PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - William M. Schafer TI - Agricultural capability classification of pre- and post-mined landscapes in the Northern Great Plains DP - 1984 Jul 01 TA - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation PG - 270--273 VI - 39 IP - 4 4099 - http://www.jswconline.org/content/39/4/270.short 4100 - http://www.jswconline.org/content/39/4/270.full AB - A comparison of 827 ha of reclaimed minesoils in the Northern Great Plains with soils that occurred prior to mining showed an increase in agricultural land capability classification at three of the five mines studied. Increased soil depth and reduced slope primarily accounted for improved land capability. Increased salt, sodium, clay content, and erosion caused a decline in the land capability classification on a few of the mine sites. Overall, 45% of the mined lands were in Land Capability Class IV or better. Only 34% of the same lands before mining were of equal quality. Reclamation practices mandated by stringent state and federal laws have resulted in an improvement in post-mine land productivity in the last decade.