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

桑迪土壤由于风蚀、有机质含量低和持水能力低，对复垦专业人员提出了挑战。在加拿大的北方森林，开垦努力涉及桑迪土壤的生长季节的长度和土壤扰动的微生物群落的腐殖和共生元素的影响进一步加剧。破坏这种活性成分会降低土壤分解凋落物的能力，并将营养物质，矿物质和水转移到新建立的植物中。对于阿尔伯塔和萨斯喀彻温省的油砂行业，这些挑战导致了复垦工作的成败参半，同时产生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。 在复垦科学的进步，导致改善重新造林的成功似乎比以往任何时候都更需要，特别是如果他们可以在降低成本实现。萨斯喀彻温省理工学院与Reclaimit有限公司合作，旨在通过一系列的研究试验来解决这一需求，以确定土壤处理和改良剂，为短叶松（Pinus banksiana）的建立和生长提供更好的前景。该研究将侧重于有机含量，微生物群落发育和植物生长。这项研究的拟议设置将萨斯喀彻温省理工学院的哈宁溪教育和研究设施（HCEARF）在中北部高地生态区萨斯喀彻温省中北部。这种生态环境与萨斯喀彻温省和阿尔伯塔省的许多油砂开发相一致。我们的目标是确定理想的土壤处理生态可持续的森林开垦粗质地的土壤。将结果与参考生态系统进行比较。回收科学的这些进步也应该证明对碳封存有益。

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.