Abstract
Many reclaimed opencast coal-lands in Wales are now seriously degraded. This study explores the 10-year growth of native trees planted on compacted coal spoil. It compares the relative benefits of planting with spent mushroom compost (SMC) or well-rotted farmyard manure (FYM), both with and without supplementary fertilizer. Four main tree species—Common Alder, Oak, Scots Pine and Silver Birch—are considered. The survival of SMC-planted trees (77%) was significantly higher than for FYM-planted (72%). In Year 10, SMC-planted trees were significantly taller than those planted with FYM (4.75 vs. 4.57 m, respectively). Similarly, basal diameter (measured above the root collar) was larger among the SMC-planted trees. Discriminant analysis showed that the key discriminating variable between SMC-planted and FYM-planted trees was the type of fertilizer applied during planting. Adding slow-release fertilizer (SRF) and SRF plus superphosphate (SRF + P2O5) was beneficial to FYM-planted trees. Fertilizer supplements often favor the growth of FYM-planted trees in the early years, but later SMC-planted trees take the lead. The only species that benefited long term from FYM or fertilizer supplements was Alder. Overall, SMC-planted trees perform better than FYM-planted trees, but some of the difference can be mitigated by supplementary fertilization. Overall, SMC-planted trees perform better than FYM-planted trees.
Highlights
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Reclamation of post-mining landscapes is a highly challenging task because there is no unique reclamation planning scheme for such landscapes [1]
Most of this paper focuses on statistically significant differences in tree survival and growth associated with the use of different planting composts, fertilizer supplements and tree species
Unlike sterilized municipal green waste (MGW) which benefitted the survival of Silver Birch and European Larch but was a disbenefit to Alder [10], unsterilized farmyard manure (FYM) may introduce pathogens and weed species, few have persisted on site at Varteg
Summary
Reclamation of post-mining landscapes is a highly challenging task because there is no unique reclamation planning scheme for such landscapes [1]. Many former opencast coallands in Wales, while officially counted as “reclaimed”, are seriously degraded [2,3,4,5]. Similar examples can be found globally because different approaches for the reclamation of opencast mine sites have been proposed and realized [1]. It is difficult to obtain official funding for remedial work, even in the vicinity of special sites such as Blaenavon’s UNESCO World Heritage Industrial Landscape [6,7]. Communities have an incentive to rehabilitate their habitat and engage in activities such as planting local community woodlands [8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
