Effects of pipeline and well‐pad reclamation on topsoil properties: A meta‐analysis

• Published in: Agrosystems, geosciences & environment geosciences & environment, 2023-06, Vol.6 (2), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Birkhimer, Nicholas, DeSutter, Thomas M., Jore, Kyle, Staricka, James, Meehan, Miranda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Best management practices; Bulk density; Cation exchange; Cation exchanging; Construction; Crop yield; Drilling; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Gas pipelines; Grasslands; Humid climates; Hydraulic fracturing; Infrastructure; Land reclamation; Landowners; Magnesium; Management decisions; Meta-analysis; Natural gas; Natural gas reserves; Organic matter; Organic soils; Phosphorus; Sodium; Soil density; Soil organic matter; Soil properties; Soils; Topsoil
• ISSN: 2639-6696; 2639-6696
• DOI: 10.1002/agg2.20387

The development of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracking has led to an increase in oil and natural gas extraction. Development of infrastructure to extract and transport these resources is expected to increase over the next few decades, resulting in extensive land disturbance. Although reclamation aims to sufficiently return disturbed lands to their pre‐disturbance use in an ecological sense, reclaimed rights‐of‐ways (ROW) commonly produce reduced crop yields. The objective of this study was to use meta‐analysis to determine soil disturbance trends across studies found in the peer‐reviewed literature. Papers that reported soil property data on disturbed ROWs and adjacent undisturbed sites were retrieved by searching the Web of Science database. Papers were separated by climate regions, resulting in analyses being conducted for studies in semiarid and humid climate regions. Results indicate that soil bulk density, soil organic matter, and pH are significantly increased on reclaimed ROWs. Soil metrics not incorporated in meta‐analysis due to insufficient observations or the possible presence of publication biases like a desire to publish significant results and poor study design (cation exchange capacity, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, total nitrogen, electrical conductivity, sodium, sodium adsorption ratio, and texture) are assessed and discussed. Best management practices gleaned from studies incorporated into meta‐analysis are discussed to provide strategies to limit soil property disturbances. Core Ideas Soil bulk density, soil organic matter, and pH changed most post‐disturbances. Climate will influence long‐term impacts of disturbances due to parent materials and leaching water. Limiting the size of disturbance is best for long‐term recovery.