Semester

Summer

Date of Graduation

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

Committee Chair

Charlene Kelly

Committee Member

Jamie Schuler

Committee Member

Steven Kannenberg

Abstract

Historical mining, intensive timber harvesting, agriculture, and atmospheric acid deposition have left lasting impacts on soil health throughout the Central Appalachian region, reducing soil productivity, carbon storage, and ecosystem resilience. This thesis evaluated restoration strategies across two long-term research systems in West Virginia to determine how land-use history and soil amendments influence soil health, carbon dynamics, and ecosystem recovery. The first study examined reclaimed mine lands and marginal agricultural soils planted with switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) or willow (Salix spp.) and treated with biochar or inorganic fertilizer. Soil greenhouse gas production, aggregate stability, total soil C:N, pH, and soil organic matter were assessed to determine treatment effects. The second study investigated the long-term impacts of whole-tree harvesting, experimental acidification, and dolomitic limestone application at the Fernow Experimental Forest Long-Term Soil Productivity (LTSP) experiment, with emphasis on soil carbon fractions, aggregation, and belowground carbon storage. Dolomitic limestone effectively increased soil pH but did not substantially alter soil aggregation or carbon stabilization after nearly three decades. Across both studies, land-use history and inherent site characteristics consistently exerted stronger influences on soil properties than management treatments. Overall, these findings demonstrate that Appalachian soils exhibit considerable resilience but respond slowly to restoration interventions, highlighting the need for long-term management and monitoring to enhance soil health and carbon sequestration in disturbed landscapes.

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