SOIL TEXTURE DEVELOPMENT IN RECLAIMED MINELANDS WITH CONTRASTING LEVELS OF COMPACTION

Surface mining reduces organic carbon storage in soil by 70% (Alkala and Lal 2001). Soil development and renewed carbon sequestration are closely linked in post-mining reclamation. Texture - the distribution of sand, silt, and clay – is an important soil quality indicator, influencing the rates of reforestation and aggregate formation, which in turn protect sequestered carbon from erosion and mineralization. Changes in soil texture from six previously-mined sites in Eastern Kentucky were quantified using the hydrometer and sieve method. The sites ranged in age since reclamation from 2 to 14 years. As surface mine reclamation treatments are defined in large part by the degree to which the spoil is compacted, half the study sites were subjected to high levels of compaction, while the other half were minimally compacted. Soil texture was examined with respect to bulk density, age, and depth, while also controlling for parent rock distribution. Preliminary results indicate that parent material and bulk density are the most significant factors in soil texture development. Further results and discussion will be forthcoming.