English

Abstract

Three reclaimed surface mine sites are part of a surface mine reforestation species test to assess opportunities for planting previously-mined and recontoured lands. Located in southeastern West Virginia on MeadWestvaco property, these sites were mined just over 30 years ago. In 2001, a reforestation species test was established on one site per year through 2003. Site preparation consisted of a fall, aerial application of 9.4 liters ha -1 of Accord (glyphosate) to control the thick herbaceous cover of crown vetch and panicum grass and a bedding treatment for the planting rows. Species tests in the research areas included plantings of black cherry (Prunus serotina), white ash (Fraxinus americana), hybrid aspens, hybrid poplars, pitch×loblolly hybrid pine (Pinus rigida×taeda), white pine (P. strobus), and Norway spruce (Picea abies). First year survival values varied by species and year of planting. At the end of the second growing season, P. trichocarpa×deltoides (TD) clones were statistically taller than all other species in the test. The clone TD184 averaged 2.9 m and 2.1 cm diameter at breast height (dbh) at the site planted prior to the harsh environmental conditions experienced in the second year of this project. However, TD52 appears to be more sensitive to environmental conditions during the initial year of establishment as its first year survival was only 43% when established in the difficult 2002 planting season, whereas its survival was high in the 2001 (97%) and 2003 (98%) planting seasons.