USDA
EPA
United States
Department of
Agriculture
Science & Education Administration
Cooperative Research
Washington DC 20250
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Industrial Environmental Research
Laboratory
Cincinnati OH 45268
EPA-600/7-79-257
December 1979
Research and Development
Use of
Green-Manure
Amendments and
Tillage to Improve
Minesoil Productivity
Interagency
Energy/Environment
R&D Program
Report
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RESEARCH REPORTING SERIES
Research reports of the Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, have been grouped into nine series. These nine broad cate-
gories were established to facilitate further development and application of en-
vironmental technology. Elimination of traditional grouping was consciously
planned to foster technology transfer and a maximum interface in related fields.
The nine series are:
1. Environmental Health Effects Research
2. Environmental Protection Technology
3. Ecological Research
4. Environmental Monitoring
5. Socioeconomic Environmental Studies
6. Scientific and Technical Assessment Reports (STAR)
7. Interagency Energy-Environment Research and Development
8. "Special" Reports
9. Miscellaneous Reports
This report has been assigned to the INTERAGENCY ENERGY-ENVIRONMENT
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT series. Reports in this series result from the
effort funded under the 17-agency Federal Energy/Environment Research and
Development Program. These studies relate to EPA's mission to protect the public
health and welfare from adverse effects of pollutants associated with energy sys-
tems. The goal of the Program is to assure the rapid development of domestic
energy supplies in an environmentally-compatible manner by providing the nec-
essary environmental data and control technology. Investigations include analy-
ses of the transport of energy-related pollutants and their health and ecological
effects; assessments of, and development of, control technologies for energy
systems; and integrated assessments of a wide range of energy-related environ-
mental issues.
This document is available to the public through the National Technical Informa-
tion Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161.
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EPA-600/7-79-257
December 1979
USE OF GREEN-MANURE AMENDMENTS AND TILLAGE
TO IMPROVE MINESOIL PRODUCTIVITY
by
Timothy Opeka and Ronald Morse
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
EPA/IAG D6-E762
SEA/CR No. 684-15-26
Program Coordinator
Eilif V. Miller
Mineland Reclamation Research Program
Science and Education Administration - Cooperative Research
U. S. Department of Agriculture
Washington, DC 20250
Project Officer
Ronald D. Hill
Resource Extraction and Handling Division
Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory-Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
This study was conducted in cooperation with the Science and Education
Administration, Cooperative Research, USDA, Washington, DC 20250.
INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
CINCINNATI, OHIO 45268
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DISCLAIMER
This report has been reviewed by the Industrial Environmental Research
Laboratory-Cincinnati, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, and approved for
publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect
the views and policies of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, nor does
mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or
recommendation for use.
The views and conclusions contained in this report are those of the
authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies
or recommendations of the Science and Education Administration-Cooperative
Research, U. S. Department of Agriculture.
ii
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FOREWORD
When energy and material resources are extracted, processed, converted,
and used, the related pollutional impacts on our environment and even on our
health often require that new and increasingly more efficient pollution control
methods be used. The Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory-Cincinnati
(lERL-Ci) assists in developing and demonstrating new and improved method-
ologies that will meet these needs both efficiently and economically.
This report is a product of the EPA planned and coordinated Interagency
Energy/Environment Research and Development Program in cooperation with the
United States Department of Agriculture. Surface mining of coal results in
the denuding of the ground surface. Without the rapid development of a
vegetative cover, accelerated erosion will occur. The report describes
research to develop better reclamation methods and to better understand the
physical and chemical changes occurring in the minesoil. Persons concerned
with mine land reclamation should find this report of interest. For further
information contact the authors or the Resource Extraction and Handling
Division.
David G. Stephan
Director
Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory
Cincinnati
iii
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ABSTRACT
During two years the effects of various green manure crops and tillage
regimes on an acid coal minesoil and a calcareous coal minesoil were analyzed
with respect to a number of their physical, chemical, and biological proper-
ties. Prior to initiation of the experiments, the acid minesoil had a poor
cover of sericea lespedeza and KY-31 fescue whereas the calcareous minesoil
had an excellent cover. Increased depth of tillage and incorporation of lime
plus green manure crops tended to improve the minesoil productivity by
improving some of the physical and chemical characteristics. It appears that
the rate of water infiltration was, directly and/or indirectly, the most
influential factor affecting improvements in plant growth and minesoil
properties.
In terms of crop growth and yields, normal and deep tillage treatments
did the best on the calcareous minesoil whereas on the acid minesoil the
minimum and normal tillage treatments produced the best. The differences
were probably moisture related in that normal and deep tillage plots on the
calcareous minesoil tended to have higher moisture levels. They also had the
highest water infiltration rates. On the acid minesoil, minimum tillage
plots tended to have a higher moisture content throughout their profiles than
the other treatments.
This report was submitted in filfillment of Grant No. 684-15-26 by Dr.
Ronald Morse (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) under the
sponsorship of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This report covers
the period July 21, 1976 to September 30, 1978 and the work was completed as
of December 31, 1978.
iv
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword
Abstract
Figures
Tables ix
Appendix Tables xi
Acknowledgment xiii
1 Conclusions 1
2 Recommendations 3
3 Introduction 5
4 Materials and Methods 7
Field experiments 7
Minesoil material 8
Geologic description n
Minesoil chemical properties 12
Minesoil physical properties 12
Leaf tissue chemical analysis 14
Statistical analysis 14
5 Results and Discussion 15
Physical properties 15
Minesoil moisture 15
Available moisture 18
Minesoil temperature 18
Aggregate stability 21
Rock weathering 23
Infiltration rates 27
Chemical properties 29
Soluble salts 30
pH 34
Manganese 35
Zinc 40
Water soluble nitrates 48
Organic matter decomposition 53
Crop establishment and growth 53
Cover crops 53
Rye 53
Soybean 53
Rye-Austrian winter pea 54
Vegetable crops 55
Total correlations between vegetable leaf tissue
chemical data and minesoil properties 59
Literature Cited 64
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Appendix 67
Glossary 84
vi
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FIGURES
Number Page
1 Initial (top) and Final (bottom) Plowing Exposes Bands of Gray,
2a
2b
3a
3b
4a
4b
5
6
7
8
9
lOa
lOb
11
12
Brown, and Blackish Material
Minesoil Moisture Profile - Buchanan County, June 29, 1977 .
Minesoil Moisture Profile Adjusted Values - Buchanan County,
June 29, 1977
Minesoil Moisture Profile - Wise County, July 7, 1977
Minesoil Moisture Profile Adjusted Values - Wise County,
July 7, 1977
Relationship Between Infiltration Rates, Minesoil Moisture, and
Soluble Salts - Buchanan County, April 1978
Relationship Between Infiltration Rates, Minesoil Moisture, and
Soluble Salts - Wise County, August 1978
Relationship Between Rye-Austrian Winter Pea Yield and Zinc -
Buchanan County, April 1978
Relationship Between Rye-Austrian Winter Pea Yield and Zinc -
Wise County, April 1978
Nitrate Levels as Affected by Cover Crop Growth, Incorporation,
and Decomposition - Buchanan County, 1978
Rye-Austrian Winter Pea - Buchanan County, May 1978 ....
Rye-Austrian Winter Pea - Wise County, May 1978
Comparison of Treatment Effects on Squash Growth - Wise County,
Summer 1978
9
16
17
19
20
24
24
32
33
42
42
49
56
56
57
58
vii
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FIGURES (continued)
Number Page
13 Relationship of Squash Yield to Leaf Tissue Concentrations of
K, Mn, Zn, and Al - Buchanan County, August 1978 .... 62
14 Relationship of Bean and Squash Yield to Leaf Tissue Concen-
trations of K and Mn - Wise County, August 1978 .... 53
viii
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TABLES
Number Page
1 Tillage Treatments 8
2 Soil Amendments Used and Vegetable Crops Grown 10
3 Petrographic Analysis, Mineralogic Composition of Sandstone,
Siltstone, and Conglomerate 12
4 Comparison of Clay Mineralogies - Fresh Rock and Minesoil
Colluvial, and Residual Soils 13
5 Minesoil Moisture Content - Buchanan County 18
6 Moisture Content at Various Minesoil Depths - Buchanan County,
June 29, 1977 21
7 Minesoil Moisture Content - Wise County 22
8 Moisture Content at Various Minesoil Depths - Wise County,
July 7, 1977 23
9 Minesoil Moisture Constants and Available Moisture at the
0-10 cm Depth - Buchanan County 25
10 Minesoil Moisture Constants and Available Moisture at the
0-10 cm Depth - Wise County 26
11 Minesoil Temperatures at the 5 cm Depth 27
12a The Effect of Treatments on Aggregate Stability - Buchanan
County 28
12b The Effect of Treatments on Aggregate Stability - Wise
County 28
13 Initial and Final Particle Size Analysis Data 29
14 Infiltration Rates - Buchanan County 30
15 Infiltration Rates - Wise County 31
ix
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TABLES (continued)
Number Page
16 Soil Test Organic Matter Values for Various Dates and Depths -
Buchanan County 34
17 Soil Test Organic Matter Values for Various Dates and Depths -
Wise County 35
18 Selected Soil Test Values from Each Treatment and Depth Sampled
- Buchanan County 36
19 Selected Soil Test Values from Each Treatment and Depth Sampled
- Wise County 38
20 Soluble Salt Levels at Various Dates and Depths - Buchanan
County 40
21 Soluble Salt Levels at Various Dates and Depths - Wise
County 41
22 Soil Test Values for Deeply Sampled Control Plots (Treatment A)
- Wise County, October 1976 43
23 Soil Test Values for Deeply Sampled Control Plots - Buchanan
County, June 29, 1977 44
24 Soil Test Values for Deeply Sampled Treatment Plots - Wise
County, July 7, 1977 46
25 Soil Test pH Values for Various Dates and Depths - Buchanan
County 48
26 Soil Test pH Values for Various Dates and Depths - Wise
County 50
27 Soil Test Values for Zn and NO, at Various Dates and Depths -
Buchanan County 51
28 Soil Test Values for Zn and NO- at Various Dates and Depths -
Wise County 52
29 Cover and Vegetable Crop Yields 54
30 Leaf Tissue Chemical Analysis for Beans and Squash - Buchanan
County, July 1978 60
31 Leaf Tissue Chemical Analysis for Beans and Squash - Wise
County, July 1978 61
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APPENDIX TABLES
Number
Page
A-l Response of Coal in Mlnesoil Organic Matter Determinations . . 67
A-2 Effect of Visual Coal Removal on Minesoil Organic Matter
Determinations ...............
A-3 Reproducibility of Minesoil Organic Matter Determinations . 69
A-4 Coefficients of Correlation (r) Among Vegetable Leaf Tissue
Chemical Data - Buchanan County, Summer 1978 ..... 79
A-5 Coefficients of Correlation (r) Among Leaf Tissue Chemical
and Yield Data of Vegetables - Wise County, Summer 1978 . . 71
A-6 Coefficients of Correlation (r) Among Vegetable Leaf Tissue
Chemical Data, Yields, and Minesoil Properties - Buchanan
County, Summer 1978 .............. 72
A-7 Coefficients of Correlation (r) Among Several Soil Test Values
at the 0-15 cm Depth, October 1976-August 1978 ..... 73
A-8 Coefficients of Correlation (r) Among Various Minesoil Proper-
ties - Wise County - April, June, and August 1978 .... 74
A-9 Coefficients of Correlation (r) Among Several Minesoil Char-
acteristics - Buchanan County - April, June, and August
1978 ................... 75
A-10 Coefficients of Correlation (r) Among Several Minesoil Char-
acteristics at the 0-15 cm Depth - Buchanan County - June
and August 1978 ............... 76
A-ll Coefficients of Correlation (r) Among Several Minesoil Char-
acteristics at the 0-15 cm Depth - Wise County - June and
August 1978 ................ 77
A-12 Coefficients of Correlation (r) Among Yield and Several
Minesoil Characteristics at the 0-15 cm Depth - Buchanan
County, August 1978 .............. 78
xi
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APPENDIX TABLES (continued)
Number Page
A-13 Coefficients of Correlation (r) Among Yield and Several
Minesoil Characteristics at the 0-15 cm Depth - Wise
County, August 1978 79
A-1A Coefficients of Correlation (r) for Various Minesoil
Characteristics - Buchanan County, October 1976 Through
April 1978 80
A-15 Coefficients of Correlation (r) for Various Minesoil
Characteristics - Wise County, October 1976 Through
April 1978 82
xii
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The cooperation and generosity of Mr. Denver "Bud" Osborne and the
Virginia Energy Company for allowing us to have free access to their land and
facilities are gratefully acknowledged. The authors are indebted to Mr.
David Bender and Mrs. Jean Morris, who diligently labored on the statistical
analysis and the typing of this report. Sincere gratitude is expressed to
Dr. Gerald McCart and Dr. Gregory Boardman for their technical assistance
and cooperation throughout the entire two-year project and particularly for
their review and constructive criticism of the report.
Finally, appreciation is extended to Dr. Oran Little (Southern Regional
Director/CR) and Dr. Eilif Miller (Science and Education Administrator/CR/
USDA), who coordinated the research, and to the Interagency Energy-Environment
Research and Development Program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
for the financial assistance, without which the project would not have been
possible.
xiii
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SECTION 1
CONCLUSIONS
Increased depth of tillage and incorporation of green manure crops plus
lime additions (acid minesoil) tended to enhance minesoil productivity by
improving some of the physical and chemical characteristics of these reclaimed
surface-mined areas. It appeared that water infiltration was, directly or
indirectly, the most influential factor affecting plant growth and minesoil
properties. Increased infiltration rates as a result of the treatments tended
to promote the following: reduce runoff (not measured but visually apparent);
increase moisture content of the profiles; reduce soluble salt concentrations
in the major rooting zones by moving them deeper into the profile; reduce
minesoil temperature; increase actual amount of water available to plants;
enhance rock weathering by increasing water and parent material contact;
increase crop yield; add more organic matter and N03; and reduce soluble Zn.
Germination and seedling establishment of the cover and vegetable crops
used in this study were successful. Austrian winter pea, however, on the acid
minesoil displayed excellent germination and establishment in the fall but
failed to survive the winter.
At Buchanan (calcareous minesoil) all crop yields were inversely cor-
related with soluble salt levels. Squash yields were correlated with K leaf
tissue concentrations and inversely correlated with Mn, Al, and Zn leaf tissue
concentrations. Bean yields were inversely correlated with Al and Sr leaf
tissue concentrations and minesoil Zn levels.
At Wise (acid minesoil) bean and squash yields correlated well with K
leaf tissue concentrations and were inversely correlated with Mn leaf tissue
concentrations. Bean yields were correlated with minesoil moisture levels.
In terms of crop growth and yields, normal and deep tillage plots did the
best at Buchanan whereas at Wise the minimum and normal tillage plots produced
the best. The differences were probably moisture related in that normal and
deep tillage plots at Buchanan tended to have higher minesoil moisture levels,
particularly at the 15-30 cm depth as well as throughout the 0-67.5 cm profile
sampled. The normal and deep tillage plots at Buchanan also had the highest
infiltration rates.
