Current West Virginia coal mining regulations emphasize reforestation as a preferred postmining land use on surface mined areas. Some mined sites reclaimed to pasture are being converted to forests. In the spring of 2001, we compared the establishment and growth of five hardwood tree species on a reclaimed West Virginaia surface mine with compacted soils and a heavy grass groundcover. We planted 1-yr-old seedlings of five species (black cherry [Prunus serotina Ehrh.], red oak [Quercus rubra L.], yellow poplar [Liriodendron tulipifera L.], black walnut [Juglans nigra L.], and white ash [Fraxinus americana L.]) into sites that were mowed and unmowed on north- and south-facing aspects. We applied a ripping treatment, which loosened the compacted soils and disturbed the heavy ground cover. First year results showed >80% survival for all species. After 7 yr black cherry survival averaged 36%, red oak 47%, yellow poplar 66%, black walnut 80%, and white ash 98% across all sites and treatments. Seedling survival was best on north, unmowed, and ripped areas. Average growth (height x diameter(2)) of trees after 7 yr was greatest with white ash (434 cm(3)), followed by yellow poplar (256 cm(3)) and black walnut (138 cm(3)), then by black cherry (31 cm(3)) and red oak (27 cm(3)). Browsing by wildlife had a negative impact on tree growth especially on south aspect sites. Overall, mowing reduced survival of black cherry, red oak, and yellow poplar, but not for black walnut and white ash. Ripping increased survival of black cherry, red oak, and yellow poplar. Growth of all species was improved with ripping. Using inverse linear-quadratic plateau models, the time required for tree survival to stabilize varied from 1 yr for white ash to 6 to 9 yr for the other species.
In 2000, the State of West Virginia passed legislation requiring commercial forest land as a preferred post-mining land use on surface coal mines, and especially on those sites where mountaintop removal mining is occurring and valley fills are being constructed. Due to West Virginia's mountainous terrain, most future surface mine permits will be impacted by this change in post-mining land use. Therefore, interest has been renewed into studies examining forest productivity and minesoil development on areas planted in trees. Since fresh geologic materials in minesoils undergo rapid pedogenic changes, long-term studies may provide valuable insight into tree growth, plant succession al changes, and soil development over time. In summer of 2000, soil development and forest productivity were evaluated on a 30-year-old (pre-SMCRA) surface mine in northern West Virginia that had been planted with white pine (Pinus strobus L.). The site offered a unique research opportunity in that one-half of the site was planted to white pine, while the other half was left to natural revegetation. Canopy tree species composition, density, basal area, and height, along with species composition and density of woody understory seedlings, were evaluated in the pine plantation and on the naturally revegetated site. On each site, three soil pits were dug, the minesoils were classified, and soil samples were taken from each described horizon to determine physical .and chemical properties. Forest productivity, including productivity of volunteer hardwoods, was much greater on the pine planted site than on the naturally revegetated site. Species composition of woody regeneration in the understory showed that both sites will revert to mixed hardwoods similar to the surrounding forest via natural succession. Minesoils on both sites experienced rapid soil development during the 30-year post-mining period. All six minesoil profiles had well developed Bw horizons and would have been classified as Inceptisols. Minesoil development was better on the naturally revegetated site possibly due to the difference in ground cover type. Additional Key Words: Minesoil Properties, Reforestation, Revegetation, Tree Planting, Introduction Surface coal mining disturbed approximately 1.5 millionha(3.7millionac)between 1930and 1971 in the United States (Paone et al. 1978). In Appalachia, the vast majority of surface mined land was originally forest land Laws were passed in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Ziemkiewicz is Director, West Virginia University, Morgantown WV 26506. Virginia during the late 1930s and 1940s requiring mine operators to register with the state and pay bonds to ensure reclamation after mining. Reclamation prescribed in these early laws directed soil, subsoil, and overburden (the geologic material overlying the coal) be used to refill the excavated area. Backfilling and leveling the land was specified, and then trees and shrubs were to be planted in the regraded areas.Studies of surfaceminerevegetation with trees began in the 1920s and repor...
Due to increasing environmental pressure, the state of West Virginia has proposed legislative changes for acceptable post-mining land use for surface mined lands. Current legislation in West Virginia has emphasized the development of commercial forestry as the only post-mining land use on mountaintop surface mines that seek an AOC variance. In the spring of 2001, a research study was initiated in north central West Virginia to examine the establishment and sustainability of commercial hardwood forests on reclaimed surface mine land. Research involved the planting of commercial hardwood species [red oak (Quercus rubra L.), black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), white ash (Fraxinus americana L.), and yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.)] into north-and southfacing aspects, ripped and unripped minesoils, mowed and unmowed groundcover, and direct seeded and 1-0 planted seedlings. First year results were reported last year, which showed extremely high survival for planted trees (>95% for all species). Black cherry and red oak seedlings were damaged by rodents toward the end of the first growing season (2001). Results after the second growing season showed that all planted species experienced additional mortality (survival varied between 80 to 99%). Differences in tree survival among treatments became significant by the end of the second growing season. Higher tree survival was found in ripped plots (88%) vs. unripped plots (75%) and in unmowed plots (85%) vs. mowed plots (79%) in 2002. These differences in survival during the second year were most pronounced on south-facing aspects. Tree establishment from planted seeds increased during the second growing season (2002) for some species, but declined for others. During the first year, 31% of black walnut seeds germinated and established, and this number increased to 40% as additional seedlings emerged the second year. During the first year, 30% of red oak seeds germinated, but survival was only 6% after the second growing season. It appears that red oak seedlings (from seed) could not compete with the groundcover. Mortality of seeded oaks was greater in the unripped and mowed plots. The other species (black cherry, white ash, and yellow-poplar) exhibited very low germination and establishment from seeds (4%, 1%, and 0% respectively).
Recent changes to West Virginia coal mining regulations emphasize commercial forestry as a preferred post-mining land use on surface mined areas. In the spring of 2001, a study was initiated in northern West Virginia to examine the establishment and growth of commercial hardwood trees on a reclaimed surface mined site. We planted seeds and 1-0 seedlings of five hardwood species [red oak (Quercus rubra L.), black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), white ash (Fraxinus americana L.), and yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.)] into treatment combinations of north-and south-facing aspects, ripped and unripped minesoils, and mowed and un-mowed groundcover. First and 2 nd year results showed extremely high survival of planted seedlings (>95% for all species) and seedling establishment from seeds was about 16% for black walnut and <5% for the other species. By the 6 th year, black cherry survival averaged 37% for seedlings and 4% for seeds across treatments, red oak was 46% and 2%, yellow poplar was 66% and 0%, black walnut was 81% and 36%, and white ash was 99% and 1%. Average height of trees was greatest with white ash (89 cm), followed by black walnut (65 cm) and yellow poplar (67 cm), then by red oak (45 cm) and black cherry (40 cm). Seedling and seed survival was best on north, ripped, and un-mowed plots.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.