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A Laboratory Study on Amending Mine Soil Quality

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Abstract

Two mine soils in southeastern Ohio do not support a luxurious vegetation growth probably because of soil-related constraints. Thus, a laboratory study was conducted to improve the mine soil quality using amendments of zeolite (two grain sizes), flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGD), fly ash, and biosolids at an application rate of 10 % by weight. The results showed that FGD was the best amendment for increasing soil pH and improving seed germination of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) while biosolids significantly enhanced soil aggregate stability and saturated-water-holding capacity. Specifically, FGD increased soil pH from 3.1 to 5.0, and 4.2 to above 7.0, respectively. Elongation of the lettuce seedlings (shoots) in mine soil solutions was also enhanced by the amendment, from an initial length of 0–1.5 cm to 4.5–9.6 cm. Application of biosolids, on the other hand, increased the mean weight diameter of soil water-stable aggregates by two to four times from initial 0.5–1.6 mm to 2.0–2.9 mm. Saturated-water-holding capacity of both soils was also significantly improved by biosolids. But biosolids did not enhance soil plant-available-water-holding capacity. Neither zeolite nor fly ash significantly improved the mine soil qualities measured in our study. Soil chemical analyses showed that these mine soils neither contained high concentrations of heavy metals nor other toxins in solids or in solutions, suggesting that soil acidity is the only chemical constraint limiting the vegetation establishment and growth besides the nutrients deficiency.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to acknowledge the following individuals: Mr. Basant Rimal for conducting laboratory assistance; Ms. Shanna Byrd (the Wilds) for assisting in obtaining soil samples; St Cloud Inc. (New Mexico) for providing zeolites; American Electric Power Inc. (Ohio) for providing fly ash and FGD, Columbus Wastewater Treatment plant for providing biosolids, Mr. Getulio Freitas for assistance with statistical analysis, and the team comprised of three postdoctoral researchers (Gerald Allen, Petra Stenberg, and Ruiqiang Liu) advised by professor Rattan Lal. This project was funded by the Ohio Coal Development Office

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  1. Carbon Management and Sequestration Center, School of Environment and Natural Resources, the Ohio State University, 210 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Ruiqiang Liu & Rattan Lal

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  1. Ruiqiang Liu
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  2. Rattan Lal
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Correspondence to Ruiqiang Liu.

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Liu, R., Lal, R. A Laboratory Study on Amending Mine Soil Quality. Water Air Soil Pollut 224, 1679 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-013-1679-x

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