At Wise, minimum tillage plots tended to have a higher moisture content
at the 0-15 cm depth. The minimum, normal, and deep tillage plots all had
higher amounts of moisture than the control plots at the 15-30 cm depth. It
appears that minimum tillage plots may have maintained an overall higher mois-
ture content in the 0-67.5 cm profile sampled. Minimum tillage did not result
in overall higher infiltration rates; however, apparently it did lower rates
of moisture loss.
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At Wise, minimum tillage plots yielded more than the other plots. These
yields were not pH dependent because pH values at 15-30 cm of the minimum
tillage plots were lower than the other treatments. Even though the fourth
replication had a high pH subsoil, minimum tillage still resulted in highest
yields. Minesoil moisture content appeared to be the key factor in plant
growth at Wise.
In general, deeper plowing operations enhanced rock weathering, uniform-
ity of the plow layer (reducing low pH spots), and infiltration rates. This
was probably due to the shattering of rock fragments, roughening up of the
surface, creation of macropores, and mixing of minesoil material. The normal
tillage treatments are probably the optimum treatment except when the mine-
soils are extremely droughty and have not had a lot of organic matter incor-
porated into them. In the latter case, a minimum tillage treatment (disking
0-8 cm deep or deeper) which creates a kind of stubble mulch after each sub-
sequent crop, breaks up the surface crust and roughs up the surface thus
enhancing moisture retention and infiltration and providing a good seed bed,
is probably best.
It is assumed that areas are "properly" reclaimed in the first place;
i.e., soil size materials and nonobstructive sized rocks on the surface, toxic
materials deeply buried, and an appropriate revegetation crop(s) has been
chosen to deal with each specific site. While generalities are often desir-
able, it must be realized that most chemical and physical properties of
minesoil are site specific. Each site must be sampled and evaluated to
determine appropriate treatments and post-mining uses. In the situation of
this research, the better the minesoil conditons to begin with (Buchanan -
calcareous minesoil) the better normal and deep tillage treatments did,
probably as a result of increased rooting depth and removal of undesirable
salts. At Wise, moisture was apparently a more limiting factor. The minimum
tillage treatments which tended to conserve the greatest amount of water,
therefore, did the best.
Barring highly toxic elements or concentrations of elements, and given
the ability to raise the pH above 5.0, any treatments that would increase
water infiltration and improve minesoil moisture relationships should be
employed and should improve minesoil productivity.
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SECTION 2
RECOMMENDATIONS
Minesoils at each mine site should be evaluated with respect to their
ability to support plant growth for revegetation as well as post reclamation
use. Many minesoils in southwest Virginia are superior to native soils in
both depth of soil size material and nutrient status.
Careful evaluation of macronutrient levels, especially nitrogen, phos-
phorus, and potassium, plus textural characteristics, are important in
determining reclamation procedures. Neither site in this study displayed
phosphorus deficiencies; however, potassium did appear to limit plant growth.
The major factors limiting plant growth at both sites were associated
with physical properties—i.e., lack of adequate water infiltration and mine-
soil moisture. Therefore any treatment, amendment, or procedure which
enhances minesoil moisture relations is highly desirable—i.e., rough
surfaces, organic matter additions and incorporation, mulches, etc. Rock
weathering and minesoil improvement are hastened when moisture is available
in sufficient quantities to support plant growth. Moisture increases plant
growth, thus increasing organic matter in the minesoil, reduces soluble salt
levels, and accelerates rock weathering.
Increased organic matter content can improve soil chemical, physical,
and biological properties, especially in the formation of soil surface
structure. '
Collaborative efforts by interdisciplinary teams of professionals are
highly recommended to further assess the total ecological effects of various
experiments and natural successions. Since minesoils are complex interactive
bodies of physical, chemical, and biological components it is logical to have
teams of agronomists, horticulturalists, microbiologists, geologists, mining
engineers, and others working together. There are numerous areas of minesoil
research that appear to need additional study and/or basic exploratory study.
A few of the possible areas of future research are suggested below.
(1) Enhancement of minesoil moisture relations including water infil-
tration, moisture movement within the profile, anti-surface crusting treat-
ments , mulches, and new reclamation methods to reduce minesoil compaction
and improve textural characteristics of the surface layers.
(2) Plant leaf tissue chemical composition studies including correla-
tions between leaf and minesoil elemental content, evaluation of toxicity and
deficiency symptoms when present, and methods of reducing availability of
undesirable elements.
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(3) Studies on the diversity and distribution of soil fauna and flora
including soil microorganisms and soil animals to monitor the natural succes-
sion as well as the effects of various treatments, plus the effects of the
fauna and flora on minesoil improvement and productivity.
(4) Minesoil profile studies to determine how, what, when, and where
eluviation and illuviation are taking place in the process of soil formation.
This could be coupled with plant rooting depth studies which are also needed.
(5) Development of reliable methods for organic matter determinations
which eliminate interferences from coal, carbonaceous shales and possibly
other substances. Determination of total N may prove to be a more useful
test.
(6) Development of a procedure to determine the most effective phospho-
rus or potassium soil test methods for different minesoils.
Experiments and/or monitoring of reclaimed surface-mined areas must be
carried out for a sufficient length of time so as to adequately and reliably
assess the changes that occur. This is referring to a minimum time period of
2 years and perhaps an optimum of from 4 to 10 years or longer.
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SECTION 3
INTRODUCTION
Surface mining in Virginia began in the late 1800's and has grown into an
extremely important economic industry at present. Intensive surface mining in
southwestern Virginia disturbs approximately 10,000 acres each year in the six
counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Wise, Tazewell, Lee, and Russell. This has
possibilities for both positive and negative effects.
The Appalachian mountain region is typified by shallow soils, steep
slopes, and narrow valleys which are unsuited for most agricultural, indus-
trial, and urban uses. The scarcity of arable soil in this region has
resulted in a situation where practically all of the fruits and vegetables
are imported into the area. In addition, there are few sites for industry to
locate and cities are literally crammed into the narrow valleys and flood
plains for lack of flat areas on which to expand and build. Throughout the
Appalachian region new, potentially arable land is being created as a result
of stripmining operations that literally level mountain tops and carve out
wide terraces (benches) on the slopes. Many of the flat areas created by
stripmining are large enough to be considered for many agricultural, indus-
trial, and urban uses as well as being modified for specific wildlife habi-
tats.
The agricultural potential of these areas is the focus of this research.
With favorable economic and climatic conditions, the production of certain
horticultural and agronomic crops appears to offer excellent opportunities to
increase food production and provide an additional source of revenue for the
Appalachian stripmining region.
Fresh minesoils , however, do not provide an adequate rooting environment
to produce economic yields of most crops. Therefore, research is needed to
develop methods of expediting the improvement of minesoil that would provide
the necessary environment to support vigorous plant growth. This assumes
that if one can develop minesoil to the point where it can support vegetable
The term "minesoil" is used throughout this report in agreement with the
modern definition of soil—i.e., "the collection of natural bodies of the
earth's surface, in places modified or even made by man of earthy materials
containing living matter and supporting or capable of supporting plants
out-of-doors" (Smith and Sobek, 1978). The commonly used term "spoil"
means waste material and is an inaccurate description of the potential use
of overburden materials. Minesoil in this report refers to overburden
materials derived from stripmining of coal, and clearly current data show
that it is capable of supporting plant growth.
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crops, then minesoil can be used for a variety of urban, recreational, indus-
trial, and wildlife purposes, as well as agricultural.
Very little research has been done on minesoil modification for crop
production using tillage regimes and green manure crops as a means to
accelerate rock weathering and minesoil improvement. The objectives of this
study were to determine the value of soil amendments, tillage regimes and
their interactions on minesoil properties and crop yields. This research
specifically studies minesoil with respect to:
(1) Changes in the physical properties of the minesoil including aggre-
gation, moisture infiltration and retention, particle size, and temperature;
(2) Chemical changes in minesoil pH, organic matter, Ca, P, K, NO-j, Mg,
Mn, Zn, and soluble salts;
(3) Crop yield response;
(4) Leaf tissue chemical analyses for P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Al, B, Cu,
Zn, Sr, Ba, and Na;
(5) Selected interactions of the above factors.
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SECTION 4
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Field experiments were established to determine the effects of (1) green
manure cover crops as soil amendments, and (2) tillage regimes on plant
growth and soil properties on surface-mined areas.
Field Experiments
The research activities were conducted at two locations, Buchanan and
Wise Counties in Virginia. In 1976 research was initiated on three (Buchanan)
and four (Wise) year old minesoil which had not received any special treat-
ment other than the normal reclamation procedure of fertilizing with 17-28-15
(392 kg/ha) and seeding with a standard mixture of sericea lespedeza and
Kentucky-31 fescue. The research sites were both relatively flat with no
serious soil erosion problems. The Wise County site had an initial pH of 4.4
(October 1976) on the average which was common for the area. The Buchanan
County site is a naturally calcareous area with an average initial pH of 6.5
(October 1976). The Buchanan County site also had a much better stand of
sericea lespedeza and Kentucky-31 fescue than the site at Wise. Aside from
differences in pH and amount of ground cover, both sites had similar initial
chemical and physical soil analysis results.
The Buchanan County site was located on a surface-mined bench area with
a western exposure and the highwall to the east. The site at Wise was on a
mountain top removal area with full exposure on all sides. Wise had a slight
slope to the south and Buchanan sloped to the north.
Beginning October 1976, when the field experiments were initiated, both
sites were treated exactly the same with respect to experimental plot layout,
seeding and fertilizer rates, and tillage regimes. Wise, with a pH of 4.4,
was limed; however, Buchanan was not in 1976 or 1977, but required liming by
1978 in order to equalize pH values throughout the experimental area.
2
The plots were 4 X 10 m in size (40 m ) and treatments were applied in
a randomized complete block design with four replications at each site. Only
the center 3 X 9 m (27 m2) of each plot was sampled allowing a border 0.5 m
wide on all sides of each plot.
The treatments consisted of three depths of tillage with soil amendments
and one undisturbed control plot. A summary of tillage regimes and minesoil
amendments follows in Tables 1 and 2. All seed, lime, fertilizer, and straw
were broadcast for the green manure crops. The herbicide paraquat was used
to kill the rye cover crop prior to plowing in May 1977. The soybean cover
crop was mowed prior to plowing and planting of the winter cover crop in
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September 1977.
growth periods.
No weed control was necessary during any of the crops'
All yield data were taken by hand (Table 29). For the green manure
cover crops a composite of ten 20 X 20 cm subplots (4000 cm ) were taken per
plot for dry matter yield determinations. Dry matter yields were taken in
order to quantify the amount of organic matter input into all treatment
plots. Vegetables were harvested weekly and weighed. The vegetables were
sprayed weekly for insect and disease control with combinations of the
following chemicals: sevin, lannate, methoxychlor, thiodan, benlate, bravo,
and manzate.
TABLE 1. TILLAGE TREATMENTS
Treatment
Description of treatment
A(TA)
B
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FIGURE 1. Initial (top) and final (bottom) plowing
exposes bands of gray, brown, and blackish
material.
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TABLE 2. MINESOIL AMENDMENTS USED AND VEGETABLE CROPS GROWNW, 10/16/76-
7/7/78
Crop
Rye
(Secale cereale)
var, Abruzzi
Soybean
(Glycine max)
var. York
Austrian Winter
Pea
(Pisum arvense)
RyeX
(Secale cereale)
var, Abruzzi
Rye-Austrian
Winter Pea
Snap Beans
(Phaseolus
vulgar is)
var. Bush Blue
Lake
Summer Squash
(Cucurbita pepo)
var. Seneca
Prolific
Snap Beans
Summer Squash
Summer Squash
and Snap Beans
z
Date
10/16/76
10/30/76
6/4/77
5/31/77
9/20/77
9/21/77
10/28/77
3/27/78
5/11/78
6/1/78
5/30/78
6/1/78
5/30/78
7/7/78
Seeding
rate
125 kg /ha
269 kg/ha
(27 kg/bu)
67 kg/ha
63 kg/ha
25 kg/bu
349,657
plants/ha
19,985
plants/ha
Fertilizer Liming
rate rate
1000 kg/ha 10,000 kg/ha
10-10-10 Wise only
560 kg/ha 1680 kg/ha
10-10-10 Wise only
560 kg/ha
10-20-20
Topdress
N 45 kg/ha
Liming to
obtain pH
6.2 in all
plots?
1120 kg/ha
10-10-10
1120 kg/ha
10-10-10
Sidedress N
kg kg /ha
Straw
mulch
168
bales/
ha
For both sites, Wise and Buchanan Counties.
X Rye was over seeded into the Austrian Winter Pea stand.
y Applied immediately prior to plowing in preparation for vegetable crops.
Z Wise County date is given first and Buchanan County second when the two
dates are not the same.
10
-------
Geologic Description
The following information is based on research done at the Buchanan
County site by Howard (1976abc) and Howard and Amos (1977). The Wise County
site appears to have the same approximate weathering sequence as the Buchanan
County site; however, Wise is NOT a calcareous area and no direct geologic
comparisons can be made using only data obtained at the Buchanan County site.
The overburden at the Buchanan site was derived from the Pennsylvania
Wise Formation, a calcareous Fe-rich, heterogeneous group of strata charac-
terized by abrupt lithologic and geochemical facies changes involving sand-
stone, siltstones, shales, muds tones, conglomerates, and coals. The under-
lying Norton Formation is apparently not calcareous. The dolomitic sand-
stones and siltstones are uniform in mineralogic composition except for the
irregular distribution of calcite and geothite, which are locally abundant
cementing agents. The clay and silt mineralogies are also uniform. In
general, the rocks are weakly cemented by silica and are decomposed relative-
ly easily by blasting and physical weathering. Those rocks with abundant
Fe-oxide rather than carbonate cements are more resistant physically and
chemically to weathering under oxidizing conditions. Reducing conditions,
however, would more favor Fe-oxide weathering. The more thoroughly silica
cemented rocks are most resistant.
Field observation suggests the following weathering sequence: shales>
siltstones > sandstones. This is due to the degree of bedding, particle size
and type of cementation. Shales with their bedding planes and argillaceous
cements degrade most readily. Siltstones with bedding and lamination disin-
tegrate readily, but more slowly than shales because of particle size
(surface area) and the presence of additional, more resistant cements.
Massive sandstones are most resistant although bedded sandstones disintegrate
more readily. Bedding is a major factor contributing to physical disintegra-
tion of the strata. The rocks consist mostly of quartz, muscovite, and rock
fragments of slate or shale (Table 3). The data in Table 4 apply for fresh
rock and spoil up to three years in age. Note a prevalence of muscovite and
an obvious absence of illite, mixed layer and intergrade minerals.
In terms of blending rock types to improve minesoil, a 60:30:10 ratio
of sandstone:siltstone:shale would generate a sandy loam perhaps best suited
to the site in terms of availability of raw materials and adequacy as a
medium for plant growth. However, siltstones disintegrate more readily than
sandstones which would accelerate soil formation, but silty soils tend to be
poorly drained and to crust and heave. Silty soils are being formed at both
sites (Wise and Buchanan Counties) as noted by field observations and
particle size analysis data on minesoil samples.
A comparison was made between the nutrient status of fresh rocks and
minesoils and the native soils of the area. The minesoils were superior to
the native soils in nutrient status and pH. In the fresh rock and minesoil,
exchangeable acidity levels were low and available Ca, Mg, and P high.
