English

Abstract

Recent changes to West Virginia coal mining regulations emphasize commercial forestry as a preferred post-mining land use on surface mined areas. In the spring of 2001, a study was initiated in northern West Virginia to examine the establishment and growth of commercial hardwood trees on a reclaimed surface mined site. We planted seeds and 1-0 seedlings of five hardwood species (red oak (Quercus rubra L.), black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), white ash (Fraxinus americana L.), and yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.)) into treatment combinations of north- and south-facing aspects, ripped and unripped minesoils, and mowed and un-mowed groundcover. First and 2 nd year results showed extremely high survival of planted seedlings (>95% for all species) and seedling establishment from seeds was about 16% for black walnut and <5% for the other species. By the 6 th year, black cherry survival averaged 37% for seedlings and 4% for seeds across treatments, red oak was 46% and 2%, yellow poplar was 66% and 0%, black walnut was 81% and 36%, and white ash was 99% and 1%. Average height of trees was greatest with white ash (89 cm), followed by black walnut (65 cm) and yellow poplar (67 cm), then by red oak (45 cm) and black cherry (40 cm). Seedling and seed survival was best on north, ripped, and un-mowed plots.