Enhancing Carbon and Nitrogen Sequestration of Reclaimed Minesoils in Ohio by using Organic Amendments and Deep Ripping.

The identification of soil management practices for enhancing carbon (C) sequestration potential of restored mine soil (RMS) is essential to increasing productivity and improving the environment. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at reclaimed mine sites across three counties in eastern Ohio to assess the impact of reclamation techniques on biomass productivity and on the temporal changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) pools. Reclamation practices tested were (1) normal reclamation practice (NRP, control), (2) cow manure (10 Mg ha^-1), (3) mulching with oat straw (15 Mg ha^-1), and (4) deep ripping (30 cm depth). All treatments were applied in triplicate to experimental plots at each site in accord with a randomized complete block design. The increase in the above-ground grass/legume biomass was 23-93% after one year of manure application, and 4-40% after three years of deep ripping. The N captured in the above-ground biomass increased by 22-50% with manure application, and 11-38% with deep ripping.  In comparison with NRP, the rate of N sequestration in 0-5cm depth increased by 17-102% with manure application and by 10-99% with deep ripping resulting in an increase in the N pools by 8-40% and 4-44%, respectively. Similarly, the rate of soil C sequestration, in comparison with NRP, increased by 18-79% with manure application and by 7-75% with deep ripping. Consequently, the ecosystem C pool increased by 12-28% with manure application and by 9-29% with deep ripping.