Available K was low. The native soils were low to very low in pH and avail-
able Ca, P, and K and medium to high in Mg. It should be noted that the soil
test results for P indicate a higher amount of available P than may be the
11
-------
TABLE 3. PETROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS, MINERALOGIC COMPOSITION OF SANDSTONE,
SILTSTONE. AND CONGLOMERATE?2
Mineral Species
quartz
rock fragments
muscovite
chlorite
albite-oligoclase
K-spar
chert
%
70-80
5-15
2-10
2-10
1-5
1-2
1-2
Mineral Species
dolomite
calcite
geothite
hematite
zircon
epidote
tourmaline
%
1-10
0-20
2-10
0-10
1
1
1
y Howard and Amos (1977).
z
Buchanan County Site.
case. Fixation of K by vermiculite and illite and P-fixation by geothite
appear formidable. Since coal bearing rocks are characteristically
ferrogenous on a world-wide basis, P-fixation may prove to be a severe
limitation on the use of minesoils. It is fortunate that the minesoils are
high in available nutrients since, in the steeply sloping terrain at the mine
sites, native soils are too thin to be stockpiled for regrading.
Minesoil^ Cjiemical Properties
Composite samples of minesoil were taken from each plot on seven
(Buchanan County) and eight (Wise County) sampling dates. Each composite
sample consisted of a minimum of ten cores taken with a soil probe of 1.9 cm
inside diameter. Samples were taken from the 0-15 cm depth during the period
Fall 1976 to Fall 1977 and 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depth during 1978. The
samples were placed in standard half pint soil boxes. The samples were
transported to the VPI & SU soil testing laboratory where they were air
dried, ground, and analyzed for pH (1:1 soil to water ratio); weak acid
extractable P and K; oxidizable carbon (expressed at % organic matter); Ca,
Mg, Zn, and Mn by atomic absorption spectrophotometer; and water soluble
nitrates and soluble salts (Donahue and Martin, 1976; Rich, 1955).
Minesoil Physical Properties
The moisture content of the minesoil was determined gravimetrically
with oven drying at 105° C (Gardner, 1965). The moisture percentages at
0.33 and 15 bars were determined to show the "available" moisture of the
12
-------
TABLE 4. COMPARISON OF CLAY MINERALOGIES - FRESH ROCK AND MINESOIL
COLLUVIAL, AND RESIDUAL SOILSy2 *
Mineral species Fresh rock 75 OT below surface Residual soil
and minesoil colluvium B horizon
muscovite
kaolin it e
vermiculite
chlorite
montmorillonite
quartz
illite
albite
40 20
30
15 30
10
3
0 10
0 10
2 30
10
15
40
—
—
5
15
15
Howard and Amos (1977).
z
Buchanan County Site.
minesoil. Soil thermometers were used in Summer 1977 to determine the soil
temperature at the 5 cm depth. During the 1978 growing season, thermocouples
were implanted in the minesoil and used to determine the soil temperature at
the 5 cm depth.
Infiltration rate was determined on the July 1977, April 1978, and August
1978 sampling dates by applying water to the soil surface in two concentric
metal rings according to the procedure outlined by Bertrand (1965). Infiltra-
tion rate was also determined on treatments A and D at Wise County in June
1977. The amount of water infiltration was recorded at 0, 10, 30, 60, and
90 minute time intervals. From these data, infiltration rates were determined
for each treatment.
In October 1976 and August 1978, particle size analysis was performed on
samples from both experimental sites according to the pipette method outlined
by Day (1965).
Samples were taken from the upper 8-10 cm of minesoil with a shovel on
Septebmer 1977, April 1978, and August 1978. The moist minesoil was gently
placed in plastic bags to retain its moist condition for aggregate analysis.
The percentage of water-stable aggregates of the minesoil was determined by
13
-------
wet sieving (Yoder, 1936) using six nests of sieves. The percent aggregate
stability was calculated using the following equation (Kemper, 1965):
100 (weight of aggregates + sand) -
% Aggregate Stability = (" *
oven dry weight of sample - weight
of sand
Leaf Tissue Chemical Analysis
Bean and squash leaves were analyzed spectrographically by atomic absorp-
tion for P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, B, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ba, Mo, Na, and Al. Sampling
instructions prepared by Donahue and Hawkins (1977) were used.
Statistical Analysis
The data were analyzed using the IBM computer facilities at VPI & SU and
the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) programs prepared by Barr, Goodnight,
Sail, and Helwig (1976).
The field experiment was a randomized complete block design with respect
to the treatments listed in Table 1. Means are discussed as being signifi-
cantly different if the probability of a greater test statistic is 0.05 or
smaller. When the F test in an analysis of variance was significant at the
0.05 level, Duncan's multiple range test was used to compare more than two
means. Total and partial correlations were also investigated between and
among selected factors (Snedecor and Cochran, 1967; Little and Hills, 1972).
14
-------
SECTION V
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This research investigates changes in physical and chemical properties
of minesoils and subsequent vegetable crop yields, resulting from two years
of green manure crops and tillage regimes. The results will be presented and
discussed in that order although attempts will be made to interrelate the
three areas throughout. The Buchanan County site (calcareous minesoil) will
be discussed first, then the Wise County site (acid minesoil). In the
following pages these abbreviations will be used: T^ - control; TR - minimum
tillage; Tc - normal tillage; and TD - deep tillage.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Minesoil Moisture
The minesoil moisture data for Buchanan are presented in Table 5.
Apparently TC and TD enhanced moisture levels at the 15-30 cm depth. At the
0-15 cm depth, TB, TC, and TD plots generally all had higher or equal mois-
ture contents than T» except for early spring when the control was signifi-
cantly wetter. This was probably due to poor drainage characteristics in
TA. The control plots frequently had standing water on their surfaces but
were dry within a few centimeters of the surface due to inadequate infiltra-
tion. Since the plots of TB, Tc, and TD had a drier surface layer in the
spring, they had the potential advantage of being plowed earlier in the
season if desired.
Minesoil moisture profile data are presented in Table 6 and Figures 2a
and 2b. TR, Tr-, and TD all improved the overall moisture content of the
profile, above that of the control. This was particularly apparent in the
major rooting zone, the 0-45 cm depth. Enhancement of moisture content is
very important given the normally droughty nature of silty minesoils.
At Wise there was a tendency for TB plots to be the wettest at the 0-15
cm depth and the plots of TB, Tc, and TD to be wetter than the control at the
15-30 cm depth (Table 7). Enhanced infiltration rate in the tilled plots was
probably the reason. Moisture relationships near the surface were probably
better for TR plots due to the organic matter being mixed in a shallower (0-
7 cm) depth of minesoil. The organic matter probably maintained openings in
the surface and increased aggregate and crumb formation in the surface
horizon, leading to increased water infiltration and decreased erosion
Potentials. The mulch effects reduced water evaporation and dampened temper-
ature and moisture fluctuations.
15
-------
16
13 •
8
o
0)
o.
0)
I 1
Minesoil moistui
M
0
7 •
4
B
C
D
1 • •
c
11 C B '
' *
° • A
A A
A
A
A A
15
30 45
Depth (cm)
60
Figure 2a.
Minesoil moisture profile - Buchanan County, June 29,
1977.
16
-------
8-
7--
6 -
s
o
o>
o.
0)
M
4J
(I)
•rl
O
e
B
D
o
CO
o
2"
15
C
A A A
30 45
Depth (cm)
60
Figure 2b. Minesoil moisture profile values adjusted to show
actual differences between treatments - Buchanan
County, June 29, 1977.
17
-------
TABLE 5. MINESOIL MOISTURE CONTENT - BUCHANAN COUNTYZ
Treat-
ment
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
Depth Sampling dates
(cm) 6/22/77 9/13/77 4/12/78
V
0-15 8.0 5.8 13.0
13.2 7.4 8.8
11.4 7.0 9.5
11.3 7.1 9.2
15-30 — — 8.8
8. 5
9.3
9.8
6/21/78
9.6
9.4
10.8
10.2
8.6
9.7
11.9
11.4
Mr-. -i»-.
• — Mean
8/15/78
17.4 10.8
17.7 11.3
17.5 11.2
16.4 10.8
8.7
9. 1
10.6
10.6
Means of 4 composite samples.
Tg plots displayed the highest moisture content throughout the profile
(Table 8 and Figures 3a and 3b) . TB, T^, and T,, all increased moisture
content over that of the control below the 15 cm depth.
Available Moisture
Samples from the 0-10 cm depth of each treatment were dried in a pres-
sure plant apparatus at 0.33 and 15.0 bars. The respective moisture percent-
ages are given in Tables 9 and 10.
At Buchanan T^ plots had the highest "available" moisture percentages,
although the differences among treatments were not great. No real trends
were apparent at Wise, although for the last four sampling dates, plots of
TB, Tc, and TD tended to hold slightly more water than did the control.
Although the amount of available moisture may not have increased much, the
amount of moisture that the plants actually used probably increased.
Minesoil Temperature
Presented in Table 11 are the limited amount of data collected on mine-
soil temperature at each site. Each mean represents the average of tempera-
ture readings from 12 soil thermometers in 1977 and 8 thermocouples in 1978
placed approximately two meters apart throughout the plots. The control and
18
-------
20
18
§
o
0)
P<
0)
3
co
•rl
O
e
neso
16-
C
B
12
0
A
D
A
10 -
Figure 3a.
15
30 45
Depth (cm)
60
Minesoil moisture profile - Wise County, July 7,
1977.
19
-------
5-
3-
2-
S
o
S
ft
cu
M
i
•K
o
(0
«
C
C
0
C
D
0"
-1
-2
-3
.4..
-5"
Figure 3b.
15
30 45
Depth (cm)
60
Minesoil moisture profile values adjusted to show
actual differences between treatments - Wise County,
July 7, 1977.
20
-------
TABLE 6. MOISTURE CONTENT AT VARIOUS MINESOIL DEPTHS -
BUCHANAN COUNTY, JUNE 29, 1977z
Depth (cm)
0-7.5
7.5-15.0
15.0-22.5
22.5-30.0
30.0-37.5
37.5-45.0
45.0-52.5
52.5-60.0
60.0-67.5
67.5-75.0
75.0-82.5
Treatments
A
4.51
8.51
5.95
4.30
5.74
7.39
8.97
8.89
9.77
—
—
B
9.89
15.24
11.33
8.99
9.35
8.72
9.40
9.67
9.18
—
—
C
9.84
14.16
11.28
9.56
9.91
7.86
9.51
10.03
11.49
10.87
10.65
D
9.53
12.30
9.97
8.62
7.87
11.67
11.39
11.39
13.07
12.66
13.57
Means
8.19
12.58
9.63
7.87
8.22
9.82
9.82
10.00
10.88
—
—
Treatment Means 7.12 10.20 10.40 10.53
0-67.5
Z Means represent two composite samples.
minimum tillage plots were the warmest in the morning; all treatments were
equal in the afternoon; and the minimum tillage plots were coolest in the
evening. The data are mainly a function of minesoil moisture content, with
minimum tillage being the wettest, and therefore, warmer at night and cooler
during the day. The controls being warmer during the day and night is
probably due to lower moisture content, increased compaction, and higher
solar radiation since these plots generally had much less ground cover than
did the TB, TC, and TD plots. In general, the recorded high temperatures
were thought to have caused no detrimental effects at either site, although
yields of beans and squash were inversely correlated with temperature
readings at Buchanan and Wise (Tables A-6 and A-13).
Aggregate Stability
Lutz (1934) discussed the importance of very stable, large aggregates in
inhibiting soil erosion by resisting raindrop impact and enhancing infiltra-
tion. Plant growth (Baver, et al., 1972) and soil arthropods (Haarlov, 1955)
21
-------
TABLE 7. MINESOIL MOISTURE CONTENT - WISE COUNTY2
Treat- Depth
ment (cm)
Sampling dates
6/21/77 9/12/77 4/5/78 6/20/78 8/12/78
Mean
A 0-15 16.5
B 21.4
C 17.7
D 16.4
A 15-30
B
C
D
A .
12.5 15.5
13.4 16.1
12.4 14.6
11.8 15.1
14.4
15.9
16.0
16.3
15.9
17.1
15.9
15.8
13.7
17.6
18.0
17.8
18.7
18.5
16.2
15.7
13.5
16.0
14.7
14.9
15.8
17.3
15.4
15.0
13.9
16.5
16.2
16.3
Means of 4 composite samples.
are also enhanced by good aggregation due to increases in macropores. Baver,
et al. (1972) concluded that in fine textured soils organic matter primarily
affected larger aggregates and that fresh organic materials do not affect
soil structure until they are decomposed through biological action. Fresh
organic matter can, however, influence soil properties—i.e., aeration,
infiltration, moisture and temperature—by physically separating soil
particles (Bender and Opeka, 1977).
The percent water stable aggregates is presented in Tables 12a and 12b.
Apparently the treatments had minor impact on increasing the percentage of
stable aggregates. Possibly this was due to the two-year time constraint of
this project. In general, soil physical properties take a long time to
develop and two years is not long enough. There was a tendency for TC plots
to have the highest percentage of stable aggregates, probably as a result of
its high green manure crop yields and good mixing of the organic matter in
the plow layer. TD plots yielded less organic matter and it was mixed in a
greater volume of minesoil material. The organic matter in the Tg plots was
not incorporated.
The Buchanan County site averaged twice the percent aggregation as did
the site at Wise County. This was probably a function of the different
revegetation cover present at both locations. Wise had a poor stand of
sericea lespedeza and Kentucky-31 fescue prior to the experiment and Buchanan
22
-------
TABLE 8. MOISTURE CONTENT AT VARIOUS MINESOIL DEPTHS - WISE COUNTY,
JULY 7. 1977Z
Depth (cm) Treatments Mean for depth
A B C D
0-7.5
7.5-15.0
15.0-22.5
22.5-30.0
30.0-37.5
37.5-45.0
45.0-52.5
52.5-60.0
60.0-67.5
Treatment
Means
13.24
18.70
13.86
12.48
12.66
12.21
11.60
11.52
11.76
13.11
14.63
14.30
15.22
14.10
13.95
14.58
14.87
14.29
13.40
14.37
13.89
15.32
14.94
14.96
14.57
14.30
13.12
12.72
12.90
14.08
13.76
16.55
17.26
13.82
13. 80
13.52
12.34
11.93
11.61
13.84
13.88
16.22
15.32
13.84
13.74
13.65
12.98
12.62
12.42
n
Means represent 4 observations.
had a thick stand. The percent aggregation was highest in the spring, at the
peak of the winter cover crop growth, with TB and TC being substantially
higher than the control.
Rock Weathering
Improvements in minesoil condition have continued throughout the length
of the experiment. The tillage and cover crop treatments have enhanced rock
weathering and minesoil improvement to the point that in May 1978 when all
plots were plowed, the control plots could be visually picked out. The
control plots had more and larger rocks than the other treatments. The
tillage regimes (TB, TC, and TD) increased rock weathering probably due to
mechanical fracturing and increased exposure of the rocks to the weather
plus increased water content through improvements in water infiltration
rates. Weathering of rocks (shales, siltstones, and some sandstones) was
incredibly rapid as depicted in Figures 4a and 4b. In Figure 4a, solid and
intact rocks are shown that were removed from plots in October 1976 and
weathered to this condition by April 1977. Other rocks placed on top of
black plastic to keep it from blowing away in June 1977 weathered dramati-
cally over the 10 months ending April 1978 (Figure 4b).
