The selection of plant species is critical for the successful establishment and long-term maintenance of vegetation on reclaimed surface mined soils. A study was conducted to assess the capability of 16 forage grass and legume species in monocultures and mixes to establish and thrive on a reclaimed Appalachian surface mine amended with biosolids. The 0.15-ha coarse-textured, rocky, non-acid forming mined site was prepared for planting by grading to a 2% slope and amending sandstone overburden materials with a mixture of composted and dewatered, anaerobically digested biosolids at a rate of 368 Mg ha(-1) (dry weight). Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), caucasian bluestem (Bothriochloa caucasia L.), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), ladino clover (Trifolium repens L.), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), crownvetch (Coronilla varia L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), common sericea lespedeza and AULotan sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata L.), tall fescue-ladino clover, tall fescue-alfalfa, orchardgrass-birdsfoot trefoil, switchgrass-AULotan, and an herbaceous species mix intended for planting on reforested sites consisting of foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.], perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), redtop (Agrostis alba L.), kobe lespedeza (Kummerowia striata L.), appalow lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata L.), and birdsfoot trefoil were established between spring 1990 and 1991. Vegetative biomass and/or persistence were assessed in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2002. The high rate of biosolids applied provided favorable soil chemical properties but could not overcome physical property limitations due to shallow undeveloped soil perched atop a compacted soil layer at 25 cm depth. The plant species whose persistence and biomass production were the greatest after a decade or more of establishment (i.e., switchgrass, sericea lespedeza, reed canarygrass, tall fescue, and crownvetch) shared the physiological and reproductive characteristics of low fertility requirements, drought and moisture tolerance, and propagation by rhizome and/or stolons. Of these five species, two (tall fescue and sericea lespedeza) are or have been seeded commonly on Appalachian coal surface mines, and often dominate abandoned pasture sites. Despite the high rates of heavy metal-bearing biosolids applied to the soil, plant uptake of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn were well within critical concentrations more than a decade after establishment of the vegetation.

Differences in grazing behavior suggest opportunities to improve forage use when cattle and sheep graze in the same pasture, but a better understanding of their effect on soils and plants is needed. Angus cows (Bos taurus) with calves and ewes (Ovis aries) (1/2 Dorset, 1/4 Finn, 1/4 Rambouillet crossbred) with lambs grazed Kentucky bluegrass‐white clover (Poa pratensis L.‐Trifolium repens L.) pastures from spring until autumn in a study of the effects on soils and plants of grazing cattle and sheep together and separately. The experiment was a randomized block design with three replications conducted during 3 yr. There were 6 cow‐calf pairs per replication of cattle alone and 6 ewes with 11 lambs per replication of sheep alone. For the mixed‐grazed pastures, there were 6 cows plus 6 ewes, each with their respective offspring, per replication. Grazing sheep alone increased soil bulk density (1.47 vs. 1.38 g cm−3), extractable soil P (140 vs. 80 kg ha−1), and percentage bluegrass (36 vs. 25%), but decreased percentage white clover (3 vs. 10%) compared with grazing cattle alone. Grazing sheep and cattle together resulted in soil bulk density and extractable soil P of 1.45 g cm−3 and 115 kg ha−1, respectively. Grazing sheep and cattle together resulted in a higher B horizon soil pH (6.7 vs. 6.4 and 6.5) and percentage organic mater (1.9 vs. 1.5 and 1.7) than where cattle or sheep grazed alone, respectively. Percentage bluegrass and white clover present in the sward where both animal species grazed was 37 and 5%, and there were fewer forbs (12%; P < 0.08) than when cattle or sheep grazed alone (18 and 15%, respectively). Grazing both animal species together appeared to have beneficial effects on several botanical composition and soil characteristics over grazing cattle and sheep in separate pastures.

Cattle and sheep grazed together and separately from April to October during 3 yr. Initial forage composition was 29% Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), 11% white clover (Trifolium repens L.), and 60% weeds. There were six Angus cow-calf pairs or six ewes (1/2 Dorset x 1/4 Finn x 1/4 Rambouillet) with 11 lambs per each of three pasture replications for single animal species. Six cow-calf pairs plus six ewes and 11 lambs grazed in each of three replications of the mixed animal species treatment. There were approximately one cow and calf or five ewes with lambs per .44 ha. Lambs were weaned at 41 kg or by September 1. Calves were weaned approximately October 10. Lamb daily gain (.23 kg/d), total gain (23 kg), and weaning weights (43 kg) were greater (P < .01) and target weaning weights were reached 14 d earlier in the grazing season when both animal species grazed together than when lambs were in pastures with sheep alone (.18 kg/d, 19 and 38 kg, respectively). Calf gains were not influenced by treatment. Grazing pressure increased throughout the grazing season for cattle alone, peaked in midsummer, and then decreased by autumn for sheep alone, whereas grazing pressure initially increased then remained relatively constant with mixed-species grazing. Forage quality in pastures where sheep grazed alone was lower (P < .05) than in pastures where cattle grazed alone until lambs were weaned in late summer, whereas forage quality with mixed-species grazing was generally intermediate. Mixed grazing resulted in earlier weaning and increased lamb performance and BW of ewes, but not in increased animal production per hectare.

A niche market in alternative foods has emerged in response to interest in a health conscientious diet. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the baking characteristics of teff to determine whether teff could produce satisfactory baked products. Cakes, cookies, biscuits and bread were made in triplicate from composites of wheat flour with 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 100% teff flour. Objective tests on size, shape, color and texture were used to evaluate the quality of the baked products. Increases in percent teff resulted in decreases in bread and cake volume (p > 0.05). The fracture strength of the cookies were not significantly different (p > 0.05) but spread was significantly greater for cookies made with 40% and 100% teff flour (p ≤ 0.05). There was also significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in biscuit height and color among teff treatments. Overall, this study showed that teff flour is best suited for use in cookies and biscuits.

Plant growth regulators are routinely used in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production to reduce plant height and hasten maturity. Th e objective of this research was to determine the response of several cotton cultivars to mepiquat pentaborate (MPB) application in environments accumulating diff erent levels of heat units. Four MPB application regimes were imposed on three cultivars in Virginia and South Carolina in 2005 and 2006. Total MPB season rates of 0.0, 54.9, 85.3, or 121.9 g ai ha -1 applied at the fi ve-leaf stage, pin-head square, match-head square, and early bloom were used. Th e cultivars were: Deltapine (DP) 444 BG/RR, an "early-maturing" cultivar; Fibermax (FM) 960 BR, a "medium-maturing" cultivar; and DP 555 BG/RR, a "latematuring" cultivar. In South Carolina in 2006, FM 960 BR July plant height was reduced by 25% with MPB application compared to only 12 and 13% for DP 444 BG/RR and DP 555 BG/RR, respectively, although actual plant height reductions were not diff erent among cultivars. Mepiquat pentaborate applications decreased plant height at harvest by 8 to 34%, height-to-node ratio by 10 to 32%, enhanced maturity as measured by nodes above white fl ower for all cultivars, and decreased lint yield by 3.7 to 8.5% compared to untreated cotton. Higher seasonal totals and earlier initiation of MPB application resulted in the greatest decrease in lint yield.