Rutherford, Dr. P. Michael

Dr. Michael P. Rutherford
PhD (University of Alberta), BSc Honours (University of British Columbia), Diploma of Technology (British Columbia of Technology) Adjunct Professor, Environmental Science

Research and Expertise

Michael has research interests in several areas related to soil science and environmental science, including (i) utilization of waste materials for environmental benefit, (ii) biogeochemical cycling in soils and wastes, and (iii) reclamation and remediation of disturbed environments. He has also studied biological processes in soils.

Research Fields:
  • Agriculture
  • Environment
Areas of Expertise:

Soil science, waste management, environmental science, agriculture

Not accepting graduate students

Selected Publications

Shi, J., W.B. McGill, N. Chen, P.M. Rutherford, T.W. Whitcombe, W. Zhang. 2020 Formation and immobilization of Cr(VI) species in long-term tannery waste contaminated soils. Environmental Science and Technology, 54: 7226-7235.

Emilson, C.E., N. Belanger, S. Brais, C.E. Chisholm, A. Diochon, R. Joseph, J. Markham, D. Morris, K. van Rees, M. Rutherford, L.A. Venier and P.W. Hazlett. 2020. Short-term growth response and jack pine and spruce spp. To wood ash amendment across Canada. GSB Bioenergy, 12: 158-167.

Hart, S.C., H.B. Massicotte, P.M. Rutherford, C.M. Elkin and B.J. Rogers. 2019. Early response of understory vegetation to wood ash fertilization in the sub boreal climatic zone of British Columbia. The Forestry Chronicle, 85: 135-142.

Sukdeo, N., E. Teen, P.M. Rutherford, H.B. Massicotte and K.N. Egger. 2019. Soil detrital inputs stimulate bacterial saprotrophs with different timing, duration,and intensity compared to fungal saprotrophs. Pedobiologia, 73: 29-41.

Emilson, C.E., K. Hannam, I. Aubin, N. Basliko, N. Belanger, S. Brais, A. Diochon, R. Fleming, T. Jones, R. Kabzems, J. Laganiere, J. Markham, D. Morris, P.M. Rutherford, K. van Rees, L. Venier, K. Webster, P. Hazlett. 2018 Synthesis of Current AshNet Study Designs and Methods with Recommendations towards a Standardized Protocol. Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Information Report GLC-X-22. Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, ON. 39 pp.

Domes, K., T. de Zeeuw, H.B. Massicotte, C. Elkin, W.B. McGill, M.J Jull, C.E. Chisholm and P. M. Rutherford. 2018. Short-term changes in spruce foliar nutrients and soil properties in response to wood ash application in interior British Columbia. Can. J. Soil Sci., 98: 246-263..

Sukdeo, N., E. Teen, P.M. Rutherford, H.B. Massicotte and K.N. Egger. 2018. Selecting fungal disturbance indicators to compare forest soil profile re-construction regimes. Ecological Indicators, 84: 662-682.

Hannam, K.D.; L. Venier; D. Allen; C. Deschamps; E. Hope; M. Jull; M. Kwiaton; D. McKenney; P.M. Rutherford; P.W. Hazlett. 2018. Wood ash as a soil amendment in Canadian forests: what are the barriers to utilization? Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 48(4): 442-450.

Carson, A.W.; Rutherford P.M., and P.J. Burton 2015. Desulphurized tailings serve as a useful soil supplement for mine reclamation. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 94: 529-541.

James, A.K., S.S. Helle, R.W. Thring, P.M. Rutherford, and M.S. Masnadi. 2014. Investigation of air and air-steam gasification of high carbon wood ash in a fluidized bed reactor. Energy and Environmental Research, Vol. 4 (No.1): 15-24.

James, A.K., S.S. Helle, R.W. Thring, G.S. Sarohia and P.M. Rutherford. 2014. Characterization of inorganic elements in woody biomass bottom ash from a fixed-bed combustion system, a downdraft gasifier and a wood pellet burner by fractionation. Energy and Environmental Research, Vol. 4 (No.1): 85-94.

James, A. K.; Thring, R.W.; Rutherford, P. M.; Helle, S. 2013. Characterization of Biomass Bottom Ash from an Industrial Scale Fixed-bed Boiler by Fractionation. Energy and Environment Research, 3: 21-32.

Robertson, S.J., P.M. Rutherford, J. C. López-Gutiérrez, and H.B. Massicotte. 2012. Biochar enhances seedling growth and alters root symbioses and properties of sub-boreal forest soils. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 92: 329-340.

Rutherford, P.M and J.M. Arocena. 2012. Organic amendments and earthworm addition improve properties of non-acidic mine tailings. Applied and Environmental Soil Science (on-line open access), vol. 2012, Article ID 395964, 11 pages. doi:395964.

Young, J.P., A. Rallings, P.M. Rutherford and A.L. Booth. 2012. The effect of NaCl and CMA on the growth and morphology of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Kinnikinnick). Journal of Botany (on-line), vol. 2012, Article ID 789879, 8 pages. doi:1155/2012/789879.

Park, N.D., P.M. Rutherford, R.W. Thring and S.S. Helle. 2012. Wood pellet fly ash and bottom ash as an effective liming agent and nutrient source for rye grass (Lolium perenne L.) and oats (Avena sativa). Chemosphere, 86: 427-432.

Park, N.D., R.W. Thring, R.P. Garton, M.P. Rutherford and S.S. Helle. 2011. Increased biogas production in a wastewater treatment plant by anaerobic co-digestion of fruit and vegetable waste and sewer sludge-a full scale study. Water Science and Technology, 64: 1851-1856.

