Microbial respiration and organic carbon indicate nutrient cycling recovery in reclaimed soils

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2005 · Soil Science Society of America Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2004.0371· OSTI ID:20688463

Ingram, L J; Schuman, G E; Stahl, P D; Spackman, L K ^[1]

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1. University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY (United States). Dept. of Renewable Resources

Soil quality and the ability of soil to sustain nutrient cycling in drastically disturbed ecosystems will influence the establishment and maintenance of a permanent and stable plant community. We undertook research to evaluate a recently developed method to assess soil quality and nutrient cycling potential in a series of reclaimed soils. The method involves correlating the 3-d flush of microbial respiration after a soil is rewetted against a range of soil biological parameters. Soils were sampled from a number of reclaimed coal mines, a reclaimed uranium mine, and native, undisturbed prairie. All sites were located in semiarid Wyoming.

• OSTI ID: 20688463
• Journal Information: Soil Science Society of America Journal, Vol. 69, Issue 6; ISSN 0361-5995
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
SOILS
LAND RECLAMATION
COAL MINING
WYOMING
USA
NUTRIENTS
MICROORGANISMS
RESPIRATION
ORGANIC MATTER