Growth of Three Pine Species after Eleven Years on Reclaimed Minesoils In Virginia

Abstract

A reforestation experiment was established to test the growth of three pine species on two different surface-mined sites in the Appalachian coalfields of southwest Virginia. One site was mined just prior to enactment of the 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA), and one site was mined and reclaimed to its approximate original contour in accordance with post-SMCRA regulations. Three pine species (Pinus taeda, P. virginiana, and P. strobus) were planted on each site in 1981. A fertilization and an herbaceous weed control treatment were tested. Half the plots were fertilized with a 21 g fertilizer tablet at time of planting and a broadcast application of 50 kg/ha N as ammonium nitrate prior to the fourth growing season. Each plot was split to accommodate an herbaceous weed control treatment during the first 3 yr. After 11 yr, all three tree species grew very well on the prelaw bench site, but were less productive on the postlaw AOC site. The fastest growing species was loblolly pine, which averaged 22 ft tall. Aggressive herbaceous ground covers commonly established on surface-mined land to reduce erosion were successfully controlled by herbicides, resulting in a significant improvement in survival and growth for all tree species. Fertilization as used in this study had little effect on growth and was not as beneficial for tree establishment as the herbicide treatment. The performance of these commercial tree species in this study demonstrates that good forest management opportunities exist for the owners of surface-mined land. North. J. Appl. For. 17(3):95–99.

Nursery Nitrogen Loading Improves Field Performance of Bareroot Oak Seedlings Planted on Abandoned Mine Lands

“…Additionally, competition for nutrients has been found to limit seedling survival and growth (Walker 2002;Thompson & Pitt 2003;Valdecantos et al 2006). Despite these deterrents, studies have shown that forests can be successfully restored on abandoned mine sites with productivity at least equal to that of native forests removed by mining (Torbert & Burger 1990;Torbert et al 2000;Rodrigue & Burger 2004).…”

Restoring Sustainable Forests on Appalachian Mined Lands for Wood Products, Renewable Energy, Carbon Sequestration, and Other Ecosystem Services

“…White pine (Pinus strobus L.) has likely been the most extensively used species in reclamation. This species success in reclamation has ranged from good for a study in southwestern Virginia where the species averaged 58% survival and 3.8 m of height growth after 11 years (Torbert et al 2000) to poor for a study in southeastern Ohio where no pines survived after three years (Larson et al 1995).…”

Biological and Economic Hurdles to Private Forest Ownership of Reclaimed Strip Mines

“…Rodrique and Burger (2000) found that pre-SMRCA lands were as productive as the unmined condition in the Midwest but was less in the east. Torbert et al (2000) reported that white, Virginia, and loblolly pines grew significantly better on pre-SMRA sites that post-SMRA sites. The result of the post-SMRA is a forest that either is not established or grows at a rate that is economically feasible.…”