Generating productive topsoil substitutes from hard rock overburden in the southern appalachians

Natural soils on steeply sloping landscapes in the Appalachian coal fields of Virginia. West Virginia. Kentucky, and Tennessee are often thin, rocky, acidic and infertile, making the topsoiling of surface mined sites impractical in many cases. Topsoil substitutes composed of blasted rock fragments are commonly used in this region. The proper selection and placement of designated topsoil substitutes is therefore critical to long term reclamation success. These mine soil surfaces are not in equilibrium and with the surface environment, and it is quite difficult to diferentiate among dissolution, adsorption, desorption and precipitation reactions as these surfaces weather with time. Severe compaction limits the productivity of many otherwise suitable topsoil substitutes. A minimum non-compacted thickness of 1 m is desirable to insure long run mine soil productivity for a variety of post-mining land uses. Significant changes in the physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties of mine soils occur within one year after placement. Mine soils high in silt content often form hard vesicular surface crusts, particularly when left unvegetated. The long term survival of plant communities on these mine soils is dependent upon mine soil organic matter accumulation and N and P cycling. Little is currently known about N and P dynamics in these mine soils, but P-fixation is a profound problem in high Fe^3- spoils. Revegetation practices that were designed to meet 2-year bond release requirements may not he sufficient to meet new 5-year release standards. Hard rock derived mine soils can often equal or exceed native topsoil in productivity and post mining land use potential.     

Progressive N limitation in forests: review and implications for long-term responses to elevated CO2

Field studies have shown that elevated CO2 can cause increased forest growth over the short term (<6 years) even in the face of N limitation. This is facilitated to some degree by greater biomass production per unit N uptake (lower tissue N concentrations), but more often than not, N uptake is increased with elevated CO2 as well. Some studies also show that N sequestration in the forest floor is increased with elevated CO2. These findings raise the questions of where the "extra" N comes from and how long such growth increases can continue without being truncated by progressive N limitation (PNL). This paper reviews some of the early nutrient cycling literature that describes PNL during forest stand development and attempts to use this information, along with recent developments in soil N research, to put the issue of PNL with elevated CO2 into perspective. Some of the early studies indicated that trees can effectively "mine" N from soils over the long term, and more recent developments in soil N cycling research suggest mechanisms by which this might have occurred. However, both the early nutrient cycling literature and more recent simulation modeling suggest that PNL will at some point truncate the observed increases in growth and nutrient uptake with elevated CO2, unless external inputs of N are increased by either N fixation or atmospheric deposition.     

Impacts of land use conversion on soil properties and soil erodibility

Land use conversion can affect natural ecological processes such as surface runoff and erosion. Therefore, it has potential to change soil stability To investigate this process in depth, Iskalan creek catchment in the Black sea region, where excessive land use applications and erosion events have often occured, was selected as the study area. The objective was to determine the effects of land use conversion on soil properties, soil erodibility and the relationships among soil properties and some erodibility indices. Duplicate topsoil samples were taken by using steel cylinders at 100 different sampling points from three different land use types; 34 of them are in farmlands, 34 in rangelands and 32 in forestlands. Soil particle size distribution, loss of ignition, pH, electrical conductivity skeleton percentage and three erodibility indices were determined. Data were analysed by using Pearson correlation analysis (at 95% and 99% significance level), ANOVA and Tukey's test at 95 % significance level. According to study results, land use conversion affects some properties of soils significantly Loss of ignition of soils in forests was significantly higher than soils in farmlands and rangelands. Soil skeleton percentage in rangelands and farmlands were significantly different. The study results showed that there was significant difference between pH of soils in forests and farmlands (p < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis results showed significant correlations among erodibility indices and certain soil properties such as clay and sand fraction of soils (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). Topsoils of the study area were sensitive to erosion according to all three erodibility indices. The most sensitive soils were in farmlands.     

