Effects of minesoil and seeded herbaceous species on survival of planted trees
Titel:
Effects of minesoil and seeded herbaceous species on survival of planted trees
Auteur:
Larson, M. M. Vimmerstedt, J.R.
Verschenen in:
International journal of mining, reclamation and environment
Paginering:
Jaargang 4 (1990) nr. 2 pagina's 53-56
Jaar:
1990
Inhoud:
A series of studies to help find environmentally sound methods to reforest surface-mined lands at reduced cost was established on the Muskingum Mine near Cumberland, Ohio. In one study, three minesoil types (graded topsoil, graded and ripped topsoil, and leveled gray cast overburden) were planted with green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)and white pine (Pinus strobus) trees on subplots seeded with various grass and/or legume mixtures either before tree planting in September or at time of tree planting in March. Also, trees were planted on unseeded subplots. After planting, some trees were oversprayed with Simazine to reduce competition from seeded species. A severe drought that began after planting resulted in heavy mortality but striking survival differences were observed among treatments by end of the growing season. Green ash survived best (71 percent)on unseeded cast overburden. Survival was significantly lower on graded topsoil (50 percent)and on other minesoils that were seeded the previous September (50-54 percent). The Simazine overspray severely reduced survival of green ash. Among trees that were not sprayed, seeding grasses or grasslegume mixtures in September reduced survival to less than 48 percent compared to 81-94 percent survival on subplots seeded in March or in September with only legumes. Unlike green ash, white pine trees survived poorly on cast overburden and were not harmed by the Simazine overspray. In fact, few pines survived on seeded subplots unless they were oversprayed. Although Simazine reduced herbaceous competition to pines, survival was about 14 percent higher when grass species were not included in the seeding mixtures. Total mean survival of pine in the study was only 19 percent, with best survival (45 percent)on ripped topsoil.
Tijdschrift beschrijving