Importance of Bulk Density Measurements to Estimate Carbon Sequestration Potential on a Chronosequence of Reclaimed Minesoil.

Bulk density is often considered one of the key factors determining soil aggregation, water infiltration and/or runoff, compaction, and microbial activities in the soil which, in turn, is related to soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation and/or turnover rates. In recent times bulk density has been included in the estimation of the rate of carbon sequestration in reclaimed minesoils. However, due to extremely heterogeneous physical and structural conditions prevailing in the minesoils, arising from material handling and reclamation procedures, estimation of one representative bulk density value for an entire mine site often appears problematic. In this study we aim to assess the carbon sequestration potential of reclaimed minesoils in West Virginia, through a chronosequence where time since reclamation varies from 3 to 18 years, seeking answers to questions such as (i) what is minimum number of samples required to estimate a representative bulk density in reclaimed minesoils, and (ii) how necessary it is to include bulk density in the estimation of carbon sequestration potential in minesoils.