Properties of Minesoil Reclaimed for Forest Land Use

Abstract

Physical and chemical properties of minesoil reclaimed for forest land use in southwestern Indiana were evaluated to determine suitability for reforestation according to specifications of Public Law 95–87, The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. Properties of reconstructed minesoil and unmined reference soils were compared. Soil types on the reference area were primarily Ava (Typic Fragiudalf) and Parke (Typic Hapludalf) silt loams and were similar to soils on the mineland prior to excavation. Both the reclaimed mineland site and reference site supported mixed upland hardwood trees and shrub vegetation prior to surface mining. Chemical properties of minesoil were similar to or more favorable for plant growth than unmined reference soils. However, physical properties in the rooting zone were less favorable in minesoil than reference soils. Minesoil had higher bulk density, lower porosity, lower permeability, higher coarse fragment and clay content, and lower available water‐holding capacity than reference soils at comparable depths. Mean bulk density of minesoil, adjusted for rock fragments > 2 mm, ranged from 1.53 Mg m−3 (g cm−3) in topsoil to 1.77 Mg m−3 in graded cast overburden. Mean available water‐holding capacity was 16.5% in topsoil and 10.8 to 11.7% (kg kg−1) in graded cast overburden layers of minesoil. Chemical properties of minesoil should be adequate for cover crop and tree seedling establishment after liming and fertilization to recommended soil test levels of NPK. However, physical properties could adversely affect plant survival and growth.

Simulation of soil water content on a small reclaimed watershed in northern Alberta using the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZQWM)

“…However, reconstructed soil profiles do not resemble profiles under normal evolutionary development. Reclaimed soils often have poor soil structure and hydraulic properties compared with undisturbed soils because of soil compaction by machinery used in soil placement and grading (Bussler et al 1984;Potter et al 1988;Bell et al 1994). This lack of well-formed structure affects the degree to which oxygen, water and nutrients flow through the soil.…”

American Chestnut as a Future Resource to Enhance Mine Reclamation Productivity

“…Restoring forests on surface-mined lands is challenging because of adverse soil conditions and plant competition (Bussler et al, 1984;Andersen et al, 1989). The post-mining site must be graded prior to reclamation, which may dramatically alter soil physical properties.…”

“…The post-mining site must be graded prior to reclamation, which may dramatically alter soil physical properties. For example, soils at mined sites had higher bulk density, coarse fragments, and clay content and also had lower porosity, permeability, and moisture-holding capacity than un-mined reference sites (Bussler et al, 1984). Topsoil is generally replaced to an average depth of about 30 cm, below which a hardpan layer may create a perched water table (Bussler et al, 1984;Andersen et al, 1989) which can restrict seedling root system penetration and reduce subsequent seedling establishment success.…”

Soil Properties Important to Stream Development on Mined Lands

“…(Bussler et al 1984, Skousen et al 1998. Minimizing the amount of compaction on disturbed soils by reducing tracking by bulldozers can greatly improve the chances for vegetation and especially for the invasion of trees onto the site.…”