Soil amendments like lime, fertilizer, fly ash, sewage sludge, papermill sludge, and sawmill residues have all been used to improve plant growth. Waste materials used as amendments may cause problems as well as ameliorate the soil. However little research has been reported on the production of horticultural crops. Soil treatments selected for a particular site vary based on the physical and chemical properties of the minesoil. West Virginia's timber industry produces a variety of wastes including shredded bark and sawdust.
All populated areas have municipal wastewater treatment systems, which produce sewage sludge.
Green manure crops have also been used for revegetation of mine sites. All of these treatments improve the physical and chemical characteristics of minesoils, which may support intensive horticultural crop production. The objectives of this study were to demonstrate production of horticultural crops in minesoils amended with three different organic materials. Materials and Methods A mountain top removal surface mine, located near Welch, WV and owned by the Pocahontas Land Corporation, was selected for a field demonstration site. Pocahontas Land Corporation provided financial support to the Division of Plant and Soil Sciences at West Virginia University to conduct field and greenhouse studies.