European black alder survival and growth responses to herbicide treatment on an eastern Kentucky vegetated coal surface mine excess spoil area after three and eight years

Abstract

ABSTRACT A research area was established on a surface coal mine in eastern Kentucky in 1982 to test the effects of eight herbicide treatments, mechanical scalping and no treatment on the long term survival and growth of European black alder (Alnus glutinosa). After eight years, three treatments (mechanical scalping and glyphosate applied simultaneously with napropamide prior to planting or by using napropamide as a post planting treatment after initial applications of glyphosate as a pre-plant treatment) were superior to one or more of the other treatments for all eight parameters tested and were indifferent to each other. If the parameter, percent growth change over time, was not considered an important factor in establishing this species, no treatment was significantly different from the control. Such results indicate factors other than biological responses should be considered when selecting a woody vegetation establishment scheme on surface coal mine excess spoil areas with existing herbaceous cover.