Loblolly Pine Growth Patterns on Reclaimed Mineland: Allometry, Biomass, and Volume

Abstract

Surface lignite coal mines in east Texas are commonly reforested using loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) following mining and reclamation activities. Due to the nature of such an extreme disturbance, altered growth patterns, growth rates, and productivity could be expected. We destructively sampled above-and belowground tissue to develop prediction equations specific to these sites. These prediction equations differed statistically from those found in the literature regarding unmined land. At the stand level, biomass and volume productivity appeared similar with young stands on reclaimed mineland performing slightly poorer than similarly managed unmined sites. Allometric partitioning of above-and belowground biomass differed statistically from the unmined allometric model previously studied. The allometric pattern on reclaimed mineland indicated greater partitioning of biomass belowground for young stands of low quadratic mean diameter relative to unmined stands. Older stands on reclaimed mineland exhibited no allometric partitioning differences from unmined stands, indicating the normal allometric pattern is resumed for stands greater than 10 years of age.

Individual tree and stand-level carbon and nutrient contents across one rotation of loblolly pine plantations on a reclaimed surface mine

“…Amichev et al (2008) demonstrated that ecosystem C sequestration on mined lands are capable of meeting pre-mining levels. Previously published allometric relationships for loblolly pine trees growing on reclaimed mined lands in the Gulf Coastal Plain showed increased biomass and volume growth over time, with growth rates similar to non-mined lands (Priest et al 2015).…”

“…The study site was located at the Beckville Mine, an active lignite surface mine owned by the Luminant Mining Company, LLC (Luminant). The mine covers 12,000 ha in Rusk and Panola counties, Texas (N32°14′20.7414″, W94°29′44.9262″) (Priest et al 2015). Premining soils consisted of Paleudults (Bowie, Lilbert, Kullit, and Darco series), Hapludults (Kirvin, Cuthbert, Sacul, and Tenaha series), and Udifluvents (Iuka series) (Dolezel 1975).…”

“…A chronosequence approach was used to develop models of accumulating elemental contents in first-rotation loblolly pine plantations based on forestry inventory and individual tree biomass data previously described in Priest et al (2015). Following reclamation at the Beckville Mine, the approximate original contour was returned with mixed overburden materials.…”

“…Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) is the most commonly planted tree species in the southern USA, where commercial pine plantations are a major reason that the region accounts for 60% of the nation's timber production (Prestemon and Abt 2002). In the Gulf Coastal Plain, forestry is commonly chosen as the post-mining land use, particularly loblolly pine plantations (Priest et al 2015). Pine forests sequestered 85% more ecosystem C compared to hardwood and mixed forest stands across USA coalfields in midwestern and eastern regions (Amichev et al 2008).…”

Surface and Subsurface Tillage Effects on Mine Soil Properties and Vegetative Response

“…The same procedure was used for harvested seedlings. The following model (Priest et al, 2015) was used to predict above and belowground biomass of all planted seedlings after one growing season:…”