Foos, A. F. Smith, L. R. Baird, B. A. Clark-Thomas, D. W. Conner, T. E. Conte, J. N. Dennison, C. M. Indriolo, W. K. Laine, A. W. Landaw, F. G. Larkin, K. J. Lobur, J. D. Naus, C. J. Ulle, 2000, Soil Characteristics and Vascular Plant Diversity of disturbed lands; PPG Lime Lakes in Barberton OH, and abandoned coal mines in Stark County, OH., Ohio Academy of Science.

ABSTRACT

Two contrasting areas of disturbed lands were investigated by the analysis of soil characteristics (pH, conductivity, nitrate, and phosphate) and determination of a vascular plant diversity index. Two sites in the Bear Creek watershed of southern Stark County, Ohio, were investigated. The Bear Creek watershed contains a large acreage of abandoned surface coal mine spoils that have produced acid mine drainage. The first site was overgrown and showed no evidence of artificial reclamation. Scot's pines were planted in the second area in an effort to reclaim the site. The vascular plant diversity index of site 1 was higher than site 2. An increase in diversity was noted with an increase of pH, a decrease in conductivity, as well as a decrease in phosphorus levels. The lime lakes of PPG contain waste from soda ash production which consist of fine-grained lime spoil that was alkaline, lacked nutrients, and was unable to support vegetation. Reclamation efforts included mixing the waste with sewage sludge, regrading, and planting of mixed herbaceous and woody vegetation. Test sites included undisturbed as well as younger and older reclaimed sites. Higher vascular plant diversity indices were seen in the undisturbed land as well as the older reclaimed site. Conductivity was highest in the area of recent reclamation and lowest in the undisturbed area. Phosphorous was lowest in the undisturbed and highest in the older reclamation areas. Nitrate showed no significant trend. This study indicates that the reclamation efforts at the PPG lime lakes site were more successful the reclamation efforts at the Stark County abandoned coal mine site.