English

Abstract

In the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, intensive animal production generates manure nutrients in excess of crop needs, increasing the likelihood of transport to water bodies and degradation of ecosystems and water quality. In this same region, 150 years of extensive coal mining has severely degraded land and impaired streams. Excess manure could be utilized in mine reclamation, but the large application rates required for successful revegetation could result in significant nutrient discharge. A preliminary greenhouse study determined that composting or adding organic carbon to poultry layer manure greatly reduced nutrient leaching. Based on these results, a field reclamation study was established on a surface coal mine in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania in April 2006. Treatments include a lime and fertilizer control, two rates of composted poultry layer manure (78 and 156 Mg ha -1 dry weight), and two blends of fresh poultry manure (60 Mg ha -1 dry weight) mixed with paper mill sludge (90 and 170 Mg ha -1 ) to achieve C:N ratios of 20:1 and 30:1. Leachate was collected after every rain event using pan lysimeters located 30 cm below each treatment. Leachate analysis showed a pulse of NO3 - -N from the two rates of poultry manure and paper mill sludge blends (170 and 156 mg N L -1 ) occurred three months following application. Compost treatments showed no such pulse. Cumulative N losses were greatest in the manure/paper mill sludge blends, but the control retained the least amount of original added N. An initial pulse of phosphate (5.8 mg P L -1 ) from the control treatment was observed within the first month after application. Subsequently, all treatments show minimal leaching of P (less than 1.0 mg P L -1 ). This research supports that amending mine soils with either composted poultry layer manure or fresh manure mixed with paper mill sludge are effective strategies to facilitate establishment of sustained vegetative cover on mined lands. Composted poultry manure is superior at controlling N and P loss.