United States 

Department of 

Agriculture 

endmen 

Forest Service 

NortheasternForest ~nan Acidic Minesoi 

Experiment Station 

Research Paper N E-502 

William T. Plass 
The Author 

William T. PIass received a B.S. 

degree in farestry from Iowa State 

University in 1948 and an M.S. degree in silviculture from the University of Missouri in 1959. He 

joined the USDA Forest Service in 

1948, and served in several research 

capacities relating to timber management and the silviculture of central hardwoods. From 1962 until his 

retirement in 1979, Plass was assigned to the Northeastern Forest 

Experiment Station's surface-mine 

restoration research unit. 

Manuscript received 

for publication 8 May 1981 

Organic amendments can be included in minesoil revegetation 

treatments to produce high-density 

ground covers or increase the yield 

of pasture and forage crops. They 

may provide an alternative to the 

"topsoiling" requirements under 

current surface-mining laws and 

regulations. In this study, shredded 

hardwood bark, composted municipal waste, and a tannery waste were 

applied to an acidic minesoil. Supplemental inorganic amendments including fertilizer, agricultural lime, 

and an alkaline waste from an SO2 

scrubber system were applied alone 

and in combination with the organic 

amendments. Treatment comparisons were based on vegetation response and chemical and physical 

characteristics of the minesoil after 

treatment, Organic amendments are 

not required for establishing vegetation though some reduced the time 

required to produce an acceptable 

cover. Site characteristics, land use 

objectives, and the availability of organic materials determine the appropriate amendment for a specific 

site. 
Nutrient availability, microbiological activity, and moisture efficiency are directly and indirectly affected by the organic matter in a 

soil. Organic matter is an important 

component of productive forest 

soils. Many of the less productive 

forest soils in the coal-producing regions of the Appalachians have relatively low percentages of organic 

matter. Fresh minesoils generally 

are deficient or lacking in this valuable component. 

Previous research has been 

concerned with the use of organic 

materials as amendments for toxic 

spoils where other treatments have 

failed. The use of sewage sludge, 

manure, and composted municipal 

waste has been successful to some 

degree in revegetating toxic spoils 

(Sspper and Mardos 1972; Sopper et 

al. 1974; Sutton 1973; Lejcher and 

Kunkle 1974; Scanlon et al. 1973). 

The successful revegetation of 

thousands of acres of nontoxic 

minesoil with inorganic fertilizer 

(with or without lime) demonstrates 

that organic amendments are not 

essential. However, it is believed 

that a high-density herbaceous 

cover can be produced in less time 

and that yields of pasture and forage crops will be higher when organic amendments are used. It has 

been suggested that organic amendments provide an alternative to the 

"topsoiling'?requirements under 

current surface-mining laws and 

regulations. 

In this study, shredded hardwood bark, composted municipal 

waste, and tannery waste were applied and disced into an acidic 

minesoil. We compared vegetation 

response and chemical and physical 

characteristics of the minesoil after 

these organic amendments had 

been applied. Fertilizer, agricultural 

lime, and an alkaline waste from an 

801: scrubber system were evaluated 

as supplemental amendments. 

Materials and Methods 

f Re three organic amendments, 

shredded hardwood bark, come 

Figure I .-Estes aerospreader applying municipal waste, 

posted municipal waste, and tan- It is an alkaline material with a high 

nery waste, represent a wide range moisture content and the consisten 

of physical properties and chemical cy of fresh manure. 

composition. Shredded hardwood 

bark is a waste product from saw- Shredded hardwood bark was 

mills using debarkers. The bark is applied at a rate equivalent to 30 to 

processed by passing it through a 40 cubic yards per acre, csmpostctd 

shredding machine that reduces the municipal was& at 7 to 10 tons per 

bark fragments to a more uniform acre, and tannew waste at 7 to 10 

size. Bark from many species of Ap- tons per acre, air-dried weight. The 

palachlan hardwoods may be in- bark and the municipal waste were 

cluded but the oaks probably repre- applied witk an Estesl aerospreader 

sent the greatest volume. (Fig. 1). The tannery waste was 

spread by hand; however, a convenCornposted municipal waste tionail manure spreader would be 

