A Chronosequence of Scale-Dependent Vegetation and Soil Properties on a Surface Coal Mine over 40 Years of Reclamation

Abstract

Surface coal mining has taken place in North Dakota for many decades. Upon the mining process, the mined lands need to be reclaimed to a better state than pre-mining. The reclamation process is a timely and costly procedure. Currently, most reclamation strategies focus only on above ground biomass. Our research entailed two different studies, the first looking into vegetative species composition and canopy cover of reclaimed mine lands, and the second focuses on belowground properties affected by soil compaction over a 40 year reclamation gradient. Species composition and canopy cover did not increase over 40 years (p> 0.05). Soil compaction did not decrease, and rooting depths and soil water content range did not increase over the reclamation gradient (p> 0.05). Relative plant community patch size and soil health on reclaimed lands over four decades indicate the landscape-level success of the current ecosystem-based reclamation strategy.