Planning paired-watershed scale biomass boiler ash utilization trials to support bioenergy waste diversion, forest regeneration, and aquatic ecosystem health

Wood ash is the residual from biomass boilers at forest products mills and stand alone energy facilities. In Canada, residual ash is often landfilled, which can be costly and pose environmental risks. However, considering that the components of the ash are derived primarily from soils and trees, and there is increasing interest to return wood ash from bioenergy facilities to managed forest soils. Ongoing work has largely shown that this can be beneficial, or at least not detrimental, to forest productivity and soil biodiversity across a range of forest and soil types across Canada. However there are gaps in understanding 1) how widespread ash utilization may affect wetland and aquatic components of forested landscapes, forestry operations research related to ash hauling and spreading, and 3) if biomass boiler ash can be used at high application rates to reclaim logging roads. This internship project will identify paired watersheds for subsequent ash addition (and control) amendments in NW Ontario forests where the Partner is the Sustainable Forest Licensee. Lab experiments where ash is added to water saturated soils and sediments and to road substrates will be conducted. This will ultimately help guide sustainable bioenergy production, waste management, and forest nutrient management.

Faculty Supervisor:

Nathan Basiliko

Student:

Partner:

Produits forestiers Résolu (QC)

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Agriculture; Manufacturing

University:

Lakehead University

Program: