. 2015. Carbon dynamics in a biochar-amended loamy soil under switchgrass. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 1Á13. The environmental impacts of switchgrass production for bioenergy could be reduced through the use of biofertilizers rather than mineral fertilizers and through soil amendment with biochar. The objectives of this study were: (1) to assess the impact of biochar and biofertilizer on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) yield and parameters related to carbon dynamics, (2) to correlate carbon parameters with soil physico-chemical properties over the first two growing seasons, and (3) to develop a C budget. A complete randomized block design was installed in a sandy loam with split plot treatment design, the main plots receiving 0 or 10 t ha(1 of biochar and the sub ( plots receiving no fertilization, mineral N fertilization, or biofertilizers. Biofertilizers had no significant impact on plant and soil. Biochar increased yield relative to the control treatment by about 10% during the first year and root biomass by up to 50% after 2 yr (P0.1). Mineral N fertilization also increased yield resulting in higher plant C sequestration after 2 yr. Biochar increased CO 2 soil concentration (CO 2-soil ) by up to 50% but its impact on CO 2 emission flux (CO 2-flux ) changed over time. The impact of mineral fertilization on CO 2-flux also varied with time. Soil CO 2 dynamics was mostly influenced by temperature, N and water content. Biochar and fertilization treatments showed interactions on some plant and soil parameters. The highest C sequestration budget was obtained with a combination of biochar and mineral N fertilization. The equivalent of about one-third of the increase in soil C content associated with biochar treatments was respired away by soil microorganisms. Nearly one-fourth of C sequestered by plants remained in or at the soil surface (root and crop residues).Key words: Panicum virgatum L., carbon sequestration, CO 2 emissions, soil carbon, soil gas concentration Allaire, S. E., Baril, B., Vanasse, A., Lange, S. F., MacKay, J. et Smith, D. L. 2015. Dynamique du carbone dans une production de panic e´rige´amende´e de biochar sur sol loameux. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 1Á13. Le biochar et les bioengrais pourraient aider ar e´duire les impacts environnementaux associe´s a`la production de panic e´rige´pour la bioe´nergie. Cette e´tude vise a`(1) quantifier l'impact du biochar et d'un bioengrais sur le rendement du panic e´rige´(Panicum virgatum L.), la se´questration de carbone, le CO 2 dans le sol (CO 2-soil ) et son e´mission (CO 2-flux ); (2) corre´ler les parame`tres de carbone avec les proprie´te´s du sol et (3) e´valuer le budget de carbone. Un plan expe´rimental en tiroirs a e´te´instaure´sur un loam. Les parcelles principales ont rec¸u 0 ou 10 t ha (1 de biochar, les parcelles secondaires ont rec¸u diffe´rents traitements d'engrais. Les bioengrais n'ont pas influence´les plantes et le sol. Le biochar a favorise´une augmentation de rendement de 10% a`la premie`re saison et la biomasse racinaire de 50% apre`s deux sais...

. 2015. Seeding rate and cultivar effects on yield, yield components and grain quality of spring spelt in eastern Canada. Can. J. Plant. Sci. 95: 841Á849. There is currently an increasing demand from master millers for spelt (Triticum aestivum ssp. spelta), but little is known about crop management of spring spelt under the eastern Canadian climate in organic or low-input systems. Field experiments were carried out at three sites in Quebec from 2011 to 2013 to assess the effect of cultivar (CDC Origin, CDC Zorba, CDC Nexon, CDC Silex) and seeding rate (250, 300, 350, 400 and 450 grains m (2 ) on grain and straw yields, yield components and some grain quality characteristics of spelt. CDC Origin produced higher hulled grain yields at all sites, while CDC Silex produced similar hulled grain yields and achieved the highest naked grain yields at two of the three test sites. The hull content varied from 24.0 to 37.6% among cultivars. CDC Origin had the highest hull content at each site. The seeding rate generally had no effect on yields, but had an effect on yield components; increasing seeding rates slightly increased the number of spikes per square metre and decreased the number of grains per spike, while the 1000-grain weight remained unaffected. Protein content of all cultivars was high (14.2 to 15.4%), while falling number varied from 219 to 385 s.

Légère, A. Stevenson, F. C. and Vanasse, A. 2011. Short Communication:A corn test crop confirms beneficial effects of crop rotation in three tillage systems. Can J. Plant Sci. 91: 943–946. Glyphosate-tolerant corn was planted with minimal fertilization in an 18-yr-old tillage and crop rotation experiment. Silage yields were 24% greater following a cereal-oilseed rotation than a cereal monoculture, regardless of tillage, and in spite of greater weed biomass in no-till. The diversified crop rotation proved beneficial, even in mature conservation tillage systems.

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