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Carbon Sequestration In Soils On Reforested Coal Mining Sites In Southeastern Kentucky, Alice Jones, Frances Sayler, James Fox

Alice Jones

Soil organic carbon was measured at four locations in Eastern Kentucky in order to assess the impact of surface mine reclamation through reforestation on the soil organic carbon pool. Three surface mines reforested under similar procedures 2, 5, and 14 years ago were sampled, along with soil from an undisturbed forest in the area. Soil was sampled from 4 depths, (0-5, 5-10, 10-25 and 25-50 cm) and samples were analyzed by an isotope ratio mass spectrometer for percent carbon and carbon isotopic signature. The Monte Carlo unmixing equation was used to differentiate geogenic carbon from organic carbon at the mine …