Soil genesis, hydrological properties, root characteristics and microbial activity of 1- to 50-year old stripmine spoils. Final report, October 1975-June 1978

Reclamation of coal strip-mined land is a major environmental concern. The future of reclaimed land depends on the long-term stability of the soil-vegetation system on mined land. To evaluate some of the possible changes that occur in mine soils through time; soil genesis, water flow patterns, root development, and microbial activity were studied on natural soils and 1- to 50-year-old mine soils. Similar soil development processes occur in both minesoils and natural soils, but because mine soils have a different origin, they will probably always remain different than natural soils. Differences in water flow patterns on minesoils and natural soils were attributed to plant community and soil textural differences.