酸化对茶园黄棕壤CEC和粘土矿物组成的影响

用采自江苏溧阳种茶13 a和34 a的茶园黄棕壤表土和种茶54 a的茶园土壤剖面研究了酸化对土壤黏土矿物组成和阳离子交换量（CEC）的影响。结果表明：种茶13 a和34 a,表层土壤发生明显酸化,但土壤2∶1型黏土矿物的质量分数和CEC均与荒地土壤相似,说明酸化没有对黏土矿物转化和CEC产生明显影响。但种茶54 a后土壤发生进一步酸化,表层和表下层土壤pH降至3.79和3.70。土壤2∶1型黏土矿物质量分数随采用深度的增加而增加,高岭石质量分数呈相反的变化趋势。说明表层和表下层土壤的严重酸化加速土壤2∶1型黏土矿物向1∶1型高岭石的转化,这导致表层和表下层土壤CEC显著减小。     

Reclamation techniques in southwestern wyoming

Bridger Coal Company operates a 5.8 million tpy surface coal mine thrity five miles northeast of Rock Springs. Wyoming. Approximately 20.000 acres are under permit, with disturbance over the life of the mine projected to reach 10,000 acres. Located on the western rim of the continental divide, the mine receives less than 8.5 inches of precipitation annually. Soils in the area are coarse-textured. and problems associated with elevated salinity and sodicity arc encountered. A variety of common reclamation techniques have been modified to reflect these conditions. Soil horizons are segregated during salvage operations (the surface six inches as topsoil and the balance as subsoil). Unsuitable materials are not salvaged. Direct application of soil is used (over 130 acres in 1983) to maximize native plant regeneration and conserve soil fertility. Inter-seeding of seeding failures has proven to be significantly more successful than chisel plowing and reseeding. Broadcast seeding has been ineffective because of strong winds, and a no till drill has been modified to handle diverse seed mixes and rock conditions. The utility of fertilization under typically xeric moisture regimes is being evaluated. A research project has been initiated to assess establishment of a predominately native, diverse seed mix under irrigation, as well as to determine irrigation rates and duration.     

White-tailed deer movement and distribution about surface coal mines in West Virginia,USA

Deer movements around surface coal mines were investigated in Preston Country, West Virginia, USA. Seventy-two deer crossings were counted on 29 surface mines with only 8% found on highwalls with more than 20% rock or stone. Thus, although slope was important, the percentage of dirt on the highwall determined use as a crossing location for deer. The average distance between all deer crossing was 209.7 m but the distance between the end of the highwall and the nearest highwall crossing was 248.7 m indicating reluctance of deer to cross mines when they could walk around them. Winter snow track counts showed fewer deer within 90 m of the top edge of the highwall. Four land bridges traversed the highwall and were heavily utilized by deer, especially in March, April, May, October and November. The surface mine bench was used as a fawn bedding area, but little feeding occurred on this portion of the mine.     

长期施肥对水稻土酶活性及理化特性的影响

为了明确不同施肥种类对水稻土土壤肥力与酶活性的影响,以30年（1981年至今）长期定位试验地为基础,研究不同施肥处理（CK,N,P,K,NPK,2倍NPK,NPK＋猪粪）水稻田耕层（0-20cm）土壤酶活性与养分的变化趋势及其相关性。结果表明：1）施P（配施或单施）增加土壤全P、速效P含量,平衡施肥配施有机肥（NPK＋猪粪处理）土壤的有机质、全P、速效P、全N、速效N均显著增加,所有施肥处理间pH值差异均不显著;2）除了NPK处理土壤脲酶活性最高外,平衡施肥配施有机肥土壤转化酶、酸性磷酸酶、过氧化氢酶活性均较其他处理显著增加;3）酸性磷酸酶活性与土壤全P量呈负相关,过氧化氢酶、脲酶、转化酶与全N、有机质、速效N、速效P呈显著或极显著正相关;因此,水田土壤长期平衡施肥配施有机肥,能显著提高土壤肥力,增加土壤酶活性,有益于土壤生产力的持续提高。     

Reclamation techniques in southwestern wyoming

Bridger Coal Company operates a 5.8 million tpy surface coal mine thrity five miles northeast of Rock Springs. Wyoming. Approximately 20.000 acres are under permit, with disturbance over the life of the mine projected to reach 10,000 acres. Located on the western rim of the continental divide, the mine receives less than 8.5 inches of precipitation annually. Soils in the area are coarse-textured. and problems associated with elevated salinity and sodicity arc encountered.A variety of common reclamation techniques have been modified to reflect these conditions. Soil horizons are segregated during salvage operations (the surface six inches as topsoil and the balance as subsoil). Unsuitable materials are not salvaged. Direct application of soil is used (over 130 acres in 1983) to maximize native plant regeneration and conserve soil fertility. Inter-seeding of seeding failures has proven to be significantly more successful than chisel plowing and reseeding. Broadcast seeding has been ineffective because of strong winds, and a no till drill has been modified to handle diverse seed mixes and rock conditions. The utility of fertilization under typically xeric moisture regimes is being evaluated. A research project has been initiated to assess establishment of a predominately native, diverse seed mix under irrigation, as well as to determine irrigation rates and duration.     

