English

Abstract

Reforestation of the Appalachian coalfields with native hardwoods is becoming increasing popular. However, establishing some hardwood species has been difficult due to the poor quality of many mine soils. The purpose of this study was to contrast after 15 years the growth, survival, and overall performance of seven hardwood species planted on three mine sites in Southwestern Virginia. The seven hardwood species were divided into species groups of a non-native fuelwood species, upland hardwoods, riparian species, and a valuable but off-site hardwood species. Overall tree performance was examined as a function of mine soil chemistry and fertility. Eastern cottonwood grew fastest, and black walnut grew slowest. By age 15, the native hardwoods, white and northern red oaks and yellow poplar, grew better than the American sycamore and white ash riparian species. They also responded to a mine soil fertility gradient while the others did not. The overall forest capability of the post-mined condition of these sites was far less than the pre-mined capability. The average weighted site indices (by extent of all soil series) of 10,000 acres in the vicinity of the mined sites are 82 and 77 for yellow poplar and northern red oak, respectively. Reduction in yellow poplar site index between the preand post-mined capability was 26 feet, and the difference for red oak was 15 feet. Northern red oak, white oak, and yellow poplar, all upland native commercial hardwood species, would be better choices for general reforestation than riparian species; however, better reclamation procedures then those used when this study was established (compacted mix of overburden materials with heavy herbaceous ground cover) are needed to restore forest land capability to pre-mining conditions. Additional