INS 10-6 - Biochar boosts methane consumption by green roof substrates

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM EDT

Location: 520A

Presenting Author(s)

MH

Mohd. Abdul Halim, PhD

Post-doctoral Fellow
University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Slides (PDF)

Co-author(s)

MS

Melanie Sifton, MSc

PhD Candidate
University of Toronto, United States
Wenxi Liao, BSc

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

IMRUL KAYES

PhD Student
University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
JD

Jennifer Drake, PhD, PEng.

Associate Professor
Civil and Mineral Engineering Department, University of Toronto
LM

Liat Margolis, MLA

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

Sean C. Thomas, PhD

Professor
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Green roofs are becoming increasingly popular for several ecosystem services in urban settings, but their ability to consume atmospheric methane is relatively low and poorly explored. In this study, for the first time, we explored the methane consumption potential of biochar (18t/ha) amended green roof substrates. Results from two-year measurements show that mean (SE) methane consumption in biochar beds (-0.33±0.03 nmol.m^-2.s^-1) was ~200% higher than that in control beds (-0.17±0.05 nmol.m^-2.s^-1) (p< 0.01). The magnitude of methane consumption in biochar beds is highly comparable to urban forest soils (e.g., 0.174 nmol.m^-2.s^-1) and higher than urban lawns in this geographic region.