Reclamation of prime agricultural farmlands: A retrospective 40 years after reclamation

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Illinois was an important location for innovation and evaluation of mine reclamation regulations, techniques, and approaches. Active surface and underground mining for coal is not what it was in the latter half of the previous century and before, but the reclaimed areas are a testimony to the efforts of the early pioneers in restoring mined and subsided land to their former agricultural productivity. Illinois has some of the best agricultural soils in the world, and underneath of much of that area is coal, thus promoting an enhanced sensitivity to good quality mined land reclamation. The University of Illinois was the lead agency in mine land reclamation research and established research plots to test various reclamation techniques and systems. Many of those plots remain in agriculture and the long term success of reclamation will indicate that the post mining improvements in the soils and landscapes are permanent and not a result of the intense management applied initially.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationLand Reclamation in Ecological Fragile Areas - Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Land Reclamation and Ecological Restoration, LRER 2017
EditorsZhenqi Hu
PublisherCRC Press/Balkema
Pages307-314
Number of pages8
ISBN (Print)9781138051034
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017
Event2nd International Symposium on Land Reclamation and Ecological Restoration, LRER 2017 - Xi’an, China
Duration: Oct 20 2017Oct 23 2017

Publication series

NameLand Reclamation in Ecological Fragile Areas - Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Land Reclamation and Ecological Restoration, LRER 2017

Other

Other2nd International Symposium on Land Reclamation and Ecological Restoration, LRER 2017
Country/TerritoryChina
CityXi’an
Period10/20/1710/23/17

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Pollution
  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Reclamation of prime agricultural farmlands: A retrospective 40 years after reclamation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this