contains all materials commonly more efficient for spreading tannew 

found in municipal garbage, includ- waste on large acreages, 

ing glass and plastics, A process 

that includes shredding, grinding, A split-plot experimental design 

and composting produces a granu- was selected FOP this study. Each of 

lar product. The compssling proc- the organic amendments and an uness minimizes or eliminates paths- treated c~ntroi were randomly asgenic hazards. Potential plant and 

animal toxicities are cantralled by 

excluding industrial wastes, Pke use of trade, firm, or csr oration 

names in this paper is for the inhrmaTannepy waste contains the tion and convenience of the reader. Suck 

organic residues andthe US@ does not constitute an official eneffluents from a tannery. This efflu. do'sement by the V.Sv Department of Agriculture or the Forest ent is discharged into settling Sewice sf any product or service to the 

ponds to allow the solids to settle. exclusion of others thamay be suitable. 
signed to one plot in each of three 

blocks. Each block had one common side with another block. The 

plots were subdivided into four subplots. Three inorganic amendment 

treatments were randomly assigned 

to three subplots. The fourth subplot was not treated with inorganic 

amendments. Diammonium phosphate fertilizer (18-46-0) was applied at a rate of 300 pounds per 

acre alone, and in combination with 

lime and scrubber waste. Agricultural limestone, the second inorganic amendment, represents a 

treatment often recommended for 

acidic minesoils. The third inorganic 

amendment, scrubber waste, was a 

waste product from an SO2 scrubbing system for a coal-burning electric generating plant. In this system, 

limestone is used to remove SO2 

and other pollutants. The limestone 

must be replenished periodically 

and the residual material represents 

a large volume of industrial waste. It 

was included in the study to determine its potential for mined-land 

reclamation. The limestone and 

scrubber waste had similar calcium 

carbonate equivalents and both 

were applied at a rate of 3 tons per 

acre. 

The study area is located on a 

relatively flat bench on a surface 

mine in Randolph County, West Virginia (Fig. 2). A coarse-textured 

shale and sandstone overburden 

was top-dressed with 4 to 6 inches 

of soil. The top-dressing was a mixture of the B and C horizons from a 

forest soil. Little or no A horizon 

was found at this site. This procedure is typical of many mining 

operations in West Virginia. Laboratory analyses of this top-dressing 

showed that pH ranged from 3.7 to 

4.4 and that there was a deficiency 

of phosphorus. The soil texture was 

sandy loam to sandy clay loam. 

The organic and inorganic 

amendments were applied, the plots 

were disced, and the following seed 

mixture was sowed: 

Figure 2.-The study area after municipal waste and shredded bark had 

been applied. 

Species Pounds per acre 

"K-31" tall fescue 10 

Orc hardgrass 5 

Red clover 3 

Alsike clover 2 

Kobe lespedeza 5 

Birdsfoot trefoil 5 

Crownvetch 3 

The study was established in 

May 1977. During the first three 

growing seasons, vegetative yield 

was determined by clipping a 4 ft2 

quadrat within each subplot. The 

green weight of all living plants was 

used to compare vegetation response to treatments. 

Prior to the third clipping, the 

percent ground cover within each 

quadrat was estimated. The percentage of the total ground cover contributed by legumes was then estimated. These two estimates were 

used to obtain the percentage of 

each quadrat covered by legumes. 

At the end of the first growing 

season, the bulk density of the surface 6 inches was determined by. 

the rubber-balloon method. Waterholding capacity and total pore 

space were determined by conventional laboratory methods for soil 

particles 2 mm or less in size. 

After three growing seasons, a 

sample was collected of the surface 

6 inches of minesoil in each subplot 

to compare selected chemical characteristics. Specific conductance 

and pH were determined by conventional methods in which a spoil and 

distilled water mixture are used. 

Available phosphorus was determined by the Bray No. 1 extractant 

solution. The titration method devel- 
oped by Yuan was used to determine exchangeable acidity and 

aluminum. Available calcium, magnesium, and potassium were determined by atomic absorption 

methods. 

Results 

Vegetation Response 

The green weights of all plant 

materials removed from each quadrat at each clipping date were used 

to compare vegetative response to 

the organic and inorganic treatments. Analysis of variance and 

Duncan's multiple range test were 

used to analyze the data. 

During the first growing season, there was no significant differAence in yield between plots treated 

with the organic amendments or in 

interactions between the organic 

and inorganic amendments. The inorganic amendments significantly 

influenced vegetation growth. Plots 

treated with lime and fertilizer and 

scrubber waste and fertilizer produced the highest yield (Table 1). 

