Water Movement in a Reclaimed Site and Associated Soils at a Mine Site in Western North Dakota

Water movement through the plant root zone was studied on plots established on several soil types and a reclaimed "soil" profile. Infiltration data were analyzed using the equation Q = ct^(d) and data from water movement studies were applied to the equation W = aX^(b+1)T^(-b). In soils initial infiltration rates were relatively slow, but the rates sustained for two hours were considered high. Measurements of water content redistribution after flooding indicated that water movement through these soils was unimpeded. A low correlation coefficient resulted when soil water content data from the reclaimed site were "fitted" to the model equation. However, water contents and drainage, calculated from the model equation were reasonably good estimates of measured values for the reclaimed site and the undisturbed soils