23
-------
FIGURES 4a (top) and 4b (bottom). Rock weathering.
-------
TABLE 9. MINESOIL MOISTURE RETENTION AT TWO POINTS AS AN ESTIMATE
OF AVAILABLE MOISTURE AT THE 0-10 CM DEPTH - BUCHANAN
COUNTY2
Sampling date Treatment
October 29, 1976 A
B
C
D
Mean
April 12, 1978 A
B
C
D
Mean
August 15, 1978 A
B
C
D
Mean
Overall Means A
B
C
D
Bars
0.33
21.0
20.4
21.3
21.1
20.9
23.3
23.2
22.4
23.1
23.0
21.1
20.8
23.4
22.3
21.9
21. 8
21.5
22.4
22.2
soil moisture
15.0
%,..
11.6
10.4
11.1
10.3
10.8
11.6
11.6
11.2
11.2
11.4
10.8
11.8
12.1
10.5
11.3
11.3
11.3
11.5
10.7
tension
Available
9.4
10.0
10.2
10.8
10.1
11.7
11.6
11.2
11.9
11.6
10.3
9.0
11.3
11.8
10.6
10.5
10.2
10.9
11.5
Means of 8 observations.
25
-------
TABLE 10. MINESOIL MOISTURE RETENTION AT TWO POINTS AS AN ESTIMATE
OF AVAILABLE MOISTURE AT THE 0-10 CM DEPTH - WISE COUNTY2
Sampling date
October 15, 1976
September 12, 1977
April 8, 1978
August 12, 1978
Overall Mean
Treatment
A
B
C
D
Mean
A
B
C
D
Mean
A
B
C
D
Mean
A
B
C
D
Mean
A
B
C
D
Bars
0.33
25.7
25.0
25.9
26.6
25.8
23.2
26.4
25.3
25.0
25.0
18.0
19.4
19.2
19.8
19.1
25.9
26.7
25.5
24.5
25.7
23.2
24.4
24.1
23.9
soil moisture
15.0
"I
It,
10.6
11.7
12.0
12.7
11.8
11.6
12.4
12.2
12.2
12.1
9.0
9.7
9.6
9.9
9.5
12.5
13.0
10.8
12.0
12.1
10.9
11.7
.11.2
11.7
tension
Available
15.1
13.3
13.9
13.9
14.0
11.6
14.0
13.1
12.8
12.9
9.0
9.7
9.6
9.9
9.6
13.4
13.7
14.7
12.5
13.6
12.3
12.7
12.9
12.2
Means of 8 observations.
26
-------
TABLE 11. MINESOIL TEMPERATURES AT THE 5 CM DEPTH2
Site
Time and date
Treatments
B
0 „
Wise
County
Buchanan
County
8
3
3
8
3
8
3
9
3
a. m.
p.m.
p.m.
a.m.
p.m.
a.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
June
June
June
June
June
June
June
June
June
20,
20,
21,
20,
20,
21,
21,
21,
21,
1977
1977
1977
1978
1978
1977
1977
1977
1978
19.
28.
27.
18.
26.
19.
22.
24.
29.
9
2
0
6
6
1
9
9
9
19.
24.
25.
18.
27.
18.
22.
23.
29.
1 18.7
8
0
7
0
6
6
8
2
25.7
26.5
18.6
27.3
17.6
23.3
25.3
29.1
18.7
25.7
26.1
18.8
27.2
17.7
23.1
25.0
29.8
Means represent 12 observations in 1977 and 8 observations in 1978.
The texture was predominantly silty at Buchanan and Wise. At both sites
the percentage of silt appears to be decreasing, with sand increasing (Table
13). The time frame was too short to be certain, although if the trends
continue, an increase in sand content would benefit aeration and water
relationships, thus further promoting both minesoil condition and plant
growth.
Infiltration Rates
An increased infiltration rate is critical in improving moisture rela-
tionships which, in turn, would favor soil organisms and plant growth.
Greater infiltration also reduces surface runoff, thus lowering the threat
of erosion. It is readily apparent that all tillage regimes (TB, TC, and
TD) increased infiltration for both initial and saturated flows (Tables 14 and
15). For TB the higher readings in July 1977 than April 1978 were probably
due to the residual effects of initial plowing in October 1976. By April 1978
those effects were diminishing.
Normal and deep tillage treatments had the greatest beneficial effects.
This was probably a function of the physical effects of tillage—i.e.,
disruption of surface crusts, creation of more macropores, greater incorpora-
tion of crop residues and general mixing of the minesoil material, thus
creating a more uniform plow layer. Infiltration rates were found to be
correlated with depth of tillage for both Buchanan and Wise (Tables A-14 and
27
-------
TABLE 12a. THE EFFECT OF TREATMENTS ON AGGREGATE STABILITY -
BUCHANAN COUNTYxyZ
Treatment
A
B
C
D
Date mean
4/12/78
36. A
41.5
43.6
40.6
40.5
Sampling dates
8/15/78
24.3
21.7
24.7
22.0
23.2
Overall treatment
mean
30.4
31.6
34.2
31.3
31.9
TABLE 12b. THE EFFECT OF TREATMENTS ON AGGREGATE STABILITY - WISE
COUNTYxyz
Sampling dates
Treatment
A
B
C
D
Date mean
9/12/77
13.1
15.5
16.2
14.5
14.8
4/8/77
19.4
18.2
24.3
21.2
20.8
8/12/78
14.0
14.2
14.0
13.9
14.0
Overall treatment
mean
15.5
16.0
18.2
16.5
16.5
Means of 8 observations.
Samples taken from the 0-10 cm depth.
x and y apply to 12a and 12b.
28
-------
TABLE 13. INITIAL AND FINAL PARTICLE SIZE ANALYSIS DATA2
Site
Sampling date Treatments
Sand Silt
Buchanan 10/29/76
County
8/15/78
Wise 10/15/76
County
8/12/78
_ : . — —
A
B
C
D
Mean
A
B
C
D
Mean
A
B
C
D
Mean
A
B
C
D
Mean
20.1
22.1
19.6
21.3
20.8
20.5
23.5
20.5
20.2
21.2
13.7
13,6
12.3
14.8
13.6
18.3
17.0
16.8
15.9
17.0
60.8
58.1
60.8
57.6
59.3
58.3
56.7
58.3
58.5
58.0
64.1
61.7
64.5
59.2
62.4
57.0
61.0
60.4
61.1
59.9
19.1
19.8
19.6
21.1
19.9
21.2
19.8
21.2
21.2
20.8
22.2
24.6
23.2
26.0
24.0
24.6
22.0
22.8
23.0
23.1
Means of 8 observations.
A-15). The Buchanan site had greater infiltration rates than did Wise;
however, the overall trends for treatments were the same.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Soil test values for organic matter, pH, CaO, P205, K20, MgO, and Mn are
presented in Tables 16, 17, 18, and 19. There were no major differences in
these components between treatments in October 1976 and August 1978. This
was the desired outcome except for organic matter levels. It was thought
that the treatments would raise the levels of organic matter in the minesoil,
but it appears that the more organic matter incorporated into each plot, the
lower the corresponding soil test organic matter readings. Organic matter
values therefore appear to be inversely correlated with cover crop yields
(organic matter additions). Various types of interferences are thought to
obscure the true organic matter values. Problems with soil organic matter
29
-------
TABLE 14. INFILTRATION RATES - BUCHANAN COUNTY7
_ .. . Elapsed time Treatments
Sampling dates . .
in minutes A B C D
July 1977
April 1978
August 1978
10
30
60
90
10
30
60
90
10
30
60
90
0.52
0.80
1.02
1.20
0.42
0.70
0.90
1.02
5.05
10.35
20Z
— —
uius u
1.12
2.42
4.20
5.42
0.95
1.38
1.75
2.00
7.72
25Z
—
— —
j. n^u
1.55
4.08
6.98
9.38
5.10
8.78
13.50
17.42
19.23
50Z
—
— —
1.80
3.52
5.25
6.69
5.55
10.25
15.45
20.28
20.18
50Z
—
— — •
^ Means of 8 observations; all values represent the cummulative
amount of water infiltrated up to that time.
»
Rough estimates of values; actual values are < those reported.
determination on surface-mined areas have been reported by other researchers
and are not unique to southwest Virginia. As a result, three minor studies
on organic matter were conducted and are discussed in the Appendix.
High phosphorus levels were found at both sites. The use of the dilute
double acid extraction method probably elevated the actual available phosphor-
us readings; hence the Bray #1 method should have been investigated (Bray and
Kurtz, 1945; Berg and May, 1969; Berg, 1973; Smith and Sobek, 1978). It
should be noted that phosphorus was not found to be limiting in this study and
therefore the high available P readings might be valid.
A number of favorable trends have surfaced as a result of the treatments.
Tillage regimes, crop yields, and infiltration rates are correlated with a
number of variables, including pH, Zn, N03, and soluble salts (Tables A-6,
A-12, A-13, A-14, and A-15). These and other relationships will be discussed
in the following pages.
Soluble Salts
Soluble salts and Zn levels tended to drop with increased aggregate
stability, infiltration rate, moisture content, depth of tillage, and crop
30
-------
TABLE 15. INFILTRATION RATES - WISE COUNTY2
Sampling dates
Elapsed time
in minutes
Treatments
B
D
c TT n
July 1977
Spril 1978
August 1978
10
30
60
90
10
30
60
90
10
30
60
90
0.82
1.20
1.68
2.12
0.65
0.92
1.08
1.22
0.90
1.25
1.68
1.95
2.02 1.25
4.18
6.15
7.95
1.30
2.12
2.98
3.80
1.72
2.80
4.08
5.05
1.95
2.52
2.92
1.30
1.98
2.68
3.22
1.90
3.12
4.15
4.98
2.10
3.12
3.88
4.48
1.30
2.22
3.18
3.88
3.75
6.92
9.05
10.40
Z Means of 8 observations; all values represent the cummulative
amount of water infiltrated up to that time.
yields, while N03 levels were enhanced. Increased depth of tillage had a
tendency to reduce the soluble salt concentration at the 15-30 cm depth at
both sites (Tables 20 and 21). This decrease appears to follow higher water
infiltration rates (Figures 5 and 6). Soluble salt concentrations tended to
be lowest in the spring following the leaching by winter and spring rains.
Profile samples indicate horizons of eluviation and illuviation (Tables 22,
23, and 24). The zone of illuviation for Wise was approximately the 15-45 cm
depth; whereas at Buchanan, the younger site with greater infiltration rates,
it was the 30-60 cm depth. Therefore, soluble salts are being moved deeper
into the profile and farther away from the major rooting zone at Buchanan.
High levels of soluble salts are detrimental to plants because they increase
the soil moisture tension (osmotic pressure effect) and decrease the avail-
ability of water to the plants. High soluble salt levels frequently include
high percentages of Mn and Al at lower pHs. The leaf tissue concentrations
for Mn and Al at Wise were both higher than those at Buchanan and are
discussed later in this paper (Tables 30 and 31).
Aggregate stability was inversely correlated with soluble salt levels and
correlated with pH at Wise (Tables A-10 and A-15). Buchanan soil pH values
are probably more favorable to aggregate formation than those at Wise. In
some calcareous soils calcium carbonate can be a stabilizing agent enhancing
soil structure (Russell, 1973).
31
-------
CO
R)
CO
&
CU 0
.0 O
d en
rH I
O 10
600 ••
500 -
400
300
200
cu
CO 4-1
•H p,
O CU
6 TJ
B
o
•H
O
CO O
CU CO
a i
•H in
§
CJ
M
CU
10.0 ••
9.5 ••
9.0 '
8.5
8.0
a)
M
tM
cu
0) >
4J -H
3 -U
ti ?O
•H S
S
O
20
15
10 •
5 •
B C
Treatment
D
Figure 5. Relationship between infiltration rates, minesoil
moisture, and soluble salts - Buchanan County, April
1978.
32
-------
1000 ••
JS
CO 4-1
4-1 D.
rH 0)
cO -d
01
0) O
J3 O
3 ro
a
ex
900 ••
800 -•
700 ••
600 ••
500 ••
400 L
16 ••
0)
3
4-1 J2
CO 4J
•H a,
O 9)
B •«
rH B
•H U 4-1
CO O 01
to tn a
•H u-i (U
S rH ft
15 ••
14 ••
13 ••
12 •"•
a)
§
•H
4-1
cO
M
O
f>
3C
0)
O
0)
CO
rH-S
•H B 2
u-i B
C O 3
M o> a
15 •
10 ••
5 •
0 •
D
Treatment
Figure 6. Relationship between infiltration rates, minesoil mois-
ture, and soluble salts - Wise County, August, 1978.
33
-------
TABLE 16. SOIL TEST ORGANIC MATTER VALUES FOR VARIOUS DATES AND
DEPTHS - BUCHANAN COUNTY2
Sampling dates
Depth (cm)
Treatments
D
Mean
October 29, 1976
April 30, 1977
June 22, 1977
September 13, 1977
Spril 12, 1978
June 21, 1978
August 15, 1978
Overall means
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
0-15
0-15
15-30
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
1.
2.
9
2
6
6
6
4
8
1
9
6
2
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
2.
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
9
4
7
7
5
0
6
8
4
6
9
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
2.
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
9
5
7
8
6
2
4
6
5
6
9
2.
1.
1.
2.
2.
2.
1.
2.
1.
1.
2.
0
3
8
0
1
1
7
0
8
8
0
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
2.
1.
1.
1.
1.
2.
9
4
7
8
7
2
6
9
6
7
0
Means of 4 composite samples.
£H
Soil pH is a major factor influencing nutrient availability and toxicity.
It appears that pH of the minesoil increased with depth at both sites (refers
to unlimed situations). This is highly favorable at Wise (Tables 22, 23, 24,
25, and 26), but at Buchanan the high pH levels were apparently above optimum
since they were inversely correlated with yields of rye, soybean, bean, and
squash (Tables A-12 and A-14). This does not imply that higher pHs dramati-
cally reduced yields at Buchanan. Obviously the yields of these crops were
very good and much better than those at Wise. At Wise, pH was correlated
with rye-Austrian wintei pea and bean yields, possibly due in part to
increased K and P availability (Tables A-7, A-8, and A-ll). It should be
noted that TB plots at Wise had lower pHs at the 15-30 cm depth than the TC
and TD plots, yet Tg plots had higher yields.
The effect of tillage on pH at the 15-30 cm depth was an example of the
effects of incorporating lime at various depths (Table 26). In April 1978 at
Wise, the pH differences between the 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths were: TB,
0.8; Tc, 0.4; and TD. 0.2 of a pH point, respectively. Adequate incorporation
of lime is necessary to facilitate pH increases in the profile.
