Erodiblity of fly ash used as a topsoil substitute in mineland reclamation
Journal Article
·
· Journal of Environmental Quality
Fly ash, a by-product of coal-fired power plants, has been used successfully in reclaiming abandoned mine lands by improving minesoil chemical and physical properties. However, the fine sand-silt particle size of fly ash may make it more susceptible than natural soils to detachment and transport by erosive processes. Furthermore, the high content of silt-size particles in fly ash may make it more susceptible to surface crust formation, resulting in reduced infiltration and increased surface runoff and erosion. In the summer of 1989, fly ash-wood waste mixtures, used as a topsoil substitute, were surface applied on two separate mine sites in Preston County, WV, one with 10% slope and the other 20% slope. Erosion rates were measured directly using the Linear Erosion/Elevation Measuring Instrument (LEMI). Erosion measurements were taken during the first two growing seasons on both sites. Erosion values were up to five times greater on the fly ash-treated minesoil than on the untreated minesoil. Mulching with wood chips reduced fly ash erosion to about one-half the loss of the unmulched plots. Erosion was related to both the amount and type of ground cover. Increased vegetative ground cover resulted in reduced erosion. Mosses and fungi appeared to provide better erosion protection than grass-legume cover.
- Research Organization:
- West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 20080425
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Environmental Quality, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Quality Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 29; ISSN JEVQAA; ISSN 0047-2425
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Erodibility of fly ash-treated minesoils
Bark mulch promotes establishment of vegetation on minesoils with south and west exposures
Interril erosion as an index of mined land soil erodibility
Conference
·
Tue Dec 30 23:00:00 EST 1997
·
OSTI ID:613855
Bark mulch promotes establishment of vegetation on minesoils with south and west exposures
Conference
·
Sat Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1985
· Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)
·
OSTI ID:5579432
Interril erosion as an index of mined land soil erodibility
Journal Article
·
· Trans. ASAE; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:5268524