HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Shrestha, R. K. Articles by Jacinthe, P.-A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Shrestha, R. K. Articles by Jacinthe, P.-A. Agricola Articles by Shrestha, R. K. Articles by Jacinthe, P.-A. Related Collections Ecosystem Restoration Carbon Sequestration Nutrient Management

SOIL & WATER MANAGEMENT & CONSERVATION

Enhancing Carbon and Nitrogen Sequestration in Reclaimed Soils through Organic Amendments and Chiseling

^a School of Environment and Natural Resources, 2021 Coffey Rd, Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH 43210
^b Dep. of Earth Sciences, Indiana Univ.–Purdue Univ.–Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 46202

^* Corresponding author (shrestha.10{at}osu.edu).

The choice of reclamation techniques could affect restoration success, ecosystem productivity, and the capacity of reclaimed mine soil (RMS) to sequester soil organic carbon (SOC). A field experiment was conducted at three reclaimed coal mine sites across eastern Ohio to assess the impact of several reclamation techniques on biomass production, soil properties, and temporal changes in SOC and N pools. Amendments and reclamation practices tested were: normal reclamation practice (NRP, control), cow (Bos taurus) manure (10 Mg ha^–1), mulching with oat straw (15 Mg ha^–1), and chiseling (30-cm depth). At each site, all treatments were applied in triplicate to experimental plots in accord with a randomized complete block design. After 5 yr of restoration, results showed no effect of mulching on any of the soil properties investigated but significant effects of manuring and chiseling. During that period, SOC sequestration rates ranged between 0.6 and 2.8 Mg C ha^–1 yr^–1, with the highest rates recorded in the manure-treated plots. Aboveground biomass production, biomass N content, and soil N and SOC pools were also significantly higher in the manure and chiseling treatments, probably due to greater exploration of the soil volume by plant roots and more efficient uptake of water and available nutrients. Ecosystem C (SOC + biomass C) in these two treatments also exceeded that in the NRP by 25 to 27 Mg C ha^–1. Thus, manure application and chiseling are effective reclamation practices for restoring RMS and enhancing C sequestration in these ecosystems.

Abbreviations: NRP, normal reclamation practice • RMS, reclaimed mine soil • SOC, soil organic carbon • TN, total nitrogen