Reclamation success is highly dependent upon final soil quality of stockpiled soils, such as those found Cold Lake Oil Sands Region. Stockpiled soils, however, are generally poor in quality. Soils were amended with, biochar (BC), humalite (HU), a sub-bituminous coal; and peat (PT), as well as 50:50 blends of biochar:humalite (BCH) and biochar:peat (BCP). These amendments were applied at rates of 0, 6.55, 13.1 and 26.2 g C kg-1 each. Biochar, PT, and BCP applied at the rate of 26.2 g C kg-1 were found to reduce N2O emissions by 34, 54, and 70%, respectively, relative to the control. Within the bioassay, BC and PT amendment resulted in a 38 and 40% increase in dry matter yield (DMY) respectively. Finally, amendment typically resulted in significant net decreases in Olsen P values, while nitrate and ammonium concentrations were high in PT amended soils. In general, PT had the best overall performance. / October 2015

Natural processes that cause differences in rates of decomposition and mineralisation of organic plants matter in soils of Sumava mountains' glacial lakes were studied using plant litter dominant in understorey of spruce forest in watershed of two lakes, Plesne and Certovo. The aim of this study is to determine the effect plant liter chemistry on decomposition and mineralisation rate. We hypothetize that chemistry of liter of understorey vegetation significantly affect N mineralisation / immobilisation in siols. During four month laboratory experiment were studied the effect of litter quality characteristics on C mineralization rates and N release. Spruce needles (Picea abies) and leaves of four dominant species (Avenella flexuosa, Calamagrostis villosa, Vaccinium myrthillus and Athyrium alpestre) of understorey vegetation were collected in autumn 2006. Litter was incubated at 0 and 10 °C. CO2 release was regularly measured each 14 days. Amounts of phenolics, available phosphorus, total and extractable C and N, release of NH4+ and NO3- were measured at the beginning, after one and four months of incubation.