Hardwood Stocking After Five Years on Reclaimed Mined Land in Central Appalachia: A Preliminary Analysis

Auch, Ted; Burger, James A.; Mitchem, David O.

doi:10.21000/jasmr05010024

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Overall, grasses reduced survival and growth of all species in their study. Tulip poplar and sugar maple are especially site-sensitive and typically survive at rates below 50% regardless of site quality (Auch et al 2005). White pine usually survives well in competitive environments on moderately acid sites, and its poor survival in this case can be attributed to the alkaline mine soils of this mined area.…”

Section: Survivalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hardwood Reforestation for Phase Iii Bond Release: Need for Reduced Ground Cover

Burger¹,

Mitchem²,

Zipper³

et al. 2008

JASMR

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During the past five years, a forestry reclamation approach has been adopted by some coal companies. To ensure adequate tree survival and growth, competition from erosion control groundcovers must be reduced. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of herbaceous groundcover on reforestation success after five years for Phase III bond release. An herbaceous ground cover mix consisting of orchard grass, redtop, birdsfoot trefoil, and red clover was hydroseeded on reclaimed mined land in Wise County, Virginia. The mine soil was a mix of weathered sandstone and unweathered siltstone that was lightly graded and left uncompacted. The following winter, 100 each of white oak, red oak, sugar maple, white ash, and tulip poplar ("crop trees") were mixed and planted per acre. An additional wildlife mix of crab apple, dogwood, white pine, and bristly locust was planted at a combined rate of 100 trees/ac. Three half-acre treatment plots were spot-sprayed with Roundup herbicide (3-ft circle around each tree, achieving 70% groundcover (reduced cover) for three years, and three half-acre treatments were left untreated (full cover). After five years, average crop-tree survival rates were 58% and 69% on the untreated plots (full cover) and sprayed (reduced cover) plots, respectively. The actual numbers of trees planted by the professional tree planting crew were 687 and 663 per acre for the full cover and reduced cover plots, respectively. After five years, 415 and 419 surviving trees per acre remained which exceeded the minimum number needed for bond release in Virginia. Tree growth on the full cover plots was suppressed, but growth was excellent on reduced cover plots compared to that expected for these species on undisturbed sites. Reduced cover doubled the growth rate for most species except for red oak, which grew three times faster, and white ash, which grew four times faster when released from some of the ground cover competition. All species in this mix appeared to be compatible and should grow into a valuable tree stand. This study shows that this reforestation approach is quite viable for restoring native hardwoods, except that commonly used ground cover could compromise reforestation success.

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Section: Survivalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hardwood Reforestation for Phase Iii Bond Release: Need for Reduced Ground Cover

Burger¹,

Mitchem²,

Zipper³

et al. 2008

JASMR

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…That is, white ash survives well across a range of sites, while oaks are more site-specific and do best on loose, uncompacted, moderately acid spoils . Tulip poplar and sugar maple are especially sitesensitive and typically survive at rates below 50% regardless of site quality (Auch et al 2005).…”

Section: Survivalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Herbaceous Ground Cover Effects on Native Hardwoods Planted on Mined Land

Burger¹,

Mitchem²,

Zipper³

et al. 2005

JASMR

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Abstract. There is increasing interest among eastern U. S. landowners and coal operators in restoring mined land to native hardwood forests. Establishing a mix of native hardwood tree species simultaneously with erosion control ground covers is difficult. The purpose of this study was to test the response of hardwood species to three levels of ground cover control using an herbicide. Treatments were control (90% ground cover), spot spray around trees (50% cover), and broadcast spray (10% cover). Survival of oak species was generally greater when spot sprayed, but survival of ash, maple, poplar and white pine was unaffected. Tree biomass of most species was greater on spot sprayed plots. Trees on broadcast sprayed plots were damaged by herbicide drift rendering this treatment less effective. Overall stocking on spot sprayed plots was 67%, which met the stocking performance standard when 700 trees/acre were planted. A Forestland Reclamation Approach, which includes ground cover management, is needed for successful native hardwood reforestation.Additional

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“…In another study that looked at 31 years of growth from reforestation in Ohio, the authors found a 60% loss in black walnut seedlings planted [28]. Black walnut was included in a mix of six hardwood species direct-seeded on 10 sites across three states and after five years of growth, performed similarly to Black cherry, Northern red oak, Sugar maple, and White oak, but the survival of these hardwoods was relatively low at 23-48% (with black walnut survival at 27%) [29]. Black walnut (planted as nursery stock) also responded similarly to differences in compaction as most of the other species included in a Kentucky study, with 68% survival after eight years in loose-dumped spoil [30].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Reforesting Appalachian Surface Mines from Seed: A Five-Year Black Walnut Pilot Study

Hall

Barton

Sena

et al. 2019

Forests

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Research Highlights: We found promising success for black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) planted on a legacy surface mine. Our results indicate that direct seeding can be an effective restoration method, and that shelters may not be needed. Background and Objectives: Reforestation in the Appalachian coalfields has primarily relied on the planting of nursery stock late in the dormant season. This study examined the use of direct seeding during the fall, a practice that, if successful, could both reduce costs of planting and open up a new season for reforestation planting. Black walnut is of particular value for wildlife habitats, timber value, and even human nutrition. In addition, it normally occurs in diverse forests with rich soils of the region. Therefore, establishment on previously surface-mined lands may indicate a positive successional trajectory and resilience. Materials and Methods: This study took place in eastern Kentucky, USA, on a site that was surface mined from 1996 to 2000 and subsequently reclaimed as a wildlife habitat. In 2010, the site was decompacted according to the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) by deep ripping with a bulldozer, and in November 2011, a 2 × 2 factorial experiment was initiated to compare the growth of walnut trees planted either by seed or as one-year seedlings, and either with or without tree shelters. Each treatment (four total: Unsheltered Seedling, Sheltered Seedling, Unsheltered Seed, and Sheltered Seed) had three replicate plots of 17 × 9 m, with 50 seeds or seedlings planted per plot. Measurements (survival, height, diameter, and volume) were made in 2012, 2013, and 2016. Effects of planting type and shelter presence, as well as their interaction, were analyzed using linear mixed models. Results: Planting type was significant for all measurements in the first two years (seedlings > seed), but this difference was largely diminished by 2016. There was a significant interaction of the two main effects, such that shelters benefited (or did not affect) those trees planted as seedlings, but hindered those planted from seed.

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Hardwood Stocking After Five Years on Reclaimed Mined Land in Central Appalachia: A Preliminary Analysis

Cited by 5 publications

References 19 publications

Hardwood Reforestation for Phase Iii Bond Release: Need for Reduced Ground Cover

Hardwood Reforestation for Phase Iii Bond Release: Need for Reduced Ground Cover

Herbaceous Ground Cover Effects on Native Hardwoods Planted on Mined Land

Reforesting Appalachian Surface Mines from Seed: A Five-Year Black Walnut Pilot Study

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