Type of Document	Master's Thesis
Author	Nash, Whitney Laine
Author's Email Address	wlnash@vt.edu
URN	etd-05142012-123606
Title	Long-Term Effects of Rock Type, Weathering and Amendments on Southwest Virginia Mine Soils
Degree	Master of Science
Department	Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Daniels, Walter Lee Committee Chair Burger, James A. Committee Member Strahm, Brian D. Committee Member Zipper, Carl E. Committee Member
Keywords	pedogenesis topsoil substitute revegetation mine spoil
Date of Defense	2012-02-03
Availability	restricted
Abstract This study measured the effects of spoil type and amendments on Appalachian mine soil properties over time. The Controlled Overburden Placement Experiment was installed in 1982 in two parts, the Rock Mix (RM) Experiment compares mixes of sandstone (SS) and siltstone (SiS) spoils while the Surface Amendment (SA) Experiment compares a fertilized control (CON), sawdust (SD at 112 Mg ha-1), topsoil (TS–15 cm), and biosolids (BS) at 22, 56, 112 & 224 Mg ha-1. Both experiments were sampled in 2008 and compared with historical data. After 26 years, all RM treatments had higher silt+clay and decreased sand. Mine soil pH and electrical conductance (EC) were lower in high SS spoils and overall pH was lower and EC higher in surface layers. Fe-oxides increased over time and adversely affected extractable P. Exchangeable cations and total N increased in all treatments. Annual C-sequestration rates were 0.51 Mg ha-1 for 1:1 SS:SiS and 0.32 Mg ha-1 for SiS. In the SA experiment, extractable P and exchangeable cations increased over time in organically amended plots. The CON and TS sequestered C at 0.54 Mg ha-1 and 0.87 Mg ha-1 annually while higher BS and SD treatments lost C, but mobilized significant C into their subsoils. In the SA, an apparent C retention maximum of 30-35 Mg ha-1 was noted. Overall, rock type and amendment effects were still evident after 26 years and the long-term benefits of organic amendments were reflected in sustained higher C, exchangeable cations, total N and P levels.
Files	Filename       Size       Approximate Download Time (Hours:Minutes:Seconds)     28.8 Modem   56K Modem   ISDN (64 Kb)   ISDN (128 Kb)   Higher-speed Access  NASH_WL_T_2012(3).pdf 3.57 Mb 00:16:32 00:08:30 00:07:26 00:03:43 00:00:19 indicates that a file or directory is accessible from the Virginia Tech campus network only.

If you have questions or technical problems, please Contact DLA.