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Abstract
Grading standards on reclaimed coal mines as outlined in PL 95-87, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, have resulted in spoil compaction that severely limits tree root penetration. This leads to high tree seedling mortality. A field study was established on surface mined lands in eastern Kentucky to study the effects of two levels of compaction (no compaction and compacted) and two soil amendments (bark mulch and barn straw mulch) on three native high value tree species: white ash (Fraxinus americana), yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), and northern red oak (Quercus rubra). Bark mulch seemed to have little effect on seedling vigor and survivorship and the barn straw seemed to lower both vigor and survivorship. Bulk densities for each compaction level were significantly different. Results are based on one year of data, in the future we hope to answer the question, will the uncompacted plots result in higher vigor and survivorship than the compacted plots, and that is our hypothesis.
Parent Publication
Citation
Thomas, William R.; Pelkki, Matthew H.; Ringe, James M. 1999. Native high value tree reclamation on surface mined spoils in Eastern Kentucky. In: Stringer, Jeffrey W.; Loftis, David L., eds. 1999. Proceedings, 12th central hardwood forest conference; 1999 February 28-March 1-2; Lexington, KY. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-24. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 293 p.