There was no significant difference 

between these treatments. The 

plots treated with lime and fertilizer 

had significantly higher yields than 

plots treated with fertilizer alone. 

After two growing seasons, 

there was a significant difference in 

yield between plots treated with 

organic amendments. Neither the inorganic amendments nor the interaction between organic and inorganic amendments significantly affected yield. The yields were highest on plots treated with municipal 

and tannery waste. Both treatments 

had significantly higher yields than 

the shredded bark treatment or the 

control, but there were no significant differences between treatments. The shredded bark plots had 

significantly higher yields than the 

control plots. 

During the third growing season, both organic and inorganic 

amendments significantly affected 

yields and there was a significant 

difference in yield between replications. The interaction between organic and inorganic amendments 

was not significant. The municipal 

waste treatment had significantly 

higher yields than all other organic 

amendments and the control plots. 

Yields following the tannery waste 

treatment were higher than those 

for the shredded bark treatment or 

the control. There was no significant difference in yield between the 

shredded bark treatment and the 

control. 

Plots treated with lime and 

fertilizer and scrubber waste and 

fertilizer had significantly higher 

yields than fertilizer alone or the 

control. Although there was no significant difference in yield between 

the lime and fertilizer and scrubber 

waste and fertilizer plots, the lime 

and fertilizer treatment had consistently higher yields than the scrubber waste fertilizer treatment. 

There were significant differences in yield between replications 

during the third growing season. 

Chemical characteristics of the 

minesoil showed the replication 

with the lowest yield had significantly lower exchangeable aluminum and available phosphorus. Although not statistically significant, 

the replication with the lowest yield 

also had the highest median pH and 

mean specific cswductance. Exchangeable acidity and available 

potassium were low and there was 

no consistent trend for calcium or 

magnesium. 

Species composition is an important consideration in treatment 

comparisons. The species of 

grasses and legumes in the mixture 

have a range of tolerances to toxic 

ions, nutrient requirements, and 

compatability with associated 

Table 1.-Average green weight yield for three growing seasons 

Organic amendment 

Inorganic Control Shredded bark Composted waste Tannery waste 

amenbment 

Growing season Growing season Growing season Growing season 

--_____________ Thousand pounds peracre - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Control a a 0.4 a 0.1 1.3 0.4 1.1 5.5 0.4 2.3 4.4 

Fertilizer a a .5 0.3 .9 1.8 .9 1.5 7.2 .8 2.1 4.7 

Lime + Fertilizer 0.2 1.5 7.2 1.0 1.8 7.4 1.2 2.0 9.0 1.3 1.8 9.1 

Scrubber waste + fertilizer .3 1.2 7.1 1.1 1.9 6.0 .9 2.2 7.7 .9 2.0 5.3 

a Average is less than 100 pounds per acre, 
plants. These treatments may affect 

each of these toleran~e factors directly or indirectly. The legumes are 

more rest~onslve to taxlcitles, nutrient availability, and competition 

than many grass species. Therefore, 

the percentage of the ground cover 

contributed by legumes was related 

to the treatments. Each of the organic amendments when used alone 

increased the percentage of legumes on the plots (Table 2), The use 

of fertilizer with the organic amendments resuited in a slight increase 

in the percentage of legumes. The 

addition of lime or scrubber waste 

and fertilizer created con,ditions that 

allowed the legumes to dominate 

the cover. Phis occurred for all organic amendments as well as the 

control. 

Birdsfoot trefoil dominated the 

legume cover beii"t.red clover and 

crownvetch contributed on many 

plots. Aisike clover and Kobe lespedeza were not present after three 

growing seasons though they were 

included in the seed mixture. 

Crownvetch was found on all plots 

treated with lime or scrubber waste, 

and on plots treated with tannery 

waste and fertilizer, 

Physical Properties 

One year after treatment, bulk 

density, total pore space, and moisture-holding capacity were determined for selected treatment combinations. No samples were collected 

on plots treated with fertilizer alone, 

or in combination with thhe organic 

amendments. 

There was no significant difference between "rreatments for bulk 

density or total pore space (Table 3). 

Analyses of the moistcareholding 

capacity show that subplots treated 

with scrubber waste had significantly lower moisture-holding capacity 

than the untreated control or the 

plots treated with lime, There was 

no significant differences in waterholding capacity between the organic amendments. 

