Bulk Density of Rocky Mine Soils in Forestry Reclamation
Open accessAbstract
The Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) for reclaiming surface mined lands in Appalachia recommends minimal grading of mine soil materials to avoid surface compaction, which maintains an open and loose material for tree root expansion. To determine the level of compaction of mine soils, bulk density is measured. The traditional method of soil cores for measuring bulk density is difficult and prone to errors in rocky materials used for mine reclamation. We selected four methods (foam, frame, sand cone, and radiation) to determine bulk density at a depth of 15 cm in four mine soils and one forest soil, all having rock fragment contents > 30%. Bulk density values by sand cone were significantly lower (average of 1.35 Mg m−3) than bulk densities determined by the other three methods (averages of 1.64–1.76 Mg m−3). The sand cone was lower because the metal plate was sometimes not flush with the soil surface because of rock protrusions. For soils, the native forest soil showed an average bulk density across methods of 1.05 Mg m−3, while the mine soils ranged from 1.70 to 1.84 Mg m−3. Standard deviations for each method across soils (n = 25) ranged from 6% for radiation to 19% for the sand cone. In-field time efficiency was shortest for the radiation method at 6 min per sample, compared with 10 min for foam, 14 min for sand cone, and 27 min for the frame. The radiation method had the lowest standard deviation (better reproducibility) and better time efficiency than the other methods.
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Mine soils are commonly coarse-textured with high rock fragment content and high bulk density (1.7-1.8 Mg m-3) due to compaction to prevent erosion.
“Mine soils are commonly coarse-textured with high rock fragment content and high (1.71.8 Mg m -3 ) bulk density due to compaction to prevent erosion (DeLong et al., 2012).”
From SURFACE MINE TO BIOMASS FARM: GROWING SHRUB WILLOW (SALIX SPP.) IN NORTHEASTERN WEST VIRGINIA - FIRST YEAR RESULTS (2017) · cites this paper as DeLong et al., 2012
The Abstract (page unavailable) describes mine-soil substitutes as coarse-textured and rich in rock fragments, and says reclaimed surfaces have been compacted for erosion control. Results and Discussion (page unavailable) reports mine-soil bulk densities of 1.70–1.84 Mg m⁻³. However, it found no significant bulk-density difference between compacted and uncompacted treatments after five years, so the measured densities cannot be attributed specifically to compaction on this evidence. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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BackgroundLOW COMPACTION GRADING TO ENHANCE REFORESTATION SUCCESS ON COAL SURFACE MINES
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- Authors
- DeLong, C., Skousen, J., & Pena-Yewtukhiw, E.
- Affiliations
- Division of Mining and Reclamation West Virginia Dep. of Environmental Protection; 1101 George Kostas Dr. Logan WV 25601
- West Virginia University (US)
- Division of Plant and Soil Sciences; West Virginia Univ.; P.O. Box 6108 Morgantown WV 26506-6108
- Corresponding author
- Skousen, J.
- ORCID
- Skousen, J.
- Venue
- Soil Science Society of America Journal
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2012-09
- Volume
- 76
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1810-1815
- ISSN
- 0361-5995 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2074112485
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 4.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Soil Science Society of America Journal (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Arch Coal, Inc.
- Catenary Coal Company
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Management and Crop Yield
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Civil and Structural Engineering › Soil and Unsaturated Flow
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil erosion and sediment transport
- Keywords
- bulk density, mine soils, rocky soils, surface mining reclamation, soil compaction, frame method, rock fragment content, method comparison, Appalachia
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