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Boron in Mine Soils and Rehabilitation Plant Species at Selected Surface Coal Mines in Western United States¹

ABSTRACT

Boron (B) content in mine soils and plants was assessed at 11 strip mines in the northern Great Plains, Powder River basin, and Green River coal regions. Except for unusually high B levels at one Wyoming mine, B levels in both mine soils and plants indicate that deficiency or toxicity conditions are minimal over this large geographic area. Relationships among mine-soil pH, organic-matter content, and hotwater soluble B, and B in plants are typical of those commonly reported in the literature. In addition, electrical conductivity (EC) of a water saturation extract of mine soil was positively correlated with B in mine soils. Regulations that suggest routine analysis for B to determine allowable levels in mine soils and rehabilitation plant species may be simplified. The more common measurements of pH and EC of mine soils should provide sufficient information to indicate potential B problem areas, where plant and mine soil analyses for B could then be performed.

Key Words: prediction • correlation • wheatgrass • alfalfa • fourwing saltbush • deficiency • toxicity

¹ Contribution from the U.S. Geological Survey, Box 25046, Mail Stop 925, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225.

² Soil Scientist and Botanist, respectively.

Received for publication May 26, 1982.