Table 2,-Percentage of ground cover provided by legumes at the end 

of the third growing season 

Inorganic 

amendment 

Organic amendment 

Control Shredded Composted Tannery bark waste waste 

Control 

Fertilizer 

Lime + 

fertilizer 

S~rubber waste 

-r- fertilizer 

a Grownvetch found on one or more subplots. 

Table 3.-Physical properties of mine soils I year after treatment 

MoistureTreatment Bulk density Pore space holding 

capacity 

Control 

Control 

Lime + fertilizer 

Scrubber waste + fertilizer 

Mean 

Shredded bark 

Gontrol 

Lime + fertilizer 

Scrubber waste + fertilizer 

Mean 

Municipal waste 

Control 

Lime i- fertilizer 

Scrubber waste + fertilizer 

Mean 

Tannery waste 

Control 

Lime i- fertilizer 

Scrubber waste + fertilizer 

Mean 

----- Percent - - - - - - 
At the end of the third growing 

season, samples were collected 

from each subplot to assess the 

chemical characteristics of the 

minesoils. Parameters included 

were pH, specific csnductance, exchangeable acidity, exchangeable 

aluminum, and available phssphorus, potassium, calcium, and 

magnesium. All data was analyzed 

by analysis of variance and Duncan's multiple range test. 

Minesoil pH and specific conductance were significantly influenced by the organic amendments 

but not by the inorganic amendments (Table 4). The tannery waste 

treatment resulted in significantly 

higher values for both variables than 

all other treatments. Minesoils on 

the control plots had the lowest pH 

values. There was no significant difference in specific conductance between the control and shredded 

bark and municipal waste treatments. 

Both organic and inorganic 

amendments reduced exchangeable 

acidity and exchangeable aluminum. 

Tannery waste treatments had significantly lower levels than all other 

treatments. All organic amendment 

treatments were lower than the control. Lime and scrubber waste signil icantly reduced exchangeable 

acidity and exchangeable aluminum, 

but there was no significant difference between these treatments. 

The analyses show the tannery 

waste treatment and the untreated 

control had significantly higher levels of phosphorus than the bark or 

composted municipal waste treatments. The low levels of phosphorus on the bark and municipal 

waste plots may reflect a interaction 

between the organic amendment 

and the available phosphorus. The 

inorganic amendments did not affect phosphorus levels. There were 

highly significant differences in 

available phosphorus between repiications; replication means ranged 

from 38.4 to 9.7 ppm. 

There were no significant differences in potassium between plots 

treated with organic or inorganic 

amendments. 

Table 4.-Miarsssil chemical characteristics 3 years after treatment 

Exchangeable- Available- Median Specific Treatment pH conductance acidity aluminum P K Ca Mg 

Csntrof 

Control 

Fertilizer 

Lime += fertilizer 

Scrubber waste -i- fertlrizer 

Mean 

Shredded bark 

Control 

Fertilizer 

Lime += fertilizer 

Scrubber waste + Fertilizer 

Mean 

Municipal waste 

Control 

Fertilizer 

Lime + fertilizer 

Scrubber waste + fertilizer 

Mean 

"I"annery waste 

Control 

Fertilizer 

Lime -r- fertilizer 

Scrubber waste -3. fertilizer 

Mean 

Indicates a trace. 
The tannery waste treatment 

greatly increased calcium and magnesium levers, but there was no 

significant difference between the 

other two organic amendment treatments or the control. The lime and 

scrubber waste treatments significantly increased calcium but not 

magnesium. 

Discussions 

The results of this study indicate that several organic and inorganic amendment options may be 

useful in establishing an herbaceous cover on acidic minesoil. The 

primary advantages are more rapid 

establishment of an effective cover 

and higher yields of pasture and forage crops. 

The time required to establish 

an effective cover is an important 

consideration on many mine sites. 

Therefore, the time required to produce an effective ground cover1,000 pounds of green forage per 

acre-provides a basis for reviewing 

the treatment options. 

An effective ground cover cannot be established on this minesoil 

without organic or inorganic amendments. Acidity and exchangeable 

aluminum are believed to be contributing factors. The addition of 300 

pounds of diammonium phosphate 

fertilizer alone did not increase 

yields. However, when fertilizer and 

lime or scrubber waste were used, 

an effective cover developed during 

the second growing season. These 

treatments also are favorable for 

legume growth. 

