INS 10-4 - Chemistry of a green roof substrate amended with biochar

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM EDT

Location: 520A

Presenting Author(s)

VS

Virinder Sidhu, PhD

University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Co-author(s)

Wenxi Liao, BSc

PhD Candidate
University of Toronto (Forestry and Civil Engineering), Ontario, Canada
LM

Liat Margolis, MLA

Associate Professor
Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, Ontario, Canada
MI

Marney E. Isaac, PhD

Professor
Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4, Canada
ST

Sean C. Thomas, PhD

Professor
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
JD

Jennifer Drake, PhD, PEng.

Associate Professor
Civil and Mineral Engineering Department, University of Toronto

The substrate in 24 of 48 extensive green roof test beds (1.83m x 1.83m) was amended with biochar @ 5.4% at GRIT lab, University of Toronto. 24 test beds were planted with sedum species and 24 sown with native plant species. Substrate profile samples were taken from test beds two years after study establishment. Biochar increased organic matter content and total C in amended beds whereas both decreased in sedum beds. Total N followed same trend except in native species beds where it was slightly reduced. Biochar reduced total P in native species beds whereas that increased in sedum beds.