Abedin, J., Beckett, P. and Spiers, G. 2012. An evaluation of extractants for assessment of metal phytoavailability to guide reclamation practices in acidic soilscapes in northern regions. Can. J. Soil Sci. 92: 253–268. Although soil organic matter and nutrient bioavailability in metal-impacted soilscapes of Sudbury, Ontario, are potentially limiting full ecological recovery, total metal content was used as the critical driver for a 2008 ecological risk assessment. The current greenhouse study evaluated chemical extractants to predict bioavailability of nutrients and contaminant metals to indigenous grasses (Deschampsia). Single extraction methods (0.01 M strontium nitrate, water, 0.01 M calcium chloride, 0.1 M sodium nitrate, 1.0 M ammonium nitrate, 0.1 M lithium nitrate, 1.0 M magnesium chloride, 0.11 M acetic acid, 1.0 M ammonium acetate, 0.05 M ammonium-EDTA, pore water) were examined to assess availability of potentially phytotoxic metals and nutrients in smelter-impacted soils. Extraction procedures to predict phytoavailability were either soil concentration or plant tissue concentration and element dependent. Total and extractable metal concentrations were more correlated for regional contaminant metals (e.g., copper, lead, arsenic, selenium) released by the smelting industry than non-contaminant ones (e.g., iron, calcium, potassium, boron, zinc, molybdenum). The lack of relationship between total and extractable concentrations for most non-contaminant metals suggests total concentration is not a good indicator of phytoavailability for nutrient elements. Stronger correlations between shoot tissue and extractable concentrations were observed for less aggressive extractants (pore water, water, lithium nitrate) reflecting their suitability in predicting phytoavailability over most aggressive ones (except ammonium nitrate).

Boreal agriculture struggles with soils of lower agronomic value, most of which are sandy with a low water holding capacity (WHC) and prone to nutrient leaching. Biochar amendments are associated with positive effects on soil hydraulic properties and enhanced nutrient retention. However, these effects are strongly related to feedstock type and pyrolysis parameters and depend on biochar application rates and soil types. While biochar could increase the productivity of boreal agriculture by improving water and nutrient use efficiency, little is known about its effects on hydraulic processes in podzol. In this study, we investigated the effects of biochar rates (10, 20, 40, 80 Mg carbon ha⁻¹) and maturity on soil hydrology for an agriculturally used Podzol in Labrador, Canada. The in-situ soil water content (SWC) and weather data over an entire growing season were analysed. Hydrus 1D simulations were used to estimate changes in water fluxes. SWC showed clear differentiation among storage parameters (i.e., initial, peak and final SWC) and kinetic parameters (i.e., rate of SWC change). Storage parameters and soil wetting and drying rates were significantly affected by biochar rates and its maturity. The magnitude of the changes in SWC after either wetting or drying events was statistically not affected by the biochar rate. This confirms that biochar mostly affected the WHC. Nevertheless, reductions in cumulative lower boundary fluxes were directly related to biochar incorporation rates. Overall, biochar had positive effects on hydrological properties. The biochar rate of 40 Mg C ha⁻¹ was the most beneficial to agriculturally relevant hydraulic conditions for the tested Podzol.