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Title: Effects of hardwood bark, wood fiber and straw mulches on temperature and moisture content of mine spoils

Conference · · Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)
OSTI ID:5288339

Spoil temperatures at 7.5, 15, and 30 cm depths and spoil moisture content at 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 cm depths were measured under various mulching treatments on north- and south-slope sites during the growing season. Temperatures were measured with Soiltest Standard Soil Moisture-Temperature Cells and moisture was determined with a neutron probe. Mulching materials evaluated were: hardwood bark (5.0 cm depth), wood fiber mulch (1.7 mt/ha), wood fiber mulch with a latex binder (1.7 mt/ha) and straw (3.4 mt/ha) held in place by erosion netting. Temperatures near the surface (7.5 cm depth) under the various mulches generally ranked in the order: control > wood fiber = straw > bark. Temperatures on the south slope averaged about 1/sup 0/C higher. The maximum temperature observed (34/sup 0/C) was in an unmulched control plot on the south slope in June. Moisture content at 15 cm for the various mulches generally ranked in the order: bark > wood fiber = straw > control.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington
OSTI ID:
5288339
Report Number(s):
CONF-801263-
Journal Information:
Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States), Conference: Symposium on surface mining hydrology, sedimentology and reclamation, Lexington, KY, USA, 1 Dec 1980
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English