Effects of Soil Properties, Climatic Factors, and Landscape Features of Prime Farmland Soils on Vegetative Growth Using Producivity Indices on Reclaimed Coal Surface Mined Soils

Sinclair, H. R.; Dobos, Robert R.

doi:10.21000/jasmr07010745

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

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“…Tables 1 through 3 provides relationships among soil structure, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), and root zone available water capacity (RZAWC), corn yields (nonirrigated) and tile drainage. These data support the conclusions in earlier papers by Sinclair et al (2004 and and Sinclair and Dobos (2007). These data substantiate that some laboratory soil properties, soil taxonomic classifications, and selected soil morphological characteristics of the premined soils were more favorable for plant growth than those of the reclaimed soils.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Upland soils in Fulton County, Illinois, disturbed by mining, are dominantly fine-silty (soil particle-size class) -95.8 square kilometers (37 square miles) (Sinclair, 2007 andSuhl, 2003). If all the Ipava, Osco, and other similar deep loess soils in Fulton County, Illinois were reconstructed to Rapatee soils, estimated corn yields would be lower by at least 40 bushels per acre.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Attributes of Reconstructed Prime Farmland After Surface Coal Mining Compared to Pre-Mined Conditions

Sinclair¹,

Dobos²,

Hipple³

2008

JASMR

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Important farmland consists of prime farmland, farmland of statewide importance and local importance, and unique farmland. Prime farmland has the best combination of soil chemical and physical characteristics and suitable climate for producing food, seed, fiber, forage, and oilseed with minimum inputs of fuel and plant nutrients. Further characteristics are none to very slight hazard for wind and water erosion, none to small limitation to maintain soil quality, and sustainable. Reconstruction of Prime farmland soils after surface mining for coal are set forth in federal rules and regulations. Illinois has soil reconstruction criteria for non prime farmland soils (high capability land) that are very similar to soil reconstruction for prime farmland soils. Most of the high capability land also qualifies as farmland of statewide importance. Prime farmland soils, before the current federal law, were not reconstructed as cropland. The present federal law requires that prime farmland be reconstructed to cropland with yields equal to or more than the premined soil. Reconstructed prime farmland after surface mining for coal is dominantly massive (no soil structure) whereas typically a premined soil has structure. It has higher soil bulk density that is critical or limiting for crop root growth, lower soil root zone available water capacity, slower hydraulic conductivity, and lower corn yield than the pre-mined silty loess or lacustrine soils, loamy lacustirne soils, and some loamy glacial till soils. A possible explanation of yield differences for reconstructed mined soil and premined soil is the methods and procedures used to determine their yields. The present and future soil reconstruction of prime farmland soils will need to address saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), develop technology to enhance infiltration of precipitation, and movement of water within the soil profile to result in a field capacity water content of 8 to more than 12 inches. All future soil reconstruction needs to use appropriate conservation practices and shape the landscape to increase infiltration of water into the soil.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%