Project: Study of Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited (CBPPL) by-products and potential uses for food production
Funded by: The Agricultural Clean Technologies Program (ACT), Mitacs, ACOA, IET, and CBPPL.
Considering the increasingly high cost of liming materials, fertilizers and a preferred economic disposal method of wood ash and sludge generated by the CBPPL, as well as the multifaceted benefits of biochar, the proposed study has been designed to: 1) assess the temporal bioavailability of nutrients, heavy metals, and active microbial community structure in wood ash and sludge, 2) optimize the application rates of wood ash, sludge alone and in combination with biochar on the growth and yield of agronomist and horticultural crops, 3) investigate the effects of wood ash and sludge alone and in combination with biochar on solid active microbial community structure, soil health, and soil fertility in agronomic and vegetable crops, 4) investigate the effects of wood ash and sludge alone and in combination with biochar on safety and quality indices, or phytonutrients content of agronomic crops and vegetables, and 5) develop and test a greenhouse growth medium (bulk density, porosity, WHC, available water, and aggregate stability) based on wood ash and sludge in combination with biochar. The project also aims to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of composting paper pulp sludge with woody material to create a soil amendment for remediating hydrocarbon contaminated soil. More specifically, it intends to determine the nutrient and contaminant content of paper mill sludge and the effectiveness of sludge/compost to remediate hydrocarbon contaminated soil and test the effectiveness of sludge in co-composting woody material.
Principal Investigators:
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Dr. Mumtaz Cheema (Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus)
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Dr. Mano Krishnipillai (Environmental Science/Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus)
Co-Investigators:
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Dr. Adrian Unc (Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus)
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Dr. Lakshman Galagedara (Environmental Science/Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus)
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Dr. Raymond Thomas (Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus)
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Dr. Doreen Churchill (Natural Resources Canada – Canadian Forest Service; Grenfell Campus)
Interns:
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Groenen, Allison M. (M.Sc. Candidate, Boreal Ecosystem and Agricultural Sciences program, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University)
- Supervisors:
Dr. Mano Krishnipillai, Dr. Doreen Churchill
- Thesis title:
Determining the potential of paper mill biosolids to produce a compost using Eisenia fetida and fungal inoculum, and its ability to remediate petroleum hydrocarbons from soil.
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Medaiyese, Ayodeji O. (M.Sc. Candidate, Boreal Ecosystem and Agricultural Sciences program, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University)
- Supervisor:
Dr. Adrian Unc
- Thesis title:
Utility of Wood Ash, Paper Sludge and Biochar Amendments for the Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Acidic Boreal Soils
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Wickremasinghe, Thilini K. (M.Sc. Candidate, Boreal Ecosystem and Agricultural Sciences program, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University)
- Supervisor:
Dr. Raymond Thomas
- Thesis title:
A Quality and Safety Analysis of Natural Media Amendments on Kale and Annual Ryegrass Grown Under a Controlled Environment
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Farhain, Muhammad M. (M.Sc. Candidate, Boreal Ecosystem and Agricultural Sciences program, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University)
- Supervisor:
Dr. Lakshman Galagedara
- Thesis title:
Characterizing the Physicochemical Properties of Soil-Based Potting Media and Measurement of Leaching Potential of NL Podzolic Soil Amended with Paper Mill Wastes and Biochar
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Rathnayake Mudiyanselage, Rathnayake J. (M.Sc. Candidate, Boreal Ecosystem and Agricultural Sciences program, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University)
- Supervisor:
Dr. Mano Krishnipillai
- Thesis title:
Evaluation of Forestry and Aquaculture Industry Waste Product Combinations to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emission during Composting