Carbon Sequestration in Reclaimed Mined Soils of Ohio
Assessment of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration potential of reclaimed minesoils (RMS) is important for preserving environmental quality and increasing agronomic yields. The experimental sites were characterized by distinct age chronosequences of reclaimed minesoil and were located in Guernsey, Morgan, Noble, and Muskingum Counties of Ohio. These sites are owned and maintained by Americal Electrical Power. These sites were reclaimed (1) with topsoil application, and (2) without topsoil application, and were under continuous grass or forest cover. In this report results are presented from the sites reclaimed without topsoil application between 1956 and 1969. Three sites are under continuous grass cover and the three under forest cover since reclamation. Three core and three bulk soil samples were collected from each site from three slope positions (upper; middle, and lower) for 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths, and texture, pH and electrical conductivity (EC), soil bulk density ({rho}{sub b}), SOC, total nitrogen (TN) stocks were determined. No differences in sand and clay contents, bulk density, SOC and TN stocks were observed within different slope positions within each site. However, sand [R56-G (17.1%) < R69-G (29.1%) = R62-G (29.1%)], and silt [R56-G (58.3%) > R69-G (47.7%)] contents, bulk density [R62-G (1.25 Mg ha{sup -1}) > R69-G (0.94 Mg ha{sup -1}) = R62-G (0.90 Mg ha{sup -1})] varied significantly on the upper slope position among sites under continuous grass cover. Smaller but significant differences were also observed for pH [R69-G (8.3) > R56-G (7.7) = R62-G (7.9)] and EC [R56-G (0.66 dS m{sup -1}) > R62-G (0.25 dS m{sup -1}) = R69-G (0.24 dS m{sup -1})] on upper slope positions among sites under grass. Comparing all sites stochastically, sand and clay contents were similar among all sites except R62-F for both depths. Similarly, soil bulk density was also similar among all sites except R62-G for both depths. There were few differences in total nitrogen and soil organic C stocks among different sites with R56-F having the highest TN (4.3 Mg ha{sup -1}) and SOC (70.7 Mg ha{sup -1}) stock and R62-F the lowest (1.1 and 28.0 Mg ha{sup -1}, respectively). The lowest TN and SOC stocks were mainly due to the sandy nature of soil. However, possibility of coal contamination cannot be totally ruled out in SOC stocks stock from R56-F. The increases in SOC are important for improving soil and environment quality, and soil productivity. No significant differences in SOC among most sites also indicate that these sites reclaimed without topsoil application have reached the equilibrium.
- Research Organization:
- The Ohio State University Research Foundation
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC26-03NT41903
- OSTI ID:
- 881906
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Carbon Sequestration in Reclaimed Mined Soils of Ohio
CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN RECLAIMED MINED SOILS OF OHIO