Soil-Moisture Retention Curves for Evaluating Plant Moisture Availability of Cover Materials and Coal Refuse from the Staunton 1 Reclamation Demonstration Project

摘要

Availability of soil water to plants was investigated at the Staunton 1 reclamation demonstration site in southwestern Illinois. Field cores for determination of gravimetric moisture content were taken during July and August 1977 from research plots with 60, 30, 15, and 0 cm of soil cover material placed over coal refuse. Samples of the three types of materials (topsoil, subsoil, and refuse) present at the site were analyzed for physical properties, and moisture retention curves were developed for conversion of gravimetric soil moisture percentages to soil water potentials. Different textural, visual, and moisture retention characteristics allowed discrimination among the three materials. Identical moisture percentages in topsoil, subsoil, and refuse were held at different tensions. Field core samples indicated that water availability to plants had been limiting at times on the site. Precipitation before the July sampling was apparently sufficient to supply adequate moisture for plant growth during the time of the sampling. During the August sampling, however, moisture shortages occurred in the underlying refuse of the 15-cm plots. (ERA citation 07:049098)