When composted municipal 

waste or tannery waste were used, 

an effective cover developed in the 

second growing season without the 

benefit of fertilizer, lime, or scrubber waste. Shredded hardwood bark 

was less effective and required 3 

years. These organic amendments 

reduced active acidity, exchangeable acidity, and exchangeable 

aluminum. 

The use of fertilizer with the 

three organic amendments did not 

appreciably reduce the length of 

time required to produce an effective cover. It did increase yields 

when used with shredded bark and 

composted municipal waste. 

Where lime and fertilizer were 

used with the organic amendments, 

an effective cover with a high percentage of legumes developed in 

the first growing season. Scrubber 

waste with fertilizer and the organic 

amendments were less effective 

than lime but an effective cover was 

produced In the first or second 

growing season. 
Literature Cited 

Lejcher, T. R.; Kunkie, S. H. 

Restoration of acid spoil banks 

with treated sewage sludge. In: 

Recycling treated municipal 

wastewater and sludge through 

forest and cropland. Sopper, 

W. E.; Kardos, L. T., eds. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State 

Univ. Press; 1974. 

Scanlon, D. H.; Duggan, C.; Bean, 

S. D. Evaluation of municipal corn= 

post for strip mine reclamation. 

Compost Sci. 14(3): 4-8; 1973. 

Sopper, W. E.; Kardos, L. T. Municipal wastewater aids revegetation 

of stripmined spoil banks. J. For. 

70(10): 61 2-61 5; 1972. 

Sopper, W. E.; Kardos, L. T.; Edgerton, 8. R. Using sewage effluent 

and liquid digested sludge to establish grasses and legumes on 

bituminous stripmine spoils. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania 

State University Institute for Research on Land and Water Resources, Research Project Technical Completion Report; 1974 

March. Available from U.S. Dep. 

Commer., Natl. Tech. lnf. Serv., 

Springfield, VA 22161 

Sutton, P. Establishment of vegeta. 

tion on toxic coal mine spoils. 

Presented at the research and applied technology symposium on 

mined-land reclamation; 1973 

March; Pittsburgh, PA. Sponsored 

by the National Coal Association. 

Available from the Mined-land 

reclamation symposium, Bituminous Coal Research, Inc. Monroeville, PA 15146. 

3J.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1982-505-012:21 
Errata Sheet -- Research Paper NE-502 

Change "Cornposted waste" to "Municipal waste" in box 

headings in Tables 1 and 2. 
Plass, William T. Organic and inorganic amendments affect 

vegetation growth on an acidic minesoil. Broomall, PA: Northeast. For. Exp. Stn.; 1982; USDA For. Serv. Res. Pap. NE 502. 7 

P* 

Shredded hardwood bark, composted municipal waste, and a 

tannery waste were applied to an acidic minesoil. Supplementai 

inorganic amendments including fertilizer, agricultural lime, 

and an alkaline waste from an SO2 scrubber system were 

applied alone and in combination with the organic amendments. Treatment comparisons were based on vegetation response and chemical and physical characteristics of the mine. 

soil after treatment. Organic amendments are not required for 

establishing vegetation, though some reduced the time required to produce an acceptable cover. 

Keywords: Bark mulch; composted municipal waste; tannery 

waste; grasses; legumes 
Headquadem of the Northeastern Forest Experiment Station are in 

Broomall, Pa. Field laboratories are maintained at: 

e Amherst, Massachusetts, in cooperation with the University of 

M8~~8chuscetts. 

@ Berea, Kentucky, in cooperation with Wrea College. 

@ Burlington, Vermont, in cooperation with the University of 

Vermont. 

Delaware, Ohio. 

@ Durham, New Hampshire, in cooperation with the University of 

Hamden, Connecticut, in cooperation with Yale University. 

@ Morgantown, West Virginia, in cooperation with West Virginia 

University, Morgantown. 

@ Orono, Maine, in cooperation with the University of Maine, 

Orono. 

Parsons, West Virginia. 

Princeton, West Virginia. 

Syracuse, New York, in cooperation with the State University of 

New York College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry at 

Syracuse University, Syracuse. 

University Park, Pennsylvania, in cooperation with the 

Pennsylvania State University. 

Q) Warren, Pennsylvania.