The minesoils were analyzed 

 for physical and chemical properties 

 (Table 1). Texture was determined 

 by the pipette method (Day 1965). 

 Organic carbon was determined by 

 the Walkley Black procedure (Allison 

 1965). Potassium, magnesium, and 

 calcium were determined using the 

 North Carolina extractant and 

 phosphorus was determined using 

 the Bray extractant (Flannery 

 and Markus 1971). Moisture reten- 

 tion characteristics were determined 

 for the sieved minesoils (Figure 1). 

 Fertilizer (15-30-15) was applied to 

 each blended minesoil at a rate 

 equivalent to 1,000 lb/acre furrow 

 slice (6 inch depth). Reagent grade 

 calcium carbonate (CaCOg) was 

 applied at a rate equivalent to 2 

 tons agricultural grade limestone 

 per acre furrow slice (6 inch depth). 

 The minesoils were wetted to approx- 

 imately 0.33 bar equivalent suction, 

 wrapped in polyethylene to prevent 

 drying, and then allowed to equili- 

 brate for a week. 



Table 1.— Initial minesoil characteristics 



Item 



Loam 



Clay 



Available nutrients 



Potassium 

 Magnesium 

 Calcium 

 Phosphorus 



Texture 



Sand 



Silt 



Clay 



81.53 

 288.35 

 395.57 



36.97 



67.24 

 298.04 

 207.31 

 7.23 



- percent 



Other properties 



Organic matter (96) 



40.0 

 33.0 

 27.0 



5.26 

 .52 



18.9 

 26.6 

 54.6 



5.18 

 1.45 



a l:l Soilrwater 



^Determined by Walkley Black organic carbon 

 x 1.724 (Van Bremmelin factor) 



Figure 1.— Moisture retention curves. 



.40 



2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 



MATRIC POTENTIAL, Ym (bars) 



2 



