草以及轮作杂交油菜和大麦等一年生作物的生长。如果营养物和盐类被有机物质有效地隔离，预计也会对改善水质作出贡献。实地和受控环境研究将结合使用传统的化学、物理和基于同步加速器的新技术，以更好地了解这些修正如何影响土壤盐度、水和空气关系、碳和氮的形式和翻转、有机矿物复合物的性质，以及它们促进耐盐牧草和一年生作物发芽和生长的能力。这项研究将有助于种植者适应和减缓气候变化以及经济繁荣。

The proposed research evaluates the impact of adding novel organic amendments, including biochar, humic material (leonardite) and composted manure, to chemically, physically and biologically challenged salt affected soils in Saskatchewan. Planned studies will address basic questions surrounding behaviour and interactions of organic matter in saline soils, as well as assessing and developing practical means (amendments, rotations) that will make the soils more productive. Two field research sites with salt affected soils (saline, solonetzic) in the Brown and Dark Brown soil zones of Saskatchewan will be established. Understanding the effect of the amendments on soil and plant productivity, nature of salt minerals and their interaction with organic matter, carbon and nitrogen turnover and sequestration is emphasized. Previous work by the applicant has examined impacts of novel organic amendments made to non-saline soils, which has led to a better understanding of their effects on soil quality and plant growth. A continuation of this work to include saline soils is justifiable as there are over 6 million acres of salt affected lands in Western Canada. Furthermore, increased precipitation and higher temperatures in recent years has led to higher water tables and increased evaporation in many regions that has contributed to the spread of salinity. Climatic variability can contribute to salinization, but the salt affected soils also offer promise for carbon sequestration through amendment and improvement in productivity. However, there has been very little scientific attention given to organic matter dynamics and nutrient cycling in saline soils. Low plant productivity caused by salinity present before and during cultivation contributes to low organic matter content in these soils as well as large amounts of inorganic nutrients that have accumulated from past fertilizer applications. Amendment with organic materials that can sorb cations and anions, improve water relations and encourage microbial activity will potentially promote better nutrient utilization and growth of salt tolerant forages and annual crops like hybrid canola and barley grown in rotation. A contribution to improved water quality is also anticipated if nutrients and salts are effectively sequestered by organic matter. Field and controlled environment studies will use a combination of traditional chemical, physical and novel synchrotron based techniques to better understand how the amendments influence soil salinity, water and air relations, carbon and nitrogen forms and turn over, nature of organo-mineral complexes, and their ability to promote germination and growth of salt tolerant forage grasses and annual crops. This research will contribute to grower adaptation and mitigation of climate change along with economic prosperity.