The Impact of Simulated Wildfire and Biochar Amendments on Soil Structure and Function at the EWU Prairie Restoration Site
Faculty Mentor
Justin Bastow
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
May 2025
End Date
May 2025
Location
PUB 319
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Biology
Abstract
This study investigates the effects of simulated wildfire and biochar amendments on soil health at Eastern Washington University’s (EWU) Prairie Restoration site, using indicators such as soil nematode communities, pH, organic matter (SOM), and nutrient abundance. The site, used for wheat cultivation, has topographical gradients in soil conditions. Ridges had less SOM, 85% fewer nematodes (p<0.0001), and more alkaline soils than troughs. With the increasing wildfire frequency in semi-arid ecosystems, understanding post-fire soil recovery is essential for effective soil restoration. The experiment uses microcosms to simulate wildfire at two intensities (low and high) and biochar applications at two concentrations (2% and 5%) to assess their combined effects on soil health. Baseline measurements on pH, SOM, and nematode communities were collected before treatments, and impact was recorded immediately post-fire. Biochar was applied to each treatment pre-fire and soil indicators were monitored over two- and three-month periods. I hypothesize that biochar will stabilize pH and increase SOM, particularly in ridge soils, and that it will facilitate nematode recovery by improving soil health. The results will inform how fire and biochar interact with existing soil variation and whether biochar serves as an effective amendment across diverse soil conditions. By examining biochar’s role in soil recovery, this study aims to contribute to sustainable restoration practices in fire-affected prairie ecosystems.
Recommended Citation
Gee, Alexander, "The Impact of Simulated Wildfire and Biochar Amendments on Soil Structure and Function at the EWU Prairie Restoration Site" (2025). 2025 Symposium. 2.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2025/op_2025/o2_2025/2
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
The Impact of Simulated Wildfire and Biochar Amendments on Soil Structure and Function at the EWU Prairie Restoration Site
PUB 319
This study investigates the effects of simulated wildfire and biochar amendments on soil health at Eastern Washington University’s (EWU) Prairie Restoration site, using indicators such as soil nematode communities, pH, organic matter (SOM), and nutrient abundance. The site, used for wheat cultivation, has topographical gradients in soil conditions. Ridges had less SOM, 85% fewer nematodes (p<0.0001), and more alkaline soils than troughs. With the increasing wildfire frequency in semi-arid ecosystems, understanding post-fire soil recovery is essential for effective soil restoration. The experiment uses microcosms to simulate wildfire at two intensities (low and high) and biochar applications at two concentrations (2% and 5%) to assess their combined effects on soil health. Baseline measurements on pH, SOM, and nematode communities were collected before treatments, and impact was recorded immediately post-fire. Biochar was applied to each treatment pre-fire and soil indicators were monitored over two- and three-month periods. I hypothesize that biochar will stabilize pH and increase SOM, particularly in ridge soils, and that it will facilitate nematode recovery by improving soil health. The results will inform how fire and biochar interact with existing soil variation and whether biochar serves as an effective amendment across diverse soil conditions. By examining biochar’s role in soil recovery, this study aims to contribute to sustainable restoration practices in fire-affected prairie ecosystems.
