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Dr. Greg Nowacki recognized as the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) 2020 Honorary Membership Recipient

The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) Honorary Membership recognizes sustained, outstanding service to the soil sciences by distinguished nonmembers, scientifically, legislatively, or in any other form, to enhance the sciences for the benefit of humankind.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Greg Nowacki, Regional Ecologist and Acting Regional Soils Program Leader for the Eastern Region of the USDA Forest Service, as the SSSA Honorary Membership Recipient for 2020. Congratulations Greg, for your accomplishments and ongoing efforts to effectively integrate the application of ecology and soil science to inform Forest Service management. In so doing you have elevated the profile of the Forest Service in the field of soil science.

Field Soil Scientist of the Year

Dennis Landwehr is recognized for his sustained personal and professional excellence and the extraordinary contribution he has made to the Soil and Watershed and the Watershed Restoration Programs of the 17 million acre Tongass National Forest and Alaska Region. Dennis's accomplishments have substantially enhanced the Forest Service's multiple use mission and have proven foundational as the Tongass transitions from old- to young-growth forest management as directed by the Secretary of Agriculture in 2013. Dennis applies sound recommendations and tools to management planning and actions that protect soils and promote ecosystem integrity. He provides critical expertise to the Forest regarding soils, floodplains and wetlands, landslide dynamics, and watershed improvement and restoration. Despite the extremely challenging working conditions in Southeast Alaska, Dennis has achieved an exemplary safety record and has led by example, demanding adherence to safe practices on the part of those he supervises and his co-workers.

Important Nature Article on Soil Carbon

Schmidt, M.W.I, M.S. Torn, S. Abiven, T. Dittmar, G. Guggenberger, I.A. Janssens, M. Kleber, I. Kogel-Knabner, J. Lehmann, D.A.C. Manning, P. Nannipieri, D.P. Rasse, S. Weiner, and S.E. Trumbore. 2011. Persistence of soil organic matter as an ecosystem property. Nature 478: 49-56.

Authors of this article challenge the long-held assumption that soil carbon is recalcitrant, or resistant to breakdown, due to the accumulation of large molecules that have been termed 'humic substances'. Now, the persistence of soil organic matter is thought to be controlled by the surrounding environment, particularly its exposure to the microbial population. Soil carbon may be less stable than has been previously assumed, but the new findings also show there are possibilities for managing soils to store more carbon.

Using Woody Biomass to Produce Bio-oil and BioChar

Fuel buildups due to fire suppression and tree mortality have increased the risk of wildfires in many parts of the country, but mechanically removing fuels from millions of acres nationwide represents a significant cost. Utilizing the wood could offset part of the cost, but if transport of this low-density material is needed, utilization is not cost effective or energy efficient.

The Umpqua and Umatilla National Forests have worked with private companies to develop and test equipment and procedures to apply fast-pyrolysis technology at smaller scales for treating woody material in slash piles on-site. Pyrolysis burns slash at high temperatures under anerobic conditions, producing less carbon dioxide than traditional slash-pile burning. Small, portable, fast-pyrolysis units can be taken to field sites to produce bio-oil from woody biomass. Bio-oil can substitute for fuel oil, or be refined into higher value products, and transporting it is more economically feasible. On-site bio-oil production through pyrolysis also addresses concerns about removing carbon and nutrients from forest sites. A byproduct of pyrolysis is bio-char, which retains most of the carbon and nutrients contained in biomass, and can be left on the field site to maintain soil fertility. Excess bio-char can also be transported for use in non-forest applications. Monitoring after bio-char amendments has shown increases in soil organic matter (carbon), improved nutrient balances, increased soil moisture retention, and heavy metal sequestration.

Photographs: 2 photographs merged to show side by side 'before and after'. Before is a bare slope and After slope is covered with grass and forbes. The photos above show the restoration of barren waste rock piles at the Hope Mine project, Aspen Ranger District, White River National Forest. The rock piles are perched above Castle Creek, one of Aspen's main municipal water sources. The project was conducted as a partnership utilizing Biochar Solutions, Inc. Different rates of compost and bio-char were applied with a conveyer to create 'topsoil' on the slopes. The before and after shots, and the time lapsed photos from the 2011 growing season, demonstrate the efficacy of the soil amendment. The role of compost in this amendment (up to 95% by volume) was critical, as it served to reduce material costs, facilitate material handling, and provide a source of nitrogen and beneficial microorganisms.

See additional Hope Mine project photos…

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