Establishing Native Warm Season Grasses on Eastern Kentucky Strip Mines

Abstract

We evaluated various methods of establishing native warm season grasses on two reclaimed Eastern Kentucky mines from 1994 -1997. Most current reclamation practices incorporate the use of tallfescue (Festuca arundinacea) and other cool-season grasses/legumes that provide little wildlife habitats. The use of native warm season grasses will likely improve wildlife habitat on reclaimed strip mines. Objectives of this study were to compare the feasibili1y of establishing these grasses during fall, winter, or spring using a native rangeland seeder or hydroseeding; a fertilizer application at planting; or cold-moist stratification prior to hydroseeding. Vegetative cover, bare ground, species richness, and biomass samples were collected at the end of each growing season. Native warm season grass plantings had higher plant species richness compared to cool-season reclamation mixtures. There was no difference in establishment of native warm season grasses as a result of fertilization or seeding technique. Winter native warm season grass plantings had higher vegetative cover compared to spring seeded plots. Fall native warm season grass plantings were failures and cold-moist stratification did not increase plant establishment during any season. As a result of a drought during 1997, both cool-season and warm season plantings were failures. Cool-season reclamation mixtures had significantly more vegetative cover and biomass compared to native warm season grass mixtures and the native warm season grass plantings did not meet vegetative cover requirements for bond release. Forbs and legumes that established well included pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pal/ida)

V Adose Zone Water and Crop Response to Poultry Litter Application on Reclaimed Surface Mine Land

“…Robinson Forest lies in the Southeastern part of Kentucky and it is included in the Appalachian coal field region. This region runs from Pennsylvania to Alabama (Barnes et al, 1998). Mountain top removal is a common method for mining coal in this area due to its topographic features.…”