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Characterization of Soil Spatial Heterogeneity and Improvement of Capping Materials for Oil Sands Mine Reclamation
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- Author / Creator
- Dietrich, Sebastian T.
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Surface mining in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR), Alberta, Canada creates a large-scale ecosystem disturbance requiring ‘land reclamation’. Mining approvals require that land reclamation returns the sites to an equivalent land capability class, but this goal has proven challenging to quantify. Restoring ‘ecosystem function’ might be more realistic and perhaps, quantifiable by examining spatial patterns of soil functional indices. Cover soil prescriptions that emulate close-to-nature conditions and recreate similar realized niches for the reestablishment of native flora and fauna can increase reclamation success. Surface applications of forest floor mineral-mix (FFM) sourced from upland forest ecosystems and peat mineral-mix (PM) sourced from lowland ecosystems are termed “cover soil” and used as a proxy for replacing native surface soils in upland forest reclamation; yet, there is a wide margin between these surface amendments and native surface soils. The focus of this research first was the spatial characterization of heterogeneity of key soil functions such as nutrient bioavailability, soil respiration, and microbial biomass. We compared reclaimed sites and natural benchmark sites in the AOSR. Secondly, methods for improvement of cover soil performance were tested.
In 2013 a field study was initiated that compared four different sites: 1) FFM reclaimed site; 2) PM reclaimed site; 3) type b ecosite recovering from fire; 4) type ab ecosite recovering from timber harvesting. We identified differences in spatial heterogeneity of nutrient profiles and soil respiration. Key bioavailable nutrients such as P were significantly different on PM and showed no heterogeneity. Seasonal patterns of respiration showed variability on natural reference sites and on FFM, indicating that disturbance had not removed belowground function completely. PM reclaimed sites showed no strong seasonal respiration patterns indicating homogeneous belowground function. During 2014 we measured soil microbial biomass (SMB) and soil respiration on six different sites. Two natural benchmarks were added including a 5) mature type a ecosite forest stand and 6) a type a ecosite recovering from fire to further characterize spatial heterogeneity on type a ecosites. The data indicated that there were differences in the pattern of soil respiration. Reoccurring patterns of soil respiration on the Harvested a/b ecosite indicated a linkage of above- and belowground function. The PM reclaimed site showed large-scale spatial patterns in SMB, similar to the type a ecosite affected by severe fire. The FFM site showed smaller scale spatial pattern than sites disturbed by clear-cutting and severe forest fire. We demonstrated that the amount of SMB and its heterogeneity increased with time since disturbance, potentially indicating stages of site recovery on benchmark type a ecosites.
Boreal forest soils of by reclamation targeted ecosites are characterized by higher mineral soil fractions and notably they contain pyrogenic carbon (PyC) as a native soil component that affects biogeochemistry. Biochar is a humanmade analog for PyC and its amendment to cover soils used for reclamation might be a suitable method for reestablishing ecosystems that function more similarly to upland forest ecosystems recovering from fire. Observations indicated that tree growth on the tested PM reclaimed sites was lower in comparison to FFM reclaimed sites. Accordingly, methods for cover soil improvement were tested. The effect of admixing subsoil with peat and amendment of peat biochar on bioavailable nutrients, foliar nutrient concentration and stoichiometry, aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) growth, soil respiration, root exudation, and soil organic matter (SOM) stability was evaluated in two greenhouse studies. Seedling growth increased with admixing subsoil with and without biochar, and there was an overall positive effect of amendment with biochar in the first study and significant positive effect of biochar amendment on seedling growth and a reduction of soil respiration in the second study. Our findings suggest that seedlings grown on PM and peat-subsoil mixes were potentially affected by nutrient deficiency as well as toxicity. Biochar improved seedling nutritional status and soil organic matter stability was positively correlated with tree growth and increased with biochar amendment.
Overall our studies demonstrate that by increasing heterogeneity in key soil functions, as well as assimilation of close-to-nature conditions, PM reclaimed sites can be improved. It is likely that this could be achieved by admixing of mineral subsoil, biochar amendment, and potentially targeted fertilizer application. -
- Graduation date
- Fall 2018
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Doctor of Philosophy
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- License
- Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission.