Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Open Access Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Applied Ecology (MS)

Administrative Home Department

College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science

Advisor 1

Evan S. Kane

Committee Member 1

Katherine Heckman

Committee Member 2

Ronald Zalesny

Abstract

Heavy metal contaminated mine tailings (“stamp sands”) from historic copper mining inhibit plant establishment and contribute to ongoing metal contamination. Biochar amendments may enhance plant growth and reduce metal mobility in highly permeable mine waste soils, but the efficacies of different application methods or biochar sources and composition are uncertain. We evaluated different biochar sources (neutral or alkaline pH) and application methods (either mixed or layered) for planted willow growth, moisture retention, and metal mobility. A 10-week growth chamber experiment assessed plant performance, heavy metal content and heavy metal mobility in soil leachates and plant tissues. Biochar pH was the most significant factor in determining willow biomass and metal mobility, with alkalinity decreasing both willow production and metal mobility. In some instances, willow presence interacted with biochar type, increasing metal mobility (nickel, copper, zinc, and cadmium) at lower relative pH values. Layered biochar resulted in the highest willow biomass whereas mixed biochar underperformed. Overall, biochar effects depended on both biochar source and application method, with layered neutral biochar treatments providing the greatest growth benefits. These findings highlight the potential for willow-based metal stabilization at contaminated mine waste sites and illustrate the importance of pH in considering which amendments to use.

Additional Files
00 Publishing Agreement 9-2021.pdf (77 kB)
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