34
-------
TABLE 17. SOIL TEST ORGANIC MATTER VALUES FOR VARIOUS DATES AND
DEPTHS - WISE COUNTY2 '
Treatments
October 15, 1976
April 27, 1977
June 20, 1977
September 12, 1977
November 20, 1977
April 5, 1978
June 20, 1978
August 12, 1978
Overall means
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
A
2.4
2.6
3.0
3.2
2.9
2.8
1.7
2.7
2.6
2.7
1.7
2.8
2.0
B
3.0
2.5
2.4
2.6
3.2
2.9
3.1
2.5
2.3
2.6
2.4
2.7
2.6
C
c,
3.1
2.8
2.6
2.6
3.2
2.6
2.4
2.4
2.6
2.4
2.4
2.7
2.5
D
2.3
2.6
2.2
2.3
2.8
2.4
2.1
2.2
2.1
2.2
2.0
2.4
2.1
Mean
2.7
2.6
2.6
2.7
3.0
2.7
2.3
2.4
2.4
2.5
2.3
2.6
2.3
Means of 4 composite samples.
Manganese
There was an inverse correlation between Mn leaf tissue levels and vege-
table yields at both sites (Tables A-5 and A-6). Minesoil Mn levels were all
reported as greater than 16+ ppm because that was the lab's standard
recording procedure for Mn levels above 16 ppm. The actual values have
ranged from 30 to over 80 ppm at both sites. Correlations between minesoil
Mn levels and yields are therefore not possible. Symptoms resembling Mn
toxicity were displayed by bean plants at both sites and occasionally by
squash at Wise. These symptoms faded away as the season progressed, possibly
as a result of minesoil Mn complexing with organic matter (Beckwith, 1955)
from the plowed down cover crop and/or higher pH values after liming. Both
of these factors would tend to reduce the levels of available Mn in the mine-
soil. Although the visual symptoms disappeared, yields of both vegetable
crops were inversely correlated with leaf tissue Mn levels. Plants vary in
tolerance to Mn levels. Ouellette (1950) showed that for good growth soluble
Mn concentration in soil must be less than 3 ppm for soybeans, 2 ppm for
35
-------
TABLE 18. SELECTED SOIL TEST VALUES FRCM EACH TREATMENT AND DEPTH
SAMPLED - BUCHANAN COUNTY
xz
Soil
test
Sampling date
Depth (cm)
Treatment
A
B
C
D
Irn /In T
Kg /ha
CaO
Overall
P2°5
£• j
Overall
10/29/76
4/30/77
6/22/77
9/13/77
A/12/78
6/21/78
8/15/78
means
10/29/76
A/30/77
6/22/77
9/13/77
4/12/78
6/21/78
8/15/78
means
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
0-15
0-15
15-30
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
0-15
0-15
15-30
3216*?
2088
2933*
2463*
3839*
3761*
2745*
3761*
3027
2759
3761
294
288
245
263
288
308
281
308
308
281
308
2933*
2369
1805*
2557
2557
3498*
2839*
3027*
3027*
2584
3262
294
294
308
308
308
308
308
308
308
304
308
2745
2463
2275*
2557
2463
3404*
2651
3404*
2839*
2570
3404
263
294
294
301
308
308
308
308
308
296
308
3027*
2463
3121*
3216*
3216*
3216*
3216*
3404*
3310*
3081
3310
294
301
308
301
308
308
308
308
308
304
308
(continued)
36
-------
TABLE 18. CONTINUED
Soil
test
Sampling date
Depth (cm)
Treatment
D
K 0
/
Overall
10/29/76
4/30/77
6/22/77
9/13/77
4/12/78
6/21/78
8/15/78
means
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
0-15
0-15
15-30
158
113
146
133
146
170
182
170
146
146
170
Kg/
133
113
195
170
170
146
221
158
146
164
152
rna
133
133
146
133
158
170
195
170
146
149
170
121
113
158
158
170
158
221
158
158
157
158
x Means of 4 composite samples.
y Means marked by "*" contain values which represent the upper limit
of sensitivity of the particular test and thus, the actual mean is
^ that reported here. The greatest values to which the tests are
sensitive are CaO = 3761, P205 = 308, MgO - 446, K20 = 421, and
Mn = 16.
Z MgO readings were 446+ kg/ha and Mn readings were 16+ ppm for all
dates and depths sampled.
37
-------
TABLE 19. SELECTED SOIL TEST VALUES FROM EACH TREATMENT AND DEPTH
SAMPLED - WISE COUNTY
.wz
Soil
test
CaO
Overall
P00 *
2 5
Overall
Sampling date
10/15/76
4/27/77
6/20/77
9/12/77
11/20/77
4/05/78
6/20/78
8/12/78
means
10/15/76
4/27/77
6/20/77
9/12/77
11/20/77
4/05/78
6/20/78
8/12/78
means
Depth (cm)
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
Treatment
A
1147
1147
1147
1147
1429
1241
2088
3498*x
2181*
3498*
2933*
1782*
2401*
294
263
281
245
263
263
294
281
294
228
288
265
292
B
to /ha
Kg/na
959
1523
2839*
2275
2467
2557
1617
3310*
2088*
3216*
2557*
2393*
2987*
195
235?
294
301
294
301
288
308
281
308
294
281
288
C
1241
2088
2745
2463
2933
2275
1994
3404*
2745*
2933*
2463*
2510*
2401*
294
288
301
301
301
301
281
301
294
281
294
296
290
D
1241
1617
2369
2275
2557
2088
2275
3121*
2933*
2745
2557
2252*
2588*
281
281
301
301
294
288
301
301
301
294
288
293
297
(continued)
38
-------
TABLE 19. CONTINUED
Soil
test
KO
Overall
Sampling date
10/15/76
4/27/77
6/20/77
9/12/77
11/20/77
4/05/78
6/20/78
8/12/78
means
Depth (cm)
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
Treatment
A
105
113
147
147
170
146
146
242
158
182
158
156
154
B
Irn /lui
Kg / ua
97
146
220
170
207
182
158
280
158
182
170
186
162
C
105
121
195
147
220
182
170
262
182
221
121
182
158
D
113
146
195
170
170
182
170
252
146
195
170
178
162
w
Means of 4 composite samples.
X Means marked by "*" contain values which represent the upper limit
of sensitivity of the particular test and thus, the actual mean is
•^that reported here. The greatest values to which the tests are
sensitive are CaO = 3761, P20 = 308, K 0 = 421, MgO = 446, and
Mn = 16.
y This mean does not contain values which represent the upper limit
of sensitivity of the test.
Z MgO readings were 446+ kg/ha and Mn readings were 16+ ppm for all
dates and depths sampled.
39
-------
TABLE 20. SOLUBLE SALT LEVELS AT VARIOUS DATES AND DEPTHS - BUCHANAN
COUNTY2
Sampling dates
October 29, 1976
April 30, 1977
September 13, 1977
April 12, 1978
June 21, 1978
August 15, 1978
Overall means
Depth (cm)
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
0-15
0-15
15-30
Treatments
A
504
224
283
227
528
324
453
478
340
490
B
ppm
531
359
323
333
522
703
403
486
456
462
C
348
212
352
195
298
531
280
416
342
289
D
427
222
339
214
230
547
196
372
354
213
Means of 4 replications.
lespedeza, 1.5 ppra for clover, and 1 ppm for potatoes. Obviously, the avail-
able Mn levels in the minesoil were much higher than these values for both
Buchanan and Wise. Toxicity symptoms are displayed by the leaves of following
plants at levels of: 1000 ppm beans; 550 ppm peas; and 200 ppm barley (White,
1970). Therefore, at Wise the rye-Austrian winter pea cover crop possibly
did poorly due to high available Mn levels in the minesoil as a result of the
lower pHs and wet winter weather.
Zinc
Zinc availability decreases with increases in pH with most deficiencies
occurring between pH 6.0 and 8.0. At Wise, Zn was inversely correlated with
pH and Ca. Deficiencies may also show up on high P soils due to a Zn-P
interaction where high levels of one element may reduce uptake of the other
(Tisdale and Nelson, 1975). Zn can form insoluble phosphates as well. This
could be a problem where minesoil P levels are low and Zn levels are high.
In fact, at both Buchanan and Wise, inverse correlations were found between
Zn and P (Tables A-14 and A-15). Excess Zn can substantially reduce the
40
-------
TABLE 21. SOLUBLE SALT LEVELS AT VARIOUS DATES AND DEPTHS - WISE
COUNTY2
Sampling dates
October 15, 1976
April 27, 1977
September 12, 1977
April 5, 1978
June 20, 1978
August 12, 1978
Overall means
Depth (cm)
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
Treatments
A
714
467
682
570
1162
675
688
1062
1008
695
953
B
ppm
573
362
570
605
576
614
366
707
672
572
538
C
748
374
810
451
451
589
362
672
477
607
430
D
694
358
726
512
630
650
388
643
490
597
503
Means of 4 replications.
concentration of leaf tissue P and Fe—i.e., Zn interferes with the capacity
of the roots to reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+ (Bidwell, 1974). Minesoil Zn at Buchanan
was inversely correlated with rye-Austrian winter pea yield, leaf tissue P
and bean yield, and leaf tissue Zn levels were inversely correlated with
squash yields (Tables A-6 and A-14, Figures 7 and 8).
Zinc levels were lower in the 0-15 cm depth than the 15-30 cm depth and
appeared to diminish with increased depth of tillage (Tables 27, 28, A-14,
and A-15). Increases in infiltration appeared to reduce Zn levels at Wise.
Zn can be immobilized by organic matter and adsorbed by carbonates of Ca and
Mg. This supports the Inverse correlation found between Ca and Zn at Wise
(Table A-15). Soil test organic matter readings cannot be used quantita-
tively, but in general the higher the organic matter (cover crop yields), the
greater the Zn immobilization potential.
41
-------
Figure 7. Relationship between rye-Austrian winter pea yield and
zinc - Buchanan County, April 1978.
cti
0)
0.
(U
4J
3
>
(3
CO
•rl
l-l *-s
•W 03
0) ^
3
T3
0) (U
**
6
5
0)
at
4-1
y
5 A
•*^^.
g
4J
O
S 3
B
O
•• 3.0
• 1.5
-1.0
o
on
i
•• 2.5 -1
••2.0 -H
•H 4J
O p,
co a)
OJ -0
c
g g
I
0)
A
CJ
(U
cd ^
•H
M TJ
CO 0)
O
I M
OJ CO JJ
pj fi, g
A •
1 ••
B C
Treatment
D
5.0
••4.5
.. 4.0
-. 3.5
•• 3.0
y e
C ex
3 £
o &
CO (U
0) T3
0
ri B
£5 o
Figure 8.
Relationship between rye-Austrian winter pea yield and
zinc - Wise County, April 1978.
A2
-------
TABLE 22. SOIL TEST VALUES FOR DEEPLY SAMPLED CONTROL PLOTS (TREAT-
MENT A) - WISE COUNTY. OCTOBER 1976?z
Rep
I
II
III
IV
Depth
(cm)
0-15
15-30
30-45
45-60
0-15
15-30
30-45
45-60
0-1.5
15-30
30-45
45-60
0-15
15-30
30-45
45-60
PH
4.3
4.4
4.5
5.6
4.2
3.6
5.0
3.9
4.5
4.5
4.5
4.5
4.5
4.9
6.6
6.8
CaO
709
986
801
3389
1448
2249
2588
2219
1325
3328
2557
1941
493
1355
2249
2803
MgO
Irrr
K-g
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
231
446
446
446
P2°5
/ha
/ na
254
180
38
308
308
308
308
308
308
308
308
308
149
308
308
308
V
97
84
75
97
108
62
100
90
116
157
130
121
84
92
124
146
Soluble
salts
282
947
1152
1766
1254
1900
1766
1664
563
2176
1818
1203
166
307
640
794
Zn
• ppm •
6+
4.0
1.7
2.1
6+
5.5
3.1
6+
6+
5.9
4.5
6+
5.1
4.1
3.2
4.5
Mn
16+
16+
16+
16+
16+
16+
16+
16+
16+
16+
16+
16+
16+
16+
16+
16+
N03
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
Organic
matter
"
3.4
1.1
0.3
2.0
2.9
1.6
2.4
2.3
4.0
1.8
2.0
1.5
1.1
0.9
1.3
1.7
Overall
means
0-15
15-30
30-45.
45-60
4.4
4.4
5.2
5.2
994
1980
2049
2588
392
446
446
446
255
276
240
308
101
99
107
114
566
1332
1344
1357
5.8
4.9
3.1
4.6
16+
16+
16+
16+
5
5
5
5
2.8
1.4
1.5
1.9
^ Means represent one composite sample of two observations.
Z The greatest values to which the tests are sensitive are CaO = 3761,
PoOr = 308, MgO = 446, B^O = 421, Zn = 6, Mn = 16, and organic
matter = 15. The lowest value to which the test is sensitive is
NOo = 5.
43
-------
TABLE 23. SOIL TEST VALUES FOR DEEPLY SAMPLED TREATMENT PLOTS - BUCHANAN
COUNTY, JUNE 29. 1977y2
m Depth
Treatment ^
A 7.
15.
22.
30.
37.
45.
52.
B 7.
15.
22.
30.
37.
45.
52.
60.
C 7.
15.
22.
30.
37.
45.
52.
60.
67.
75.
5-15.
0-22.
5-30.
0-37.
5-45.
0-52.
5-60.
5-15.
0-22.
5-30.
0-37.
5-45.
0-52.
5-60.
0-67.
5-15.
0-22.
5-30.
0-37.
5-45.
0-52.
5-60.
0-67.
5-75.
0-82.
0
5
0
5
0
5
0
0
5
0
5
0
5
0
5
0
5
0
5
0
5
0
5
0
5
PH
6.
7.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
5.
—
6.
5.
3.
6.
7.
5.
4.
—
3.
—
3.
4.
5.
5.
5.
5.
6
5
6
7
3
3
7
1
7
5
6
1
0
6
2
8
8
5
5
9
8
8
CaO
3730
3761
3761
3761
1974
2977
2789
1661
—
3102
2475
1974
2914
3761
1724
1755
—
2632
—
2414
3071
2601
2632
2506
2037
MgO
-kg/te
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
—
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
—
446
—
446
446
446
446
446
446
P2°5
308
308
308
308
293
230
152
189
—
308
308
214
308
308
308
308
—
264
—
238
308
308
308
308
308
K20
167
180
213
230
259
237
153
153
—
138
143
176
148
197
251
243
—
237
—
266
230
170
170
167
176
Soluble
salts
ppm
256
218
307
998
640
1216
1438
141
—
44S
806
1728
307
333
371
678
—
1306
—
1690
1472
960
973
909
896
Organic
matter
1.
2.
2.
3.
2.
6.
12.
1.
—
1.
1.
4.
1.
1.
2.
3.
—
3.
—
4.
3.
3.
2.
2.
2.
5
3
6
2
7
5
5
0
4
9
4
4
6
5
8
4
2
5
0
7
1
0
(continued)
44
-------
TABLE 23. CONTINUED
Treatment D,ept:h
(cm)
D 7
15
22
30
37
45
.5-15
.0-22
.5-30
.0-37
.5-45
.0-52
52.5-60,
60,
.0-67,
.0
.5
•0
.5
.6
,5
.0
,5
67.5-75.0
75.0-82.5
Overall
means
7.5-15.
15.
22.
30.
37.
45.
52.
60.
67.
75.
0-22.
5-30.
0-37.
5-45.
0-52.
5-60.
0-67.
5-75.
0-82.
0
5
0
5
0
5
0
5
0
5
pH
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
5,
4.