粤北山区近25年来耕地表层土壤有机碳变化分析

以粤北山区典型区的连州市为例,利用第二次土壤普查资料和2007年耕地地力调查样点分析结果,对研究区耕地表层（0~20 cm）土壤有机碳质量分数和有机碳密度的变化特征进行了分析。结果表明：25年以来,连州市耕地表层有机碳质量分数和密度有所增加,分别从1982年的16.3 g·kg-1、40.88 t·hm-2上升到2007年的17.37 g·kg-1、43.31 t·hm-2。土壤有机碳随土壤类型的不同而变化复杂,土壤有机碳呈上升趋势的有潴育型水稻土、淹育型水稻土、渗育型水稻土,而沼泽型水稻土、潜育型水稻土和矿毒田呈下降趋势,主要旱地土壤类型（黄壤、红壤、红色石灰土、酸性紫色土）表层土壤有机碳质量分数呈上升趋势。从土地利用类型综合考量,水田、旱地表层土壤有机碳质量分数和密度都呈上升趋势,其中水田的有机碳质量分数和密度分别由80年代初期的18.30 g·kg-1、44.80 t·hm-2上升到2007年的18.78 g·kg-1、46.21 t·hm-2;旱地的有机碳质量分数和密度分别由80年代初期的10.46 g·kg-1、29.27 t·hm-2上升到2007年的13.17 g·kg-1、34.67 t·hm-2。粤北山区耕地表层土壤总体上表现为碳汇。     

四种不同生态系统的土壤解磷细菌数量及种群分布

通过分析农田、林地、草地和菜地土壤有机磷细菌和无机磷细菌的数量及种群结构,发现有机磷细菌数量比无机磷细菌多;有机磷细菌主要是芽孢杆菌属,其次是假单胞菌属;而无机磷细菌主要是假单胞菌属。菜地土壤解磷细菌的数量和种类最多。不同的细菌解磷能力差异很大,其解磷能力与培养介质的ｐＨ值有一定的关系;许多菌株在进一步的纯化过程中失去了解磷能力。     

不同农业利用方式下湘南第四纪红壤的粘粒矿物学组成与表面电荷特性

用X-射线衍射分析技术和化学方法研究不同农业利用方式对湘南第四纪红粘土及其发育土壤的粘粒矿物学组成和表面电荷特性的影响．结果表明：湘南第四纪红壤的粘粒矿物组成以高岭石为主，其次是1．4nm过渡矿物．经过人为耕种尤其在水田条件下，蛭石和水云母的含量增加，铁的活化度增大．土壤表面电荷数量（CECpH3.2、CECp、CECv、AEC）和电荷零点（pH）的值也发生相应的改变．     

稀土尾矿区土壤重金属污染与优势植物累积特征

矿山废弃地不仅占用大量土地,而且还是严重的污染源,因此,矿山废弃地的生态恢复己成为一项紧迫而重要的研究课题。对广东省河源市和平县下车镇内的稀土矿区土壤的重金属污染情况进行调查,并对该区优势植物对重金属的富集特征进行分析,以期对稀土尾矿区的生态系统的恢复和重建提供理论依据。主要研究的3种植物分别是：马唐草（Digitaria sanguinalis）,香根草（Vetiveria zizanioides）,望江南（Cassia occidentalis）。采用原子吸收分光光度法测定稀土矿区废弃地土壤和植被中Mn、Pb、Zn的含量,并计算优势植物对重金属的生物富集系数BAC（Biological Accumulating Coefficient）和生物转移系数BTC（Biological Transfer Coefficient）。结果表明：研究区域的土壤中重金属含量Mn、Pb、Zn的平均含量均超出广东省土壤背景值和中国土壤背景值,土壤受Mn污染最严重,其次是Pb、Zn的污染。3种草本植物对于Pb的BAC和BTC均小于1,说明这3种植物对Pb的富集和运输能力都很弱。香根草对于Mn和Zn的BAC分别为0.9和0.4,小于1,BTC分别为3.7和1.1,大于1,说明香根草对Mn和Zn的富集能力不强,但吸收后的运输能力很强。马唐草和望江南2种植物对于Mn和Zn的BAC和BTC均大于1,说明它们对重金属Mn和Zn具有较强的吸收和转移能力,是Mn和Zn的超富集植物。马唐草覆盖率高,抗病虫能力强,可作为该矿区生态恢复的先锋植物,望江南可以间作种植。     

