Concurrent establishment of ground cover and hardwood trees on reclaimed mined land and unmined reference sites

Andersen, Christian P.; Bussler, Brett H.; Chaney, William R.; Pope, Phillip E.; Byrnes, W. R.

doi:10.1016/0378-1127(89)90062-5

Cited by 45 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…5). Many operators and regulators interpreted SMCRA reclamation rules to require these compacting and seeding practices which resulted in reforestation failures (Andersen et al, 1989;Plass, 1982).…”

Section: Early Reforestation Of Surface Minesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selecting Topsoil Substitutes for Forestry Mine Soils

Skousen¹,

Zipper²,

Burger³

et al. 2011

JASMR

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The Forestry Reclamation Approach is a five-step system for reclaiming mined lands to forests.Step 1 of the FRA involves creating a suitable rooting medium for good tree growth using topsoil, weathered sandstone and/or the best available material. Several types of overburden types can be selected to place on the surface as growth media. These spoil types include weathered brown sandstone and unweathered rock materials including sandstones, siltstones, shales, and mixtures of these materials. When sufficient topsoil is not salvageable, reclamation scientists often recommend that, when available, weathered sandstone should be considered as the 'best available' topsoil substitute material. Here, we review the scientific evidence that supports such recommendations. Several studies have shown that tree survival was not significantly different among spoil types. Weathered brown sandstone, unweathered gray sandstone, siltstone and shale materials all produced good tree survival (>70%) when compaction and competitive ground covers were reduced. However, growth for most trees (as measured by height, diameter, and volume) was usually significantly greater in weathered brown materials than in unweathered sandstones, siltstones, shales, and mixed spoils. At one site in West Virginia five years after planting, a 10-fold difference in tree volume was found between these two spoil types. Similar results have been found with other studies across Appalachian surface mines. Based on the results of studies summarized herein, the use of weathered brown sandstone is generally recommended, along with topsoil materials when available, to be placed on the surface on sites where hardwood tree species are being planted for forestry post-mining land uses. Weathered brown sandstone spoil materials have a pH, soluble salt content, fine earth content well suited for trees, and sufficient nutrient supplying and water holding capacity that results in superior tree growth compared to other spoil types. The brown sandstone material more closely resembles the native forest soil than the unweathered gray materials.

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Section: Early Reforestation Of Surface Minesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selecting Topsoil Substitutes for Forestry Mine Soils

Skousen¹,

Zipper²,

Burger³

et al. 2011

JASMR

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show abstract

“…Broadcast field fertilization of reclamation areas is a common practice used in an attempt to improve plant establishment and early growth (Andersen et al 1989;Casselman et al 2006). In a forest-reclamation stetting this can create problems as the rapid development of colonizing vegetation can compete with the planted tree seedlings (Chang and Preston 2000;Sloan and Jacobs 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient loaded seedlings reduce the need for field fertilization and vegetation management on boreal forest reclamation sites

et al. 2015

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Tree seedlings loaded with nutrients during nursery production have shown increased growth and survival relative to standard seedlings upon outplanting. We examined outplanting performance of nutrient loaded and standard trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) seedlings, along with composition and cover of competing vegetation, on a boreal oil sands reclamation site with two different soil types (forest floor mineral mix and peat mineral mix) and four different broadcast fertilizer applications [250 kg/ha immediately available fertilizer (IAF), 500 kg/ha IAF, 670 kg/ha controlled release fertilizer, and an unfertilized control]. Average height growth across all treatments was 19 % greater for nutrient loaded aspen seedlings than standard seedlings after two growing seasons. With respect to soil types, aspen growth was greater on peat mineral mix and seedlings growing in this soil type showed a greater response to both nutrient loading and fertilization; however, this could partially be attributed to greater cover by competing vegetation on the forest floor mineral mix. In the first growing season, trees treated with immediately available fertilizer showed the greatest growth response but in the second growing season only the controlled release fertilizer application resulted in growth rates greater than the controls. Fertilizer regime had similar effects on total cover of competing vegetation, although fertilization additionally promoted increased cover of grasses in the forest floor mineral mix. Overall, we clearly show that nutrient loaded trembling aspen seedlings can be used to offset early field fertilization needs at forest reclamation sites.

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“…Reclamation of mined sites is a legislative requirement following the completion of surface mining operations (U.S. Congress, 1977;OSM, 1993;Smyth and Dearden, 1998). To address environmental concerns associated with mining operations, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) of 1977 (Public law 87-95) was established (U.S. Congress, 1977;EPA, 2000), and mandates that mined lands be reclaimed and restored to their original use or a higher and better use (Andersen et al, 1989). According to SMCRA, mining is viewed as a temporary land use and after mining operations are completed, the land must be returned to a condition capable of supporting its pre-mining land cover (OSM, 1993).…”

Section: The Reclamation Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Restoring forests on surface-mined lands is challenging because of adverse soil conditions and plant competition (Bussler et al, 1984;Andersen et al, 1989). The post-mining site must be graded prior to reclamation, which may dramatically alter soil physical properties.…”

Section: The Reclamation Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, soils at mined sites had higher bulk density, coarse fragments, and clay content and also had lower porosity, permeability, and moisture-holding capacity than un-mined reference sites (Bussler et al, 1984). Topsoil is generally replaced to an average depth of about 30 cm, below which a hardpan layer may create a perched water table (Bussler et al, 1984;Andersen et al, 1989) which can restrict seedling root system penetration and reduce subsequent seedling establishment success.…”

Section: The Reclamation Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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American Chestnut as a Future Resource to Enhance Mine Reclamation Productivity

Jacobs¹

2005

JASMR

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Abstract. Mine reclamation sites can be difficult to reforest, and trees that successfully establish on these sites are often comprised of relatively undesirable species. American chestnut (Castanea dentata) once dominated the forests throughout much of the coal-producing region in Appalachia. However, the exotic fungus Cryphonectria parasitica was discovered in 1904 and within several decades, the blight killed nearly every tree throughout the range. A dedicated breeding program sponsored by The American Chestnut Foundation has made tremendous progress toward producing a blight-resistant variety of American chestnut by hybridizing with the blight-resistant Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima). It is expected that a blight-resistant hybrid chestnut tree (~94% American chestnut) will be available for reintroduction within the next decade, providing a new species option for reclamation programs. Due to continued presence of the fungus throughout eastern forests, few studies have examined American chestnut growth performance in plantations. However, a recent study on a blight-free site in Wisconsin reported exceptional growth capacity of chestnut relative to co-occurring hardwood species. Sufficient evidence also exists to suggest that American chestnut may tolerate many of the stressful physical and chemical soil characteristics typical of mine reclamation sites. Rapid growth, adaptability to a wide range of environmental conditions, good timber quality, and exceptional wildlife properties make American chestnut a highly desirable potential species for future reclamation programs.

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Concurrent establishment of ground cover and hardwood trees on reclaimed mined land and unmined reference sites

Cited by 45 publications

References 9 publications

Selecting Topsoil Substitutes for Forestry Mine Soils

Selecting Topsoil Substitutes for Forestry Mine Soils

Nutrient loaded seedlings reduce the need for field fertilization and vegetation management on boreal forest reclamation sites

American Chestnut as a Future Resource to Enhance Mine Reclamation Productivity

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