.3
.8
.9
.8
.8
.6
.4
,7
.7
4.4
5.8
7.
6.
5.
5.
5.
5.
5.
5.
5.
6
5
0
1
6
9
7
2
1
CaO
3761
3761
3761
3761
3761
3761
3761
2131
1002
971
2727
3761
3314
3332
2531
3181
3228
2162
1754
1504
MgO
- kg/h
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
P2°5
a — — —
308
308
308
308
308
308
308
148
52
52
278
308
297
308
263
288
269
255
180
180
V
176
180
197
216
170
199
205
146
138
121
185
180
196
196
218
204
181
189
152
148
-
Soluble
salts
ppm —
218
218
209
230
346
320
320
243
209
230
323
218
568
678
1101
829
763
529
559
563
Organic
matter
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
13
14,
% —
.4
.4
.3
.6
.5
.3
.8
.3
.1
13.3
2.
2.
2.
2.
3.
3.
5.
6.
8.
7.
,2
4
4
6
4
4
2
2
1
6
y
Means represent 2 observations per treatment.
The greatest values to which the tests are sensitive are CaO
P205 = 308, MgO = 446, K20 = 421, and organic matter = 15.
3761,
45
-------
TABLE 24. SOIL TEST VALUES FOR DEEPLY SAMPLED TREATMENT PLOTS - WISE
COUNTY, JULY 7.
n> Depth
Treatment , v
(cm)
A
7
15
22
30
37
45
52
60
B
7
15
22
30
37
45
52
60
C
7
15
22
30
37
45
52
60
0-7.5
.5-15.
.0-22.
.5-30.
.0-37.
.5-45.
.0-52.
.5-60.
.0-67.
0-7.5
.5-15.
.0-22.
.5-30.
.0-37.
.5-45.
.0-52.
.5-60.
.0-67.
0
5
0
5
0
5
0
5
0
5
0
5
0
5
0
5
0-7.5
.5-15.
.0-22.
.5-30.
.0-37.
.5-45.
.0-52.
.5-60.
.0-67.
0
5
0
5
0
5
0
5
PH
3
3
3
4
5
4
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
4
4
3
3
4
5
5
4
4
.65
.80
.65
.45
.05
.80
.80
.05
.00
.95
.85
.25
.60
.00
.15
.60
.70
.50
.35
.20
.85
.95
.65
.55
.70
.35
.05
CaO
846
2350
3761
3698
3761
3761
1959
2022
1975
1567
1504
1034
1457
1206
1865
1818
3008
3761
1833
1583
1410
1943
2586
2946
2978
1458
956
MgO
1_ — /l_
Kg/n
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
P2°5
a
167
213
308
308
308
308
263
254
308
271
264
180
293
181
308
308
308
234
306
296
256
285
253
272
303
164
173
V
119
143
119
133
137
144
166
141
146
167
162
116
150
143
157
170
153
138
117
137
145
146
99
134
131
128
132
Soluble
salts
ppm
2035
2016
2816
2368
2304
2867
582
563
544
480
468
717
851
1024
1510
1446
1728
1050
768
947
941
1203
1689
1440
1606
889
710
(continued)
46
-------
TABLE 24. CONTINUED
Treatment
D
7
15
22
30
37
45
52
60
Overall
means 7
15
22
30
37
45
52
60
Depth
(cm)
0-7.
.5-15
.0-22
.5-30
.0-37
.5-45
.0-52
.5-60
.0-67
0-7.
.5-15
.0-22
.5-30
.0-37
.5-45
.0-52
.5-60
.0-67
5
.0
.5
.0
.5
.0
.5
.0
.5
5
.0
.5
.0
.5
.0
.5
.0
.5
4
4
5
5
5
4
5
3
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
pH
.90
.65
.05
.65
.90
.80
.30
.95
.05
.46
.38
.20
.66
.90
.83
.10
.76
.90
CaO
1677
1426
1802
2711
2883
1692
2868
893
2068
1481
1716
2002
2452
2609
2566
2406
1845
2190
MgO
Vo/Vi a
Kg/na
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
446
P2°5
308
209
308
308
308
170
170
138
261
263
246
263
299
263
265
261
216
244
K20
158
143
142
145
156
167
164
141
147
140
146
131
144
134
151
150
141
141
Soluble
salts
ppm
493
518
583
1005
909
595
723
634
506
944
987
1264
1357
1482
1603
1089
954
703
Means represent 2 observations per treatment.
The greatest values to which the tests are sensitive are CaO = 3761,
P 0 =308, MgO
446, and K20 = 421.
47
-------
TABLE 25. SOIL TEST PH VALUES FOR VARIOUS DATES AND DEPTHS - BUCHANAN
COUNTY2
Sampling dates
October 29, 1976
April 29, 1977
June 22, 1977
September 13, 1977
April 12, 1978
June 21, 1978
August 15, 1978
Overall means
Depth
(cm)
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
0-15
0-15
15-30
Treatments
A
6.6
6.0
5.6
5.9
6.4
7.6
6.2
7.5
6.7
6.2
7.6
B
6.6
6.3
6.0
6.1
6.5
7.3
6.6
7.2
6.8
6.4
7.2
C
6.3
6.5
5.6
5.8
6.4
7.0
6.3
7.0
6.7
6.2
7.0
D Mean for date
6.7
6.3
6.0
6.4
7.0
7.3
7.0
7.4
6.9
6.6
7.4
6.6
6.3
5.8
6.0
6.6
7.3
6.5
7.3
6.8
6.4
7.3
Means of 4 composite samples.
Water Soluble Nitrates
Water soluble nitrates were determined on minesoil samples taken in
1978 (Tables 27 and 28). Soil test (water soluble) N03 results are not an
absolute measure of soil nitrogen content, but they do indicate relative
levels in each sample analyzed.
The Buchanan County data are a good example of nitrate levels as
affected by the growth, incorporation, and decomposition of a green manure
crop (Figure 9). Buchanan had an excellent stand of rye-Austrian winter pea
growing as the winter cover crop on the Tg, TC, and TD plots. In April, the
NO-j levels on the 0-15 cm depth were low because of the consumption of
nitrates by the thick stand of rye. The N03 levels at the 0-15 cm depth
increased in June due to the release of nitrogen by the Austrian winter pea
and rye when they were plowed down. The nitrogen derived from the peas was
a net gain to the minesoil. By August, NOg levels at the 0-15 cm depth were
dropping probably due to immobilization by microorganisms in the process of
48
-------
45
6
O.
ex
0.
Q)
•O
O
0)
4->
(0
35
25
15
4-12-78
6-22-78
Sampling dates
8-15-78
Figure 9,
Nitrate levels as affected by cover crop growth,
incorporation, and decomposition - Buchanan County,
1978.
49
-------
TABLE 26. SOIL TEST PH VALUES FOR VARIOUS DATES AND DEPTHS - WISE
COUNTY2
Sampling dates
October 15, 1976
April 27, 1977
June 20, 1977
September 12, 1977
November 20, 1977
April 5, 1978
June 20, 1978
August 12, 1978
Means for June and
August 1978
Depth
(cm)
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
0-15
15-30
Treatments
A
4.4
4.5
4.4
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.6
6.0
5.1
6.2
5.4
6.1
5.2
B
4.3
5.4
5.5
5.4
5.3
5.6
4,8
6.0
5.1
6.2
5.5
6.1
5.3
C
4.5
5.2
5.4
5.4
5.6
5.8
5.4
6.3
5.9
5.9
5.5
6.1
5.7
D Means for BCD
4.4
5.3
5.6
5.3
5.5
5.6
5.4
6.2
6.2
6.0
6.1
6.1
6.2
4.4
5.3
5.5
5.4
5.5
5.7
5.2
6.2
5.7
6.0
5.7
Means of 4 composite samples.
organic matter decomposition, use by the vegetable crops and leaching out of
the profile as a result of the good infiltration rates. Nitrate levels at
the 15-30 cm depth were much lower throughout 1978, probably due to the lower
organic matter content of this depth. The NOo levels at the 0-15 cm and the
15-30 cm depths appear to reflect the yield of the rye-Austrian winter pea
cover crop. TC and TD which had the highest yield of rye-Austrian winter pea
also had the highest N03 levels in August. Control plots had lower NO-j
levels in April, since they did not receive the mineral N applications of the
rye-Austrian winter pea plots. N03 levels in the TB, TC, and TD plots were
higher in June and August than the control, probably as a result of the
differences in cover crop yields because mineral fertilizer N applications
were the same for all plots.
50
-------
TABLE 27. SOIL TEST VALUES FOR ZN AND NO AT VARIOUS DATES AND DEPTHS
BUCHANAN COUNTY?
Soil Depth Treat-
test (cm) ment
An 0-15 A
B
C
D
15-30 A
B
C
D
N03 0-15 A
B
C
D
15-30 A
B
C
D
Sampling dates
10/29/76 ft/12/78
2.4 2.0
2.5 2.1
2.6 2.0
2.4 2.0
2.4
2.3
2.0
1. 9
5.8
7.8
7.3
7.6
5.3*
5.8*
5.7
6.0
6/21/78
ppm •
2.2
2.1
1.8
1.7
2.2
2.1
2.0
2.1
5.0*Z
33.3
32.0
43.6
5.0*
5.1*
6.2
6.9*
8/15/78 Overa11
means
2.0 2.2
1.8 2.1
1.8 2.0
1.8 2.0
2.3
2.2
2.0
2.0
6.4* 5.7*
9.2 16.8
15.2 18.2
11.6 20.9
5.2*
5.4*
6.0
6.4*
Means of 4 composite samples.
Means marked by "*" contain values of less than 5 for N03> therefore,
the actual values are equal to or less than for NO
51
-------
TABLE 29. COVER AND VEGETABLE CROP YIELDS*?
Site
Buchanan
County
Wise
County
Tillage
regime
A
B
C
D
Mean
A
B
C
D
Mean
Rye
Winter
76/77
2.59bZ
3.78a
2.76b
3.04
3.65a
3.29ab
2.15b
3,02
Cover
Soybean
Summer
77
2.46a
3.00a
3.07a
2.84
6.00a
6.83a
4.34a
5.73
crop
Rye-Austrian
Winter Pea
Winter 77/78
• Metric ton/ha -
2.98b
4.48a
5.22a
4.23
3.16a
1. 93a
1.61a
2.24
Vegetable crop
Bean
Summer
78
13.30b
17.74ab
22.49a
22.15a
19.93
6.34b
22.22a
16.98ab
13.42ab
14.74
Summer
Squash
Summer 78
55.35b
79.05a
81.92a
93.52a
77.46
6.97b
43.21a
31.40a
22.40ab
25.98
X
Means of four replications.
Yields represent above ground growth for cover crops expressed as dry
weight and fruit fresh weight for vegetable crops.
2
Means of one column for each county followed by the same letter are
not different at the 0.05 level of probability.
cattle approximately 3 weeks after germination. This factor aside, soybean
growth at both sites was very much alike. Observations of soybean roots
showed that only the darker green plants, which made up less than a quarter
of the total stand, had substantial numbers of root nodules. These well
nodulated plants, however, showed no sign of being larger, healthier, or
faster maturing than the poorly or nonnodulated plants. Therefore, the
incidence of nodulation had no apparent effect on the growth of soybeans.
Rye-Austrian Winter Pea—Winter 1977-78—
Germination rates were excellent for both the rye and Austrian winter
pea components of the winter cover crop. Excellent stands were observed at
both sites in December of 1977; however, the Austrian winter pea did not
survive the winter at Wise. In fact, even the rye component of the cover did
not grow as well as it did the previous winter at Wise (Figure lOa). In
54
-------
contrast, Buchanan produced a thick and healthy stand of rye and Austrian
winter pea (Figure lOb). Observations of Austrian winter pea roots showed
that they all were well nodulated. Yields were inversely correlated with
soluble salt levels at Buchanan (Table A-14). It is interesting that the
two treatments which enhanced the yields the most (T^ and Tp) also had the
lowest soluble salt concentration, probably as a result of their higher
infiltration rates.
At Wise, yields were correlated with infiltration rates, pH, Ca, and P
and inversely correlated with Zn (Table A-15). Zn levels decreased with
increased depth of tillage and infiltration.
Vegetable Cropja
The plots at Buchanan had good stands of beans and squash with Tg, TC,
and Tj) having the best growth, production, and quality. The vegetable plots
did much better at Buchanan than at Wise with the control plots at Buchanan
producing as well or better than the tillage plots (Tg» Tc, and TD) at Wise.
Germination throughout the experiment was uniform in terms of stand
density and time of seedling emergence. Some bean plants exhibited manganese
toxicity symptoms during their early growth stage, but later appeared to
"outgrow it". Bean plants on one control plot exhibited marginal chlorosis
throughout the growing season; however, this was the only plot to do so. No
insect or disease problems were encountered during the growing season for
either vegetable, and all plants appeared very healthy (Figure 11).
Germination rates at Wise were also excellent for both vegetable crops.
However, with a small percentage of beans, spoil crusting resulted in rupture
of the hypocotyls.
The minimum tillage plots all germinated the fastest and produced
excellent quality fruit (beans and squash) early in the season and then their
quality dropped. Except for the fourth replication and minimum tillage plots,
most plots never produced high quality fruits. Essentially those plots that
had the fastest germination and initial growth yielded the most. The
majority of plots which did not germinate and grow quickly did not do well,
whereas the plots that did well early became progressively worse as the.
season advanced. Minimum tillage' and all other plots decreased in quality
and quantity as the season progressed, all except those in the fourth repli-
cation. The success of the fourth replication was probably due to its high
subsoil pH; readings of 6.6 to 6.8 were recorded at the 30 to 60 cm depth in
October 1976 (Table 22). . The fourth replication continued to produce fruit
of good quality throughout the harvest period. The relative yield pattern
of treatments was the same for all four replications (Figure 12).
Vegetables at Wise exhibited stress symptoms throughout the growing
season. Most squash plants were small and produced harder and darker yellow
fruits well below optimum quality. The initial bean harvests produced good
quality and quantity fruit with quality dropping as the season progressed.
Bean plants displayed signs of manganese toxicity (leaf cupping with marginal
chlorosis) during the early stages of growth and then appeared to "outgrow"
55
-------
en
^fS^**-**'-.''-I*.1 J
FIGURES lOa (left) and lOb (right). A comparison of rye-Austrian winter
pea growth at Buchanan (shovel is over 1 meter tall) and Wise
(stake is 30 cm tall) Counties, May 1978.
-------
'•TOflN^^.'-- gf^
* -*f! ^':^^
FIGURE 11. A comparison of squash growth at Buchanan
and Wise Counties, August 1978.
57
-------
OS
' -«
WISE
DEEP
TILLAGE
SQUASH
FIGURE 12. A comparison of treatment effects on squash growth - Wise County
July 6, 1978.
-------
the problem. No insect or disease problems were encountered during the
growing season for either vegetable.
Total Correlations Between Vegetable Leaf Tissue Chemical Data and Minesoil
Properties
Leaf tissue chemical data were comparable to the data reported by
Geraldson, et al. (1973) for plants grown in agricultural soils (Tables 30
and 31). Vegetable yields were, however, adversely affected by various
elements and interactions of elements (Tables A-5 and A-6).
