Abstract
Minesoils are characterized by low soil organic matter and poor soil physicochemical environment. Mine soil reclamation process has potential to restore soil fertility and sequester carbon (C) over time. Soil organic C (SOC) pool and associated soil properties were determined for reclaimed minesoils under grass and forest landuses of varied establishment year. Three grassland sites of 30, 9, and 1 years after reclamation (G30, G9, and G1) and two forest sites, 11 years after reclamation (RF) and undisturbed stand of 40 years (UF), were selected within four counties (Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, and Coshocton) of southeastern Ohio. Soil bulk density (BD) of reclaimed forest (RF) soil was significantly higher than undisturbed forest (UF) soils within 10โ40โcm soil depth profile. Reclamation process increased soil pH from slightly acidic to alkaline and decreased the soil EC in both landuses. Among grassland soils, significant changes in SOC and total soil N contents were observed within 0โ10โcm soil depth. SOC contents of G30 (29.7โMgโha^โ1^) and G9 (29.5โMgโha^โ1^) were significantly higher than G1 soils (9.11โMgโha^โ1^). Soil N content was increased from G1 (0.95โMgโha^โ1^) to G9 (2.00โMgโha^โ1^) site and then the highest value was found under G30 (3.25โMgโha^โ1^) site within 0โ10โcm soil depth. UF soils had significantly higher SOC and total N content than RF soils at 0โ10 and 10โ20โcm soil depths. Copyright ยฉ 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.