Quantifying the Carbon Budget and Soil Carbon
Uptake Rate in Reclaimed Surface Mine Soil
Peter Acton, University of Kentucky
Faculty Mentors: James F. Fox (University of Kentucky) , Alice L. Jones (Eastern Kentucky University)
NSF-Research Experience for Undergraduates, Appalachian Headwaters Program 2009
Overview
It has been hypothesized that reclaimed mine lands
could potentially act as carbon sinks. The goal of this
study is to better understand the role of carbon sequestration in the reclaimed mine lands of Southeastern Kentucky and relate them to baseline data of the
region. This was done by conducting extensive fieldwork as well as gathering data from previous studies.
Fully understanding carbon cycling in reclaimed soil
is crucial if proper reclamation techniques are to be
mandated.
Sites of Interest
The study sites were located in Breathitt and
Letcher Counties in Southeastern Kentucky. Lilley
Cornett Woods in Letcher County provided data from
an old-growth forest as well as 0-year and 6-year
mining reclamation sites. Robinson Forest in Breathitt County provided 2-, 8- and 10- year reclamation
sites.
Methods
Samples were gathered from five depth intervals
throughout the soil column. Carbon density was then
quantified and plotted over time to develop the soil
organic carbon vs. time curve.
The ecosystem carbon budget encompasses the
quantification of biomass, erosion rates, precipitation, respiration rates, and leaching.
Appalachian Headwaters Research Program
Research Experience for Undergraduates/Research Experience for Teachers
Eastern Kentucky Environmental Research Institute
Eastern Kentucky University
521 Lancaster Avenue • Moore B-18
Richmond, Kentucky 40475
(859) 622-6914 • www.eri.eku.edu
August 2009
RS09.009
2 year
-1.8
-0.8
0.2
-1.8
Log Total Organic Carbon (%)
6 year
8 year
10 year
-0.8
0.2
-1.8
-0.8
0.2
-1.8
-0.8
Undisturbed
0.2
-1.8
-0.8
0.2
-25.5
-24.5
α=0.74
α=0.58
α=0.65
-25.0
α=0.81
-26.0
-25.5
α=1.65
-26.5
-26.0
-26.5
-27.0
-27.0
The alpha values represent the slopes of the trend lines. These values are indicative of the soil turnover rate and soil activity.
Total Organic Carbon (%)
0
2
4
vegetation regrowth and respiration. The development of soil carbon in reclaimed soils, takes place in
the first 10 centimeters as compared to the entire soil
column in undisturbed forest conditions. The results
suggest that it will take 330 years for the soil carbon
in reclaimed areas to reach a value within 5% of the
carbon found in the soil of the undisturbed site.
0
-5
-10
10 yr
Areas of Further Research
-15
In order to further develop models of carbon sequestration in post-reclamation soils these sites will
need to be studied over the long term. More detailed
lab work needs to be conducted in order to quantify
biomass growth over time.
8 yr
-20
-25
Conclusion
The net flux of carbon is primarily dependent on
2 yr
PETER ACTON is a senior majoring in civil engineering at the University of Kentucky.
-30
6 yr
-35
Undisturbed
-40
The full depth of the soil column can be visualized
and compared with baseline forest data to
understand how it develops over time.
JAMES F. FOX is an assistant professor of water resources in the Department of Civil Engineering at the
University of Kentucky and co-director of the Appalachian Headwaters Summer Research Program.
ALICE JONES is an associate professor of environmental planning in the Department of Geography &
Geology at Eastern Kentucky University and co-director of the Appalachian Headwaters Summer Research Program.
Funded by the National Science Foundation, Division of Earth Sciences,
Award No EAR-0754888, with co-funding from the NSF Experimental
Program in Competitive Research (EPSCoR), and the Innovations in
Environmental Education (EdEn) venture fund.
δ13Cavg(‰)
-25.0
Depth (cm)
δ13Cavg(‰)
-24.5