Evaluation of the universal soil loss equation on a selected reclaimed eastern surface mine area

Fifteen field plots were installed on a "Mountain Top Removal" type of surface mine near Beckley, West Virginia to evaluate the the predictability of the Universal Soil Loss Equation for a selected eastern surface mine spoil. Comparison of predicted and measured soil losses indicated significant error. For slopes greater than 20% the equation overpredicted for all predictions. Predictions for erosion losses greater than three tons/acre were significantly more accurate than those for losses less than 3 tons/acre. Comparison of soil characteristics of unmined and reclaimed areas indicated the reclaimed areas had significantly greater amounts of clay and silt present, and had greater bulk density. The reclaimed areas also had significantly lower infiltration rates, organic matter, very-fine sand and total sand. The erodibility factor, K, was also greater for the reclaimed area than for the unmined area.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Environmental Sciences and Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Environmental Sciences and Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1981

Author dc:creator

• Hockman, Edwin Leon

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/76280

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/76280