Arsenic,antimony and bismuth in soil and pasture herbage in some old metalliferous mining areas in England

Soil and pasture herbage samples from some historical metalliferous mining and smelting areas in England were analysed for As, Sb and Bi by ICP-AES using a hydride generation method after ashing with Mg(NO₃)₂. The results showed that As, Sb and Bi concentrations in soils were elevated because of their associations with the Pb-Zn mineralisation in Derbyshire and Somerset, and Sn-Cu mineralisation in Cornwall. The distribution of As, Sb and Bi in soils reflected the chemical nature of different mine waste materials, and on a regional basis clearly reflected the geochemistry of the three mineral provinces. Historical smelting and calcination have caused intensive contamination in soils in the immediate vicinity of these activities. Antimony was highly elevated in soils at an old Pb smelter site in Derbyshire. Although the concentrations of As, Sb and Bi were generally low in the pasture herbage samples examined, the concentrations of As and Sb in herbage often reflected those of the corresponding soils. Soil pH had a large effect on the plant uptake of Bi from soils. The pasture herbage contaminated by soil can be an important exposure pathway of these elements to livestock grazing on contaminated land.     

赤红壤坡地幼龄果园间种不同牧草的生态环境效应

在赤红壤坡地幼龄果园间种６种牧草,对其生态环境效应进行了试验观测。结果发现,果园间种牧草可明显增大地面覆盖,增加土壤的保水能力,减少水土流失,提高了土壤肥力和土地生产力。然而,由于有些牧草生长旺盛、生物量大,高度和覆盖度大,不可避免地与果树争肥、争水、争光,特别是在贫瘠的坡地上或在干旱季节里。文章指出,幼龄果园间种牧草是一种较好的坡地可持续利用模式,但在牧草品种的适应性选择应加以深入研究。     

砷酸根在可变电荷土壤颗粒表面的配位吸附

研究了砷在3种可变电荷土壤颗粒表面的吸附对土壤胶体Zeta电位的影响及砷酸根吸附过程中羟基的释放特征.在酸性条件下,土壤胶体吸附砷酸根后土壤表面的负电荷增加,Zeta电位下降.这说明砷酸根在土壤颗粒表面发生了专性吸附,吸附的砷酸根离子进入土壤胶体双电层的紧密层中.亚砷酸根吸附对土壤胶体Zeta电位的影响很小,说明它在土壤颗粒表面主要通过形成外圈型表面络合物而发生非专性吸附.砷酸根在土壤颗粒表面的吸附过程中有羟基释放,说明砷酸根与表面羟基发生了配位交换反应.羟基释放量随砷酸根加入量的增加和pH值的升高而增加.动力学实验结果表明,砷酸根吸附量和羟基释放量随时间具有相似的变化趋势,在开始的20min内,二者均随时间迅速增加,随后变化较小.羟基释放量与砷酸根吸附量的摩尔比也随时间的增加而增加,说明羟基释放反应滞后于砷酸根吸附反应.土壤体系中羟基释放量与砷酸根吸附量的摩尔比小于针铁矿体系,说明除铁铝氧化物外,土壤的其它固相组分也参与了对砷的吸附反应.     

Evaluation of potential topsoil productivity

A biomass productivity model based on soil properties and climate is developed from literature and used to evaluate and compare potential effects of mining and reclamation on several soils in the continental United States. Soil productivity is assumed to vary as a product of root distribution function modified by five soil properties: available water, aeration porosity, bulk density, electrical conductivity, and pH. Yield limiting property levels are derived from literature and input soil data are obtained from available USDA Soil Conservation Service information on typical profiles. Modelled values of potential productivity after mining, indicate problems and limitations to be expected. The proposed model can be used as a guide to reclamation strategy, to restore the land to premining conditions, or at times to enhance productivity of a reclaimed area.     

Long-term effects of application of sewage sludge to soil on composition of herbage with respect to potentially toxic elements

Repeated applications of metal-contaminated sewage sludge can have a drastic effect on soil levels of trace elements and lead to serious toxicity effects in plants. In some cases, land can be rendered sterile.It has been demonstrated that contamination of soils with respect to cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel and zinc is largely irreversible, although there does appear to be a long-term tendency for these metals to become progressively less available to plants over a long period of time. Most national guidelines designed to regulate the disposal of sewage sludge on agricultural land are based on the assumption that relatively rapid fixation of contaminant metals does take place in the soil after sludge application. There is a dearth of information relating to the rates at which potentially toxic-elements commonly present in sewage sludge become immobilised in soils, although it is clear that contaminant boron can be leached down the profile in the short term.Evidence is presented that contamination of top soil can persist for a period of six years after a single application of sludge (150 tonnes dry matter/ha). Over this period, there was little change in available levels of boron, cadmium, copper, lead and zinc in the top soil and the degree of enhancement of these elements in perennial ryegrass grown in the sludge-treated area remained more or less unchanged.     

