Productivity of prime and nonprime topsoil reclaimed in equivalent topographic positions

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:588808

Halvorson, G A ^[1]; Nathan, M V

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1. North Dakota State Univ./Land Reclamation Research Center, Mandan, ND (United States)

Coal companies in North Dakota are required to separate primeland topsoil from non-primeland topsoil before mining. Following mining, the prime topsoil must be replaced in a prime location and the nonprime topsoil in a nonprime location. This separate handling of these materials is expensive and may be unnecessary. This research was conducted to (1) compare the productivity of prime and nonprime topsoil materials placed side by side in different topographic positions, and (2) to determine whether the separate handling of prime and nonprime topsoil is necessary. Plots were established at two different sites. The selected topsoil materials from Bowbells (prime soil), Williams and Zahl (nonprime soils), were transported to the reclaimed side of the pit and placed on separate plots adjacent to each other in the same topographic position. Plots were constructed on both prime and nonprime topographic positions and at the Coteau site two different topsoil depths were evaluated. In the first year of the study, dry matter yields and grain yields were lower on Zahl than on Bowbells or Williams topsoils. These differences could be accounted for by differences in initial soil moisture levels. The year 1993 was a wet year and the crop had sufficient available moisture in the profile throughout the season in the top 0 to 60 cm depth. At both sites there were no significant grain yield differences between prime and nonprime soils. No significant grain yield differences were observed between the topographic positions in the landscape. In 1994, at the Falkirk site no significant differences in yield could be determined between the three different soil series. At the Coteau site the wheat grown on the Zahl soil yielded slightly less than that growing on the Williams and Bowbells soils. As would be expected in a year when moisture was shorts, topographic position made a difference in yield. Depth of topsoil made no difference in yield for 1994.

• OSTI ID: 588808
• Report Number(s): CONF-9605286--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
COAL MINES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
MOISTURE
NORTH DAKOTA
PRODUCTIVITY
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SOILS
WHEAT