Topsoil and fertilizer effects on ground cover growth on calcareous minesoils

• Published in: International journal of surface mining, reclamation and environment reclamation and environment, 1997-01, Vol.11 (1), p.15-19
• Main Authors: Kost, D.A., Vimmerstedt, J.P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1389-5265; 1744-5000
• DOI: 10.1080/09208119708944050

We measured canopy cover and aboveground biomass of herbaceous species in four studies for five years (1989-1993) in southeastern Ohio. Three studies compared graded cast overburden, standard graded topsoil (30 era depth), and ripped topsoil. The fourth study lacked the ripped topsoil treatment. In 1997 two studies were seeded with both a standard and a modified mixture of grass and legume species, and two studies used the modified mix only. A nitrogen rate study used 45, 90, or 135 kg/ha of N applied on two occasions, and a phosphorus fertilizer study used rock phosphate amendment at 0, 1120, or 2240 kg/ha and triple superphosphate amendment at 0, 280, or 560 kg/ha. Based on one clipping per year, overall average biomass (Mg/ha dry weight) was slightly greater on standard topsoil (3·34), and ripped topsoil (3·30) than on cast overburden (3·09). Biomass did not differ significantly (p=0·05) on standard topsoil versus cast overburden for 15 of 19 comparisons. Legume biomass (Mg/ha, measured for 3 or 4 years) averaged 0·84 on standard topsoil, 0·75 on ripped topsoil, and 1·16 on cast overburden. In three studies, legume biomass was 50% higher on cast overburden than the topsoils, but differences among the soil surfaces were decreasing by 1993. Nitrogen fertilizer increased ground cover only in the year when fertilizer was applied. Phosphorus fertilizer treatments had no significant effects. Ground cover showed no signs of deterioration during the last measurements in 1993. Observations in 1995 indicated dense canopy cover on all soil surfaces with substantial invasion by goldenrods (Solidago spp.) only on topsoils.