Robertson, S.J., P.M. Rutherford and H.B. Massicotte. 2011. Plant and soil properties determine microbial community structure of shared Pinus-Vaccinium rhizospheres in petroleum-hydrocarbon contaminated soils. Plant and Soil, 346:121-132.

Robertson, S.J., N.W. Kennedy, H.B. Massicotte and P.M. Rutherford. 2010. Enhanced biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in the mycorrhizosphere of sub-boreal forest soils. Environmental Microbiology Reports 2:578-593.

Robertson, S.J., W.B. McGill, H.B. Massicotte and P.M. Rutherford. 2007. Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in boreal forest soils: a mycorrhizal ecosystems perspective. Biological Reviews, 82: 213-240.

Arocena, J.M., S.K. Nepal and P.M. Rutherford. 2006. Visitor-induced changes in the chemical composition of soils in backcountry areas of Mt. Robson, Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada. Journal of Environmental Management. 79:10-19.

Dickinson, S.J. and P.M. Rutherford. 2006. Utilization of biosolids in the phytoremediation of a hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. Journal of Environmental Quality, 35:982-991.

Siddique, T., P.M. Rutherford, J.M. Arocena and R.W. Thring. 2006. A proposed method for rapid and economical extraction of petroleum hydrocarbons from contaminated soils. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 86: 725-728.

Rutherford, P.M., S.J. Dickinson and J.M. Arocena. 2005. Emergence, survival and growth of selected plant species in petroleum-impacted flare pit soils. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 89: 139-148.

Arocena J.M and P.M. Rutherford. 2005. Properties of hydrocarbon- and salt-contaminated flare pit soils in Northeastern British Columbia, Canada. Chemosphere 60: 567-575.

Rutherford, P.M., D.K. Banerjee, S.M. Luther, M.R. Gray, M.J. Dudas, W.B. McGill, M.A. Pickard and M.J. Salloum. 1998. Slurry phase bioremediation of creosote- and petroleum-contaminated soils. Environmental Technology, 19: 683-696.

Rutherford, P.M., M.R. Gray and M.J. Dudas. 1997. Desorption of 14C-naphthalene from creosote-contaminated soils. Environmental Science and Technology, 31: 2515-2519.

Rutherford, P.M., J.M. Arocena and M.J. Dudas. 1996. Heterogeneous distribution of radionuclides, barium and strontium in phosphogypsum by-product. Science of the Total Environment, 180: 201-209.

Luther, S.M., L. Poulsen, M.J. Dudas and P.M. Rutherford. 1996. Fluoride sorption and mineral stability in Alberta soil interacting with phosphogypsum leachate. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 76:83-91.

Rutherford, P.M., M.J. Dudas and J.M. Arocena. 1995. Radioactivity and elemental composition of phosphogypsum produced from three phosphate rock sources. Waste Management and Research, 13: 407-423.

Rutherford, P.M., M.J. Dudas and J.M Arocena. 1995. Radon emanation coefficients for phosphogypsum by-product. Health Physics, 69: 513-520

Rutherford, P.M., M.J. Dudas and J.M. Arocena. 1995. Radium in phosphogypsum leachates. Journal of Environmental Quality, 24: 307-314.

Rutherford, P.M., M.J. Dudas and J.M. Arocena. 1995. Trace elements and fluoride in phosphogypsum leachates. Environmental Technology, 16: 343-354.

Arocena, J.M., P.M. Rutherford and M.J. Dudas. 1995. Heterogeneous distribution of trace elements and fluorine in phosphogypsum by-product. Science of the Total Environment, 162: 149-160.

Arocena, J.M., M.J. Dudas, L. Poulsen and P.M. Rutherford. 1995. Weathering of clay minerals induced by fluoride-containing solutions from phosphogypsum by-product. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 75: 219-226.

Rutherford, P.M., M.J. Dudas and R.A. Samek. 1994. Environmental impacts of phosphogypsum: a review. Science of the Total Environment, 149: 1-38.

Janzen, R.A., K.P. Raverkar, P.M. Rutherford and W.B. McGill. 1994. Decreasing amounts of phospholipid-linked fatty acids in a soil during decline in numbers of Pseudomonads. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 74:277-284.

Luther, S.M., M.J. Dudas and P.M. Rutherford. 1993. Radioactivity and chemical characteristics of Alberta phosphogypsum. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 69: 277-290.

Rutherford, P.M. and N.G. Juma. 1992. Influence of soil texture on protozoan-induced mineralization of bacterial carbon and nitrogen. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 72: 183-200.

Rutherford, P.M. and N.G. Juma. 1992. Simulation of protozoan-induced mineralization of bacterial carbon and nitrogen. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 72: 201-216.

Rutherford, P.M. and N.G. Juma. 1992. Performance of a simulation model describing protozoa-induced mineralization of bacterial carbon and nitrogen in a sandy loam soil. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 72: 217-228.

Rutherford, P.M. and N.G. Juma. 1992. Influence of texture on habitable pore space and bacterial-protozoan populations in soil. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 12: 221-227.

Rutherford, P.M. and N.G. Juma. 1992. Effect of glucose amendment on microbial biomass, fertilizer 15N-recovery and distribution in a barley-soil-system. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 12: 228-232.

Rutherford, P.M and N.G. Juma. 1989. Dynamics of microbial biomass and soil fauna in contrasting soils cropped to barley. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 8: 144-153.

Rutherford, P.M. and N.G. Juma. 1989. Shoot, root, soil and microbial N dynamics in contrasting soils cropped to barley. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 8: 134-143.

Burton, D.L., D.A. Gower, P.M. Rutherford and W.B. McGill. 1989. Amino acid interference with ammonium determination in soil extracts using the automated indophenol method. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 20: 555-565.