The impact of surface applied mulches on selected physical properties of reclaimed mountaintop removal sites

Abstract

Much of the land reclaimed since enactment of the 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act is over-compacted. Excessive compaction in replaced growth media is detrimental to establishment of trees. If trees are to be grown on reclaimed sites, excessive compaction must be alleviated. Dry bulk density and penetration resistance can be used to indicate the level of compaction in replaced growth media. The University of Kentucky has developed reclamation test cells at a surface mine to determine the impact of organic soil supplements on selected soil physical properties of reclaimed sites. The organic soil supplements being evaluated include hardwood bark and straw and manure. Data were collected at the test cells for dry bulk density, maximum penetration depth and penetration resistance. The data show no statistical evidence that applying organic supplements has a major effect on selected soil physical properties in replaced growth media.

Keywords:

• soil compaction
• reforestation
• reclamation
• replaced growth media

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the University of Kentucky Robinson Forest Trust Fund for initial funding of this research project, the United States Forest Service for additional funding of the project, and Trinity Coal Partners, LLC and its predecessors for allowing the use of their facilities to conduct the research.