Buchanan—
Squash yields were correlated with K and Ba leaf concentrations and
inversely correlated with Mn, Al, and Zn leaf levels (Figure 13). Ba and K
levels tended to increase with increased depth of tillage, whereas Mn, Al,
and Zn levels appeared to decrease. Bean yields were inversely correlated
with Al and Sr leaf tissue concentration, both of which appeared to decrease
with increased depth of tillage. Al is a primary growth limiting factor,
but usually only on acid soils. Al may interfere with a number of plant
functions, including cell division, respiration, DNA synthesis and sugar
phosphorylation. Al can also bind P to root surfaces, cell walls, and in
the free space of roots (Mortvedt, et al., 1972). P leaf tissue concentra-
tions were inversely correlated with leaf tissue levels for Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe,
Sr, and minesoil Zn levels, and correlated with 90 minute infiltration rates.
P leaf tissue values increased with depth of tillage, whereas Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe,
and Sr leaf tissue levels tend to decrease with increased depth of tillage.
High Ca and Mg levels tend to precipitate P out of the soil solution.
Calcareous soils reduce the available phosphates by converting them into
insoluble apatites or precipitating them as insoluble calcium phosphates
directly from the soil solution. Leaf tissue levels for Mn and K were
inversely correlated with 90 minute infiltration and Zn leaf tissue values,
respectively.
Wise—
Leaf tissue K levels are correlated with yields of both vegetables and
they were higher in TB, Tc, and TD than TA. Haufler (1976) reported K to be
the most influential factor dealing with natural revegetation of orphan mine
sites in southwest Virginia. Leaf tissue manganese levels are inversely
correlated with yield of vegetables with treatment A having the highest
amount (Figure 14). High soil Mn causes crinkle leaf in cotton and these
symptoms were visible in both beans and squash. Deeper tillage and increased
infiltration rates appear to reduce Cu and increase Mg levels in the leaves.
In general it appears that an increase in tillage depth with its
accompanying increase in soil aeration, moisture, and infiltration rates
tends to enhance elements favorable to increased plant growth and decrease
those elements that are present in adverse quantities at both Buchanan and
Wise.
59
-------
TABLE 30. LEAF TISSUE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS FOR BEANS AND SQUASH
BUCHANAN COUNTY. JULY 1978?*
Treatments
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
Elements
P
0.60
0.76
0.78
0.77
B
10.69
12.24
16.12
16.26
Mn
212.55
147.80
180.05
140.15
Sr
— ppm —
29.70
20.40
17.42
18.74
K
3.10
3.24
3.24
3.33
Cu
13.28
13.12
14.28
12.95
Fe
427.25
331.95
316.75
321.05
Ca
1.33
1.06
0.92
1.05
Zn
- ppm
43.36
41.58
42.94
40.17
Al
- ppm
645.75
513.35
485.10
481.15
Mg
0.99
0.75
0.79
0.77
Ba
4.75
4.97
6.28
7.29
Na
49.04
50.74
42.41
50.94
^ Means represent 8 composite samples.
Z Means represent beans and squash because they were handled as
replication.
60
-------
TABLE 31. LEAF TISSUE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS FOR BEANS AND SQUASH -
WISE COUNTY. JULY 1978?*
Treatments
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
Elements
P
0.55
0.66
0.54
0.47
B
18.90
15.48
14.96
15.52
Mn
267.15
156.10
193.85
187.70
Sr
- ppro -
12.28
7.38
14.37
16.14
K
3.00
3.30
3.25
3.18
Cu
14.28
12.62
12.08
11.80
Fe
448.75
353.85
381.25
570.20
Ca
1.14
0.78
1.09
1.39
Zn
ppm
46.92
47.22
49.40
43.34
Al
ppm
747.20
584.20
624.75
1262.60
Mg
0.62
0.59
0.66
0.87
Ba
6.00
4.23
5.33
6.59
Na
62.86
56.28
48.27
73.06
y Means represent 8 composite samples.
Z Means represent beans and squash because they were handled as
replication.
61
-------
<"
X— '
3
0)
CO
to
•H
4J
ctt S
cu ex
650
600 •
550 •
500 •
450
A
M
>
ai
3
W
CQ
•H 4J
4J C
0)
\~s
C
Cs]
CU
3
CO
CO
•H
4J
01
3
6
a.
P.
S
O.
-------
CO
3
CO
CO
•H W
•U C
, CJ
•H
C t-t
a -u
— ' CJ
0)
T) J2
rH -^
(V C
•H O
CO iH
(0 M
3 4J
O* 0)
CO 0
Relationship of bean and squash yield to leaf
tissue concentrations of K and Mn - Wise County,
August 1978.
63
-------
LITERATURE CITED
Barr, A. J., J. H. Goodnight, J. P. Sail, and J. T. Helwig. 1976. A User's
Guide to SAS 76. SAS Institute, Inc. 329 pp.
Baver, L. D., W. H. Gardner, and W. R. Gardner. 1972. Soil Physics. 4th ed.
John Wiley and Sons, Inc., NY. 498 pp.
Beckwith, R. S. 1955. The use of CaNa2EDTA for the extraction of divalent
manganese from soils. Aust. J. Res. 6:685-691.
Bender, D. and T. Opeka. 1977. The effects of mulch and incorporated organic
matter on the moisture and temperature of surface mined soils. Hort.
Dept., VPI and SU, Blacksburg, VA. Unpub. data.
Berg, W. A. 1973. Evaluation of P and K soil fertility tests on coalmine
spoils, pp. 93-103. In: Hutnik, R. J. and G. Davis, (eds.) Ecology
and Reclamation of Devastated Land. Vol. 1. Gordon and Breach, NY.
Berg, W. A. and R. F. May. 1969. Acidity and plant-available phosphorus in
strata overlying coal seams. Mining Congress J. 55(3):31-34.
Bertrand, A. R. 1965. Rate of water intake in the field, pp. 197-208. In:
Black, C. A., (ed.) Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 1. American Society
of Agronomy, Inc., Madison, WI.
Bidwell, R. G. S. 1974. Plant Physiology. Macmillan Pub. Co., Inc., NY.
643 pp.
Bray, R. H. and L. T. Kurtz, 1945. Determination of total, organic, and
available forms of phosphorus in soils. Soil Sci. 59:39-45.
Donahue, S. J. and G. W. Hawkins. 1977. Sampling instructions and nutrient
sufficiency ranges for plant tissue analysis. Mimeo Agronomy-211. VPI
and SU, Blacksburg, VA.
Donahue, S. J. and D. A. Martin. 1976. Laboratory procedures extension,
soil testing laboratory. Mimeo Agronomy-143. VPI and SU, Blacksburg,
VA.
Gardner, W. H. 1965. Water content, pp. 82-125. In: Black, C. A., (ed.)
Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 1. American Society of Agronomy, Inc.,
Madison, WI.
64
-------
Geraldson, C. M., G. R. Klacan, and 0. A. Lorenz. 1973. Plant analysis as
an aid in fertilizing vegetable crops, pp. 365-379. In: Walsh, L. M.
and J. D. Beaton, (eds.) Soil Testing and Plant Analysis. Revised ed.
Haarlov, N. 1955. Vertical distribution of mites and Collembola in relation
to soil structure, pp. 167-179. In: Keven, D. K. McE., (ed.) Soil
Zoology. Academic Press, NY.
Haufler, J. B. 1976. Factors influencing the revegetation success of orphan
mines in southwestern Virginia. M.S. Thesis. VPI and SU, Blacksburg,
VA. 58 pp.
Howard, J. L. 1976a. An application of petrology and pedology in the study
of pedogenesis from rocks of the Pennsylvanian Wise Formation, Buchanan
County, Virginia. Agron. Dept., VPI and SU, Blacksburg, VA. 47 pp.
Unpublished paper.
Howard, J. L. 1976b. Simulated weathering and element release from rocks of
the Pennsylvanian Wise Formation, Buchanan County, Virginia. Agron.
Dept., VPI and SU, Blacksburg, VA. 52 pp. Unpublished paper.
Howard, J. L. 1976c. X-ray diffraction analysis of mine spoil from rocks of
the Pennsylvanian Wise Formation, Buchanan County, Virginia. Agron.
Dept., VPI and SU, Blacksburg, Virginia. 28 pp. Unpublished paper.
Howard, J. L. and D. F. Amos. 1977. Geologic methods applied to strip mine
reclamation research in southwest Virginia. Agron. Dept., VPI and SU,
Blacksburg, VA. 17 pp.
Kemper, W. D. 1965. Aggregate stability, pp. 511-519. In: Black, C. A.,
(ed.) Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 1. American Society of Agronomy,
Inc., Madison, WI.
Little, T. M. and F. J. Hills. 1972. Statistical Methods of Agricultural
Research. Univ. of California, Davis, CA. 242 pp.
Lutz J. F. 1934. The physico-chemical properties of soil affecting soil
'erosion. Missouri Agri. Exp. Sta. Research Bull. 212.
Mortvedt, J. J., P. M. Giordano, and W. L. Lindsay, (eds.). 1972. Micro-
nutrients in Agriculture. Soil Sci. Soc. of Amer., Inc., Madison, WI.
666 pp.
Ouellette G J 1950. The toxicity of manganese in strongly acidic soils.
Agriculture (Montreal) 7:319-322. Chem. Abstr. 46:4157.
Rich C I 1955. Rapid soil testing procedures used at Virginia Polytech-
'nic Institute. VA Agri. Exp. Sta. Bull. 475. 8 pp.
Russell, E. W. 1973. Soil Conditions and Plant Growth. 10th ed. Longman,
Inc., NY. 849 pp.
65
-------
Seatz, L. F. and H. B. Peterson. 1964. Acid, alkaline, and sodic soils.
pp. 292-319. In: Bear, F. B., (ed.) Chemistry of the Soil. 2nd ed.
Am. Chem. Soil Monograph Series. Reinhold Pub. Co., NY.
Smith, R. M. and A. A. Sobek. 1978. Physical and chemical properties of
overburdens, spoils, wastes, and new soils, pp. 149-172. In: Schaller,
F. W. and P. Sutton, (eds.) Reclamation of Drastically Disturbed Lands.
ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison, WI.
Snedecor, G. W. and W. G. Cochran. 1967. Statistical Methods. 6th ed.
The Iowa State Univ. Press, Ames, IA. 593 pp.
Tisdale, S. L. and W. L. Nelson. 1975. Soil Fertility and Fertilizers. 3rd
ed. Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., NY. 694 pp.
White, R. P. 1970. Effects of lime upon soil and plant manganese levels in
an acid soil. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc. 34:625-629.
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study of the physical nature of erosion losses. J. Am. Soc. Agron. 28:
337-351.
66
-------
APPENDIX
Minesoil Organic Matter
Problems with minesoil organic matter readings were recognized from the
start of this experiment. As a result, three minor substudies on organic
matter were investigated. The coal used was all from the same source.
The first study was to remove any doubt that coal did show up as organic
matter in the soil test procedure. Four replications of the following
samples were analyzed: (1) pure coal; (2) alkaline sand; and (3) a mixture
of 20 percent coal and 80 percent sand by volume. It is obvious, given the
off scale "15+" readings, that coal does indeed enter into the analysis
results (Table A-l). It can also be seen that this particular coal is not a
major source of manganese.
TABLE A-l. RESPONSE OF COAL IN MINESOIL ORGANIC MATTER DETERMINATIONS
2
Sample
Coal
Sand
Coal + Sand
Organic Matter - %
15+
0.1
4.0
Mn - ppm pH
0.8 7.6
2.4 8.6
2.6 8.4
Z Means represent four replications.
The second study consisted of taking a large composite sample from each
experimental plot, mixing it thoroughly and dividing it into two identical
subsaraples. One subsample was run through the laboratory analysis procedure
as usual, the second subsample had as much coal as possible removed visually
prior to being analyzed. The visual separation technique employed was in-
effective even though substantial amounts of coal were seemingly removed
from each sample (Table A-2).
67
-------
TABLE A-2. EFFECT OF VISUAL COAL REMOVAL ON MINESOIL ORGANIC MATTER
DETERMINATIONS
Rep
Treatment
Samples Run as Usual
Coal Visually Removed
1 A
B
C
D
2 A
B
C
D
3 A
B
C
D
4 A
B
C
D
3.3
3.1
4.2
3.2
3.1
4.0
4.8
3.8
4.2
4.4
2.5
2.3
1.0
1.4
1.3
1.9
3.5
2.6
3.8
3.1
3.6
3.6
4.8
4.0
4.4
4.0
2.5
2.5
1.2
1.5
1.3
1.8
Overall Means
3.0
3.0
There are two possible conclusions that can be drawn from the data. First,
coal may not be present in large enough quantities to greatly influence the
minesoil organic matter readings or secondly, the amount of coal removed
visually was not enough to affect the test results. Sample pH was unaf-
fected.
The third study consisted of additions of organic matter to minesoil
material prior to laboratory analysis. Rye var. abruzzi was added to 2 and
4 percent levels by weight to the samples and thoroughly mixed. In addition,
8 identical control samples of minesoil material were run in order to
evaluate the consistency of the laboratory procedure (Table A-3). The lab-
oratory analysis procedure is highly reproducible as was evident by the data
68
-------
TABLE A-3, REPRODUCIBILITY OF MINESOIL ORGANIC MATTER DETERMINATIONS
Sample Description Organic Matter Means
Controls
2% OM added
4% OM added
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
1
2
%_
1.8
1.9
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
1.8
1.8
2.6
2.3
2.3
2.3
1.8
2.4
2.3
of the control samples. Added organic matter (rye hay) raised the test
results substantially, although the crudity of the study resulted in equal
or higher levels for the 2 percent samples than the 4 percent. Therefore,
if enough organic matter is plowed down, it will show up in the soil test
results. It is important to realize that soil test organic matter results
are merely one aspect of minesoil condition and that the test figures are
very likely artificially elevated due to coals, carbonaceous shales, reduced
manganese, and other factors.
69
-------
TABLE A-4. COEFFICIENTS OF CORRELATION (R) AMONG VEGETABLE LEAF TISSUE
CHEMICAL DATA - BUCHANAN COUNTY, SUMMER 19782
p
Ca
Mg
Mn
Fe
Al
Ba
Zn
Sr
P
_.
-0.96
0.04
-0.99
0.005
-0.95
0.05
-0.99
0.01
—
__
__
-0.95
0.05
K Ca
-0.96
0. 04
— —
»_ __
_-• •— —
0. 97
0.03
... __
.— ..
-0.98
0. 02
0. 98
0. 02
Mg Mn
-0.99 -0.95
0.005 0.05
.*. _.
__ ...
.. __
0.97 0.97
0.03 0.03
0.97
0.03
-0.99
0.0006
0. 95
0.05
•» M
Fe
-0.99
0.01
0.97
0.03
0.97
0.03
0.97
0.03
__
0.98
0.02
-0.96
0.04
—
0.98
0.02
Al
—
__
M_
0.97
0.03
0.98
0.02
._
-0.97
0.03
__
0.98
0.02
Ba
—
—
__
-0.99
0.0006
-0.96
0.04
-0.97
0.03
__
-0.96
0.04
—
z
Total or simple correlations with their corresponding level of
significance.
