English

Abstract

There is an increasing desire by land managers to reestablish hardwood forests on reclaimed coal mine sites in the southern Appalachians. Oaks are particularly important for both timber value and wildlife use, however the establishment of planted oak seedlings may be hindered by the competitive nature of groundcover that is typically planted on these sites. In 2004, nine experimental plots were established. Three plots were located in an area that had been reclaimed approximately 30 years ago and had a dense cover of legumes and grasses. Six plots were located in a newly reclaimed area where mixed sandstone and siltstone were placed with minimal compaction in the upper 4 feet of substrate. These plots were seeded with annual rye and birdsfoot trefoil, with 3 plots having a sparse cover of rye at the time oak seedlings were planted (rye), and 3 plots with bare soil initially, seeded one month after oak planting (bare soil). Eight one-year-old seedlings of chestnut oak (Quercus montana), scarlet oak (Q. coccinea) and white oak (Q. alba) were planted on a 2x2 m spacing within each plot, and bud flushing, growth, seedling condition, and survival were monitored over 2 growing seasons. First-year survival for all treatments and species was greater than 84%. Results suggest that ground cover has an influence on oak establishment through both direct competitive effects and indirect effects on soil properties.