Soil properties and water regime of reclaimed surface dumps in the North Bohemian brown-coal region — a field study

Abstract

This paper attempts to characterise the water regime of reclaimed surface dumps in connection with their soil physical properties. The results of a research project based on field measurements of moisture content and hydraulic conductivity, supported by analyses of undisturbed soil samples, led to recommendations regarding technological procedures for such dumps. A dielectric soil moisture meter, in an improved version, was successfully used for field monitoring and further evaluation of moisture content. Hydraulic conductivity was also measured in the field (by repeated borehole infiltration) using the Guelph permeameter method. Laplace–Gardner analysis was used for evaluating the field saturated hydraulic conductivity results.