Characterization of hard- and softwood biochars pyrolyzed at high temperature

A wide range of waste biomass/waste wood feedstocks abundantly available at mine sites provide the opportunity to produce biochars for cost-effective improvement of mine tailings and contaminated land at metal mines. In the present study, soft- and hardwood biochars derived from pine and jarrah woods at high temperature (700 °C) were characterized for their physiochemical properties including chemical components, electrical conductivity, pH, zeta potential, cation-exchange capacity (CEC), alkalinity, BET surface area and surface morphology. Evaluating and comparing these characteristics with available data from the literature have affirmed the strong dictation of precursor type on the physiochemical properties of the biochars. The pine and jarrah wood feedstocks are mainly different in their proportions of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, resulting in biochars with heterogeneous physiochemical properties. The hardwood jarrah biochar exhibits much higher microporosity, alkalinity and electrostatic capacity than the softwood pine. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis also show a good correlation between CEC–BET–alkalinity, and alkalinity–ash content. These comprehensive characterization and analysis results on biochars’ properties from feedstocks of hardwood (from forest land clearance at mine construction) and waste pine wood (from mining operations) will provide a good guide for tailoring biochar functionalities for remediating metal mine tailings. The relatively inert high-temperature biochars can be stored for a long term at mine closure after decades of operations.     

不同利用方式下黄壤旱坡地磷素状况及环境影响分析

通过对贵州黄壤进行采样以及采用无界径流小区法收集地表径流,探索不同利用方式下黄壤旱坡地磷素水平及其地表径流磷浓度的差异。结果表明,不同利用方式下黄壤旱坡地中全磷和有效磷(Olsen-P)含量的大小顺序为连作烟地>烤烟-玉米轮作地>连作玉米地>林地;CaCl_2浸提磷(土壤易解吸磷)和Na0H浸提磷(藻类可利用的土壤总磷)与土壤全磷和有效磷有显著的相关性;土壤富磷化的同时,其磷素的流失风险明显地提高。连作烟地地表径流总磷(TP)和磷酸根态磷(Ortho-P)浓度明显大于连作玉米地.而林地地表径流TP浓度明显小于旱地;黄壤旱坡地地表径流中TP和Ortho-P与土壤有效磷之间存在极显著的相关性(r为0.957、0.875),因而连作烟地磷素的环境影响潜能明显高于其它旱地以及林地。     

Management of basiphilous dune slack communities in relation to carbonate accumulation and hydrological conditions

In dune slacks in The Netherlands, a decline of rare mesotrophic basiphilous plant species and their plant communities has been observed in combination with an increase of more productive systems with common, taller acidophilous plant species. This has been attributed to both natural and anthropogenic changes. In a humid climate with a precipitation surplus, as in The Netherlands, the calcium carbonate content of a calcareous soil increases with depth. However, soils in coastal dune slacks, may have a higher carbonate content in the topsoil horizon than in the underlying layers. Carbonates which buffer the pH can prolong the presence of mesotrophic basiphilous plant communities which are of high conservation value. To explain the occurrence of calcareous surface horizons in dune slacks, hydrological and micromorphological analyses were carried out in three dune slacks. Two slacks are situated on the Wadden Sea islands in the northern part of The Netherlands; one on Schiermonnikoog and one on Texel. The third slack is situated in the dunes on the island of Goeree in the southwestern part of The Netherlands. In all three slacks, carbonate occurs as mollusc and gastropod fragments (silt- or sand-sized) and as micritic nodules in the topsoil layer, due to aeolian deposition and sedimentation by water.In situ carbonate accumulation (calcitans and calcareous crusts) due to CO₂ release in inundated and/or capillary rise of calcareous groundwater near, or at the soil surface. Accumulation of carbonate also occurs as a result of biological activity by algae in the topsoil of the Goeree site. In general, hydrological processes maintaining high levels of calcareous groundwater are a prerequisite for the maintenance of high carbonate levels in topsoils. Such levels are necessary for the conservation and management of basiphilous pioneer vegetation.