Application Method and Biochar Type Affect Petroleum Hydrocarbon Degradation in Northern Landfarms

To integrate biochar as a practical and successful remedial amendment at northern landfarms, components of its formulation and application must be optimized for site-specific environmental conditions. Different biochar amendments were applied to petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC)-contaminated soil at two northern field sites (Iqaluit and Whitehorse) and in a laboratory study at -5°C to determine the effects of application method (injection or incorporation) and biochar type (wood, fishmeal, bonemeal, and/or compost) on PHC degradation and associated soil properties. Incorporation decreased F2 (equivalent C-C) and F3 (equivalent C-C) PHC concentrations in soil after 31 d, whereas injection did not decrease PHC concentrations until Day 334. Bonemeal-derived biochar selectively stimulated F3-PHC degradation in frozen soil over 90 d under controlled laboratory conditions. In the field, there was little difference in PHC degradation between biochar types and the fertilizer control. Incorporation also increased NO availability, and in field trials, all biochars increased NO availability relative to the fertilizer control, whereas the effects of biochars on NH and PO were variable. Aromatic functional gene abundance was enhanced when treatments were incorporated, compared with when injected. In field trials, 6% Zakus wood plus fertilizer inhibited aliphatic and aromatic gene abundance. Liquid water content increased in incorporated treatments, specifically those amended with fishmeal biochar. Incorporation was the most successful application method for these northern soils, and although biochar amendments are not clearly effective in reducing PHC concentrations, there is evidence to suggest it can beneficially influence soil properties and PHC degradation under specific environmental conditions.