Corn Hybrid Responses to Reconstructed Mine Soils in Western Illinois
1988
Dunker, R. E. | Jansen, I. J. | Pedersen, W. L.
Federal law requires that surface-mined prime farmland be reclaimed and restored to productivity for row crops equivalent to that present before mining (Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, 1977. Public Law 95-87. US. Code Vol. 30, Sect. 1265). Success of reclamation of such cropland shall be determined on the basis of crop production from the mined area compared to an approved reference area or other technical guidance procedure (Surface Coal Mining Land Conservation Act, 1981. Illinois Public Act 81-1015). The objective of this study was to evaluate a wide range of corn (Zea mays L.) genotypes grown on mined land compared to corn grown on an adjacent natural soil. Forty corn hybrids in 1984 and 38 hybrids in 1985, with 29 hybrids being common to both years, were planted on two reclaimed soils and an undisturbed tract. The two mine soils consisted of: (i) 45 cm of topsoil replaced over graded wheel spoil, and (ii) graded wheel spoil only. Both soils are Typic Udorthents. A nearby tract of Sable soil (fine-silty, mixed, mesic Typic Haplaquoll) was used as the unmined comparison. Results indicate that hybrid yield variation is associated more with weather variation on mine soils than on the undisturbed Sable soil. Pollination dates were delayed, and yield potential varied among hybrids grown on these disturbed soils. Those hybrids with the highest yield potential on the Sable soil did not necessarily produce the highest yields on the disturbed soils. No significant yield response to topsoil replacement was observed for any hybrid in 1984, and only one hybrid had a significant positive response and two hybrids responded negatively to topsoil replacement in 1985. Contribution from the Dep. of Agronomy, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana.
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