Results of White Pine Establishment Study in Southern West Virginia After Four Years

Abstract

In 1986 a study was established in Wyoming County, WV to compare several methods of establishing Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) on reclaimed surface mined lands in order to determine whether direct seeding was a practical alternative to handplanting seedlings. Three tree establishment treatments and two ground cover treatments were factorially arranged and replicated three times with 0.1 acre plots. Results after the fourth growing season indicate that the most cost-effective way to establish a commercial white pine plantation is to plant bare rootstock 2-0 seedlings and direct seed the black locust at a rate of less than 0.5 pounds per acre. Although some white pines were established by direct seeding. the spacing was erratic and the growth of direct seeded trees lagged behind the hand planted trees by several years.

A Reforestation Case Study on a Reclaimed Appalachian Mine Soil in West Virginia

“…In this study, the average tree height after five years was 80 inches and some trees were more than 10 feet tall. Tree height was not affected by fertilizer tablet treatment (Probert et. al, 1990).…”

“…A tree-compatible cover was used in this. study and compared with a conventional "hayland pasture" cover that included Ky-31 tall fescue and several clover species, After the first year, cover in the conventional plot was slightly greater than the tree-compatible plot (87% vs 81%; Probert et. al, 1990), but by age five both ground cover treatments resulted in almost 100% cover.…”