70
-------
TABLE A-5. COEFFICIENTS OF CORRELATION (R) AMONG LEAF
TISSUE CHEMICAL AND YIELD DATA OF VEGETABLES
WISE COUNTY. SUMMER 1978Z
B
Ca
—
Mg
—
Fe 0.99
0.01
Al
—
K
—
Mn
__
Ba
0.99
0.01
—
—
0.95
0.05
—
—
—
—
—
~~
Na
—
—
0.95
0.04
0.98
0.02
0.99
0.002
—
—
—
~*~
Bean yield
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
0.95
0.05
-0.95
0.05
Squash yield
— — .
—
—
—
__
—
__
—
0,96
0.04
-0.96
0.04
z Total or simple correlations with their corresponding
level of significance.
71
-------
TABLE A-6. COEFFICIENTS OF CORRELATION (R) AMONG VEGETABLE LEAF TISSUE
CHEMICAL DATA, YIELDS, AND MINESOIL PROPERTIES - BUCHANAN
COUNTY, SUMMER 1978?z
Zn
Bean Squash
yield yield
P* -0.98
0. 02
K*
Ca*
Mg*
Mn*
Fe*
Al*
Ba*
Zn*
Sr*
3 p.m. mine-
soil temp.
10 min. infil-
tration rate
90 min. infil-
tration rate
Zn
__
0.99
0.01
0.96
0.04
0.95
0.05
0.99
0.005
0.97
0.03
—
—
0.99
0.006
__
—
___
—
0.95
0.05
— —
.»•• •••
-0.99
0.006
_» __
-0.98 -0.97
0.03 0.03
0.99
0.003
-0.98
0.03
-0.97
0.03
-0.96
0.04
0. 96
0.04
0.99
0.006
-0.94
0.05
3 p.m. mine-
soil temperature
-0.96
0.04
__
_.
0.99
0.01
0.99
0.008
0.99
0.006
-0.99
0.01
—
0.97
0.02
—
— —
__
—
90 minute
infiltration rate
0.99
0.04
__
—
—
-0.99
0.03
__
__
__
—
—
—
—
—
—
An "*" denotes leaf tissue chemical data.
Total or simple correlations with their corresponding level of
significance.
72
-------
TABLE A-7. COEFFICIENTS OF CORRELATION (R) AMONG SEVERAL SOIL TEST
VALUES AT THE 0-15 CM DEPTH, OCTOBER 1976-AUGUST 1978Z
Ca
K
PH
Ca
K
Organic
matter
PH
Ca
P
0.48 0.
0.0001 0.
0.
0.
_ _ — — •
—
.... — —
— —
uchanan
50
0001
61
0001
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
—
.«
24
01
52
0001
42
0001
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
19
04
25
009
19
04
34
0003
, T YJ _ _
-0.25 — -0.
0.005 — 0.
0.84 0.
0.0001 0.
0.
0.
— — —
— — —— _«
28
002
26
004
25
005
-
-
0
0
0
0
0
0
—
-
.65
.0001
.69
.0001
.31
.0005
Partial correlations with their corresponding level of significance.
73
-------
TABLE A-8. COEFFICIENTS OF CORRELATION (R) AMONG VARIOUS MINESOIL
PROPERTIES - WISE COUNTY - APRIL. JUNE, AND AUGUST 1978Z
PH
Ca
K
Soluble
salts
Zn
NO.,
Depth
(cm)
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
0-15
Organic pH Ca P K Soluble salts
matter
-0.33
0.03
0.82
0.0001 —
0.39 0.50
0.01 0.0007 —
0.34 0.42 -0.46
0.03 0.006 0.001 —
0.44 —
0.004 --
0.43
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
0.29
0.05
0.39
0.004
0.009
Moisture
Ca
K
Zn
0-15
15-30
15-30
15-30
0.38
0. 01
0. 67
0. 0001
0.34
0.02
0. 37
0. 01
0.38
0.01
— — —
0.34
0.02
— — —
—
—
• ~ ~~
Partial correlations with their corresponding level of significance.
74
-------
TABLE A-9. COEFFICIENTS OF CORRELATION (R) AMONG SEVERAL MINESOIL
CHARACTERISTICS - BUCHANAN COUNTY - APRIL, JUNE, AND
AUGUST 1978Z
Organic
matter
pH
Ca
PH Ca
0.58 0.45
0.0001 0.002
0.60
0.0001
—
P Solfle Zn NO,
salts 3
0— 1 ^ r*Tn • - — -
0.30 — 0.40
0.04 — 0.007
0.40
0.007
0.29
0.05
Moisture
—
—
—
P
K
Soluble
salts
0.35
0.02
0.51
0.0005
0.64
0.0001
0.75
0.0001
-0.50
0.0007
Zn
Organic 0.56
matter 0.002
pH
Ca
Soluble
salts —
—
0.46
0.01
0.51
0.006
_ _ — —
—
i "i-in .....
— — —
0.40 0.56
0. 03 0. 002
0.46
0.01
-0.30
0.04
-0.56
0.002
-0.44
0.02
-0.46
0.01
—
Partial correlations with their corresponding level of significance.
75
-------
TABLE A-10. COEFFICIENTS OF CORRELATION (R) AMONG SEVERAL MINESOIL
CHARACTERISTICS AT THE 0-15 CM DEPTH - BUCHANAN COUNTY,
JUNE AND AUGUST 19782
PH
Ca
P
Soluble
salts
Organic
matter
0.68
0.006
0.61
0.01
—
—
„ _. Soluble „ „.
PH P salts Zn N°3
— — —
0.70
0.005
0.54
0.04
0.62
0.01
Moisture
—
—
—
—
Zn
Moisture
-0.59
0.02
0.68
0.006
Aggregate
stability
Available
moisture —
-0.88
0. 0001
__ — —
— — — — —
0.53 -0.52
0.05 0.05
0.59
0.02
-0.88
0.0001
— —
— —
Partial correlations with their corresponding level of significance.
76
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TABLE A-ll.
COEFFICIENTS OF CORRELATION (R) AMONG SEVERAL MINESOIL
CHARACTERISTICS AT THE 0-15 CM DEPTH - WISE COUNTY,
JUNE AND AUGUST 1978Z
pH
Ca
P
Ca K o u e NQ^
0.87 0.44 0.51
0.0001 0.02 0.007
0.59
0.001
-0.55
0.003
Moisture
0.51
0.006
0.55
0.003
—
Available
moisture
—
0.51
0.006
—
K
Moisture
Aggregate
stability —
0.39
0.04
0.66
0.0002
-0.45
0.01
Partial correlations with their corresponding level of signifi-
cance.
77
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TABLE A-12. COEFFICIENTS OF CORRELATION (R) AMONG YIELD AND
SEVERAL MINESOIL CHARACTERISTICS AT THE 0-15 CM
DEPTH - BUCHANAN COUNTY. AUGUST 1978Z
PH
K
M . . Available
Moisture
moisture
.^_ __
—
Bean
yield
-0.70
0.02
—
Squash
yield
-0.73
0.01
-0.76
0.01
Sand
—
—
NO,. -0.66
0.03
Moisture — 0.68
0.02
Available —
moisture
Bean
yield
—
—
0.85
0.001
-0.64
0.04
—
—
Partial correlations with their corresponding level of
significance.
78
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TABLE A-13. COEFFICIENTS OF CORRELATION (R) AMONG YIELD AND SEVERAL MINE-
SOIL CHARACTERISTICS AT THE 0-15 CM DEPTH - WISE COUNTY,
r? '
AUGUST 1978Z
Moisture Bean 8 a'm' mlne 3 P'm' mine 9 p>m> mlne
yield soil temperature soil temperature soil temperature
Organic
matter
PH
K
Moisture
Bean
yield
Squash
yield
-0.75
0.01
0.73
0.02
—
—
—
::
__
0.73
0.02
0.69
0,03
0.90
0.009
—
—
— — ...
.
-0.71
-0.03
— __
-0.71
0.02
-0.69
0.03
0.86
0.002
u
«*^
-0.79
0.01
__ .
-0.73
0.02
- -. -.- — --
Partial correlation with their corresponding level of significance.
79
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TABLE A-14. COEFFICIENTS OF CORRELATION (R) FOR VARIOUS MINESOIL CHAR-
ACTERISTICS - BUCHANAN COUNTY, OCTOBER 1976 THROUGH APRIL
1978
Time
Sampling
depth
pH
.39
.0001
.59
.0001
Ca
.29
.0008
.44
.0001
P K
.33
.0001 --
.29
.0007 --
SS Zn
— -.44
. 0001
—
— —
N03 Moisture
.40
. 0008
-.45
. 0001
Available
moisture
.39
.02
—
—
K
Soluble
salts
Zn
.39 .23 -.39
.0001 .01 .0003
.36 -.31
.0001 .005
.59
.0001
.61
.0001
.30
.01
-.27
.02
(continued)
80
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TABLE A-14. CONTINUED
Rye Soybean
yield yield
Time
—
P — -.82
. 0009
Soluble -.44 -.56
salts .14 .05
Zn
— —
NO.,
— —
Temp 1
— —
Rye-AWP
yield
Infiltra-
tion rates
(minutes)
Rye- Infiltration Rate
AWP 10 30 60 90
yield (min.)
.47 .46 .31
.0007 .0017 .05
—
— — — — —
-.59
.04 —
—
— — — — —
—
— — — — —
-.77 -.76 -.70 -.66
.0005 .0006 .002 .004
—
— — — — —
Treatment
__
—
.28
.001
-.19
.03
-.25
.02
.27
.02
-.85
.0001
.71
.008
10
30
60
90
.32
.02
.29
.06
.31
.04
.42
.01
81
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TABLE A-15.
COEFFICIENTS OF CORRELATION (R) FOR VARIOUS MINESOIL
CHARACTERISTICS - WISE COUNTY, OCTOBER 1976 THROUGH
APRIL 1978
Time
PH
Ca
P
K
Soluble
salts
Zn
pH Ca P
0.47 0.53 0.19
0.0001 0.0001 0.02
0.81 0.50
0.0001 0.0001
0.40
0.0001
— — —
__ __
__ __. __
—
K
0.52
0.0001
0.62
0.0001
0.70
0.0001
0.30
0.0003
__
__
—
Soluble
salts
-0.33
0.0004
—
-0.26
0.005
__
—
—
Zn
-0.56
0.0001
-0.63
0.0001
-0.44
0.0001
-0.51
0.0001
-0.38
0.0005
0.35
0.002
—
N03
—
0.43
0.0004
0.31
0.01
0.26
0.04
0.55
0.0001
__
—
Moisture
—
__
—
-0.25
0.01
0.20
0.04
—
0.50
0.0001
(continued)
82
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TABLE A-15. CONTINUED
Time
pH
Ca
P
Soluble
salts
Zn
N03
Aggregate
stability
0.41
0,02
0.41
0,02
—
—
-0.46
0.008
—
—
Soybean
yield
__
—
0.67
0.01
—
0.68
0.01
—
—
Rye-Austrian Infiltration rates
winter pea 10 30 60 90
yield (min.)
—
0.69
0.01
0.63
0.02
0.68
0.01
— — — — — — — __
-0.64 -0.65 -0.59 -0.58 -0.57
0.02 0.006 0.01 0.01 0.02
:: :: :: :: ::
Depth
of
tillage
::
::
0.28
0.0006
0.21
0.01
—
-0.22
0.05
0.36
0.003
Moisture
Aggregate
stability
Rye yield
Rye-Aus-
trian win-
ter pea
yields
Infiltration
rates (min.)
10
30
60
90
-0.68
0.01
0.59 0.56
0.01 0.02
0.54 0.54
0.03 0.03
-0.66
0.02
0.76 0.71 0.70 0.72
0.004 0.009 0.01 O.OOo —
0.34
0.01
0.33
0.01
0.31
0.03
0.28
0.05
83
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GLOSSARY
argillaceous rocks: A group of detrital sedimentary rocks, usually clays,
marls, mudstones, and siltstones.
bedding, bedding plane: A bedding plane is a surface parallel to the surface
of deposition, i.e., in shales the rock splits along planes which are
bedding planes, whereas in sandstones, no plane of preferred splitting
occurs, although the bedding planes may be marked by changes in color,
grain size, etc.
detrital: Particles of rocks or minerals, which have been derived from pre-
existing rock usually by weathering and/or erosion but as a result of
stripmining in this case.
facies: The sum total of features like sedimentary rock type, mineral
content, sedimentary structures, bedding characteristics, etc. which
characterize a sediment as having been deposited in a particular
environment.
partial correlation: The relation between two variables when one or more of
the remaining variables are held constant.
total or simple correlation: The linear correlation between any pair of
variables, disregarding the values of the remaining variables.
84
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TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
(Please read Instructions on the reverse before completing)
. REPORT NO.
EPA-600/7-79-257
3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION NO.
• . TITLE ANDSUBTITLE
USE OF GREEN-MANURE AMENDMENTS AND TILLAGE TO IMPROVE
MINESOIL PRODUCTIVITY
5. REPORT DATE
December 1979 issuing date
6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
. AUTHOR(S)
Timothy Opeka
Ronald Morse
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
CR-6
i. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
Department of Horticulture
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Blacksbiirg, Virginia 24061
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
1NE623
11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
EPA-IAG D6-E762
CR-684-15-26
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory
Office of Research and Development
U. S, Environmental Protection Agency
Cincinnati. Ohio 45268
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
Final 7/76 - 12/78
14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
EPA/600/12
of the EPA-planned and coordinated Federal Interagency
Energy/Environment R&D Program.
16. ABSTRACT
During two years the effects of various green manure crops and tillage regimes on an
acid coal minesoil and a calcareous coal minesoil were analylzed with respect to a
number of their physical, chemical, and biological properties. Prior to initiation
of the experiments, the acid minesoil had a poor cover of sericea lespedeza and
KY-31 fescue whereas the calcareous minesoil had an excellent cover.
Increased depth of tillage and incorporation of green manure crops plus lime additions
(acid minesoil) tended to enhance minesoil productivity by improving some of the
physical and chemical characteristics of these reclaimed surface-mined areas. It
appeared that water infiltration was, directly or indirectly, the most influential
factor affecting plant growth and minesoil properties. Increased infiltration rates
as a result of the treatments tended to promote the following: reduce runoff (not
measured but visually apparent); increase moisture content of the profiles; reduce
soluble salt concentrations in the major rooting zones by moving them deeper into
the profile; reduce minesoil temperature; increase actual amount of water available
to plants; enhance rock weathering by increasing water and parent material contact;
increase crop yield; add more organic matter and N03; and reduce soluble Zn.
KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
DESCRIPTORS
Agriculture, Mining, Plants, Reclamation,
Revegetation, Soil, Soil Chemistry,
Surface Mines
b.lDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS
Coal, Crops, Ecological
Effects, Energy
Extraction, Green Manure,
Infiltration, Minesoil,
Salt, Soil, Soil Moisture
Tillage, Virginia,
Weathering, Zinc
c. COSATI Field/Group
68D
8. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
Release to Public
19. SECURITY CLASS (This Report}
Unclassified
21. NO. OF PAGES
99
20. SECURITY CLASS (Thispage)
Unclassified
22. PRICE
Form 2220-1 (R«v. 4-77) PREVIOUS EDITION is OBSOLETE
OUSGPO: 1980 — 657-146/5531
85
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