Soil Health Assessment in Reclaimed Mine Soils

Abstract

my committee members, not only for their time, but for their wisdom and much needed input throughout the process of my research. I would also like to thank Dr. James Thompson for always pushing me to be my best, and for truly guiding me toward my love of soil science and pedology. Dr. John Grove (University of Kentucky) and Dr. Domingo Mata-Padrino also supported my research by providing expertise and help whenever they saw the opportunity. I am truly blessed to have had such a wonderful support system within academia to guide me along this wild and wonderful journey. I was fortunate enough to have many helping hands during my field sampling and laboratory work. I would like to thank the undergraduates who took time out of their busy summers and semesters to help me keep my research on schedule. I would not have been able to complete as much as I did without James McCain, Justice Price, Taylore Brown, Erin Mates, Dominic Ragusa and Connor Portner. They were always eager to learn and were a complete joy to work with. Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank my family. My mother, Laura Stutler, has always supported me along with all of my dreams, no matter what they might be. My father, Daniel Stutler, has taught me to challenge myself and to never back down, even when times get tough. My sisters, Cristin and Nicki, have supported me since I can remember, and never forget to give me an extra dose of sisterly love. I'd also like to thank my boyfriend, Carter Smith, for his unconditional love and support, and the late-night library dates and infinite amount of food he delivered to my office and lab. The little things really made all the difference. I am grateful and beyond blessed to have so much love and support surrounding me. Thank you all. v TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION AND JUSTIFICATION .

Nitrogen recovery in reclaimed mine soil under different amendment practices in tandem with legume and non‐legume revegetation: A review

“…Exotic grasses and forbs with native prairie species mixture proved to be versatile in filling a variety of niches and improved the ecosystem function of abandoned coal mine areas of Ohio thus providing a feasible reclamation approach (Swab et al, 2017). Stutler (2019) reported that coal mine sites containing less variation between legumes, forbs and grass species showed 44% more biomass yield and N pool accretion of 4.14 Mg ha −1 compared with sites with more forbs and more grasses. The work of Harantova et al (2017) reported total N accumulation of 2600–4000 mg kg −1 in 0–54 years of coal mine reclamation, respectively, when more than 60% of understory vegetation cover was dominated by grass ( Calamagrostis epigejos) , legumes ( Melilotus albus and Trifolium medium) and forbs ( Leontodon hispidus) along with common grassland species.…”

Exploring the Physical, Chemical, and Biological Properties of Soils from Different Regions Classified into Different Textural Classes

“…The carbon dioxide levels were influenced by the soil texture, with the clay-textured soil showing the highest value of 31.16 mg CO2 100 g−1 dry soil 24 h−1, while the sandy loam soil had the lowest value of 15.97 mg CO2 100 g−1 dry soil 24 h−1. Both values fall within the specified range of 14.29-28.57 units according to the report conducted a study which concluded that clayey soil has a greater degree of biological activity in comparison to other soil types [24,25]. The findings indicate that there is a positive correlation between the clay content of the soil and soil respiration.…”