English

Abstract

The Appalachian coalfields occur largely under rugged mountains covered by native hardwood forests. These forests, soils, and bedrock are removed by the surface mining process. Surface mines are not typically reclaimed to a managed forest land-use, but are often seeded with non-native grasses and legumes, or with pines, black locust, and shrubs for unmanaged forest land. Surface mining and reclamation techniques since the passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) create highly compacted mine soils with high coarse fragment content, low organic matter, and high pH, which inhibits native forest reestablishment. The purpose of this study was to develop a forest site quality classification model to advise landowners on the production potential and feasibility of reforesting their mined lands with white pine (Pinus strobus L.). Ten selected physical, chemical, and site properties were assessed and a model was developed using variables that were the most highly correlated with the growth of 10- to 18-year-old white pines established on post- SMCRA surface-mined sites. A model with soil pH, texture, density, and rooting depth variables yielded a coefficient of determination of 0.71. Sufficiency curves were used in a productivity index (PI) model to classify reclaimed surface-mined land into one of five forest site quality classes (FSQC). A site index (SI50 = dominant tree height at age 50) for white pine was estimated for each class, and this measure of productivity may be used to aid in management decisions regarding reforestation of surface mines in the Appalachian coalfields.