Reforestation of an Eastern Sierra Nevada Surface Mine with Containerized Jeffrey Pine

Abstract

Fertilization with two controlled release nutrient formulations, High N % Minors 22-4-6 and Customblen 14-7-10, and ectomycorrhizal inoculation with Pisolithus tinctorius(Pers.) Coker & Couch were evaluated for their effects on growth, establishment, and nutrition of containerized Jeffrey pine (PinusjeffreyiGrev. & Balf.) on an eastern Sierra Nevada surface mine. Basidiospores from sporocarps collected at the mine were used to induce mycorrhizal formation in the nursery, and fertilization rates were 10, 20, or 30 g applied at outplant-ing. Mycorrhizal inoculation enhanced survival overall, but for both fertilizers, the 30 g application increased mortality except for inoculated seedlings that received High N. Seedling survival was unaffected by 10 or 20 g of either fertilizer, however. The growth response to High N exceeded that to Customblen, and among the High N treatments, growth stimulation by the 20 g application surpassed that by 10 or 30 g. Foliar N concentrations were increased by fertilization during the second and third growing seasons, more in the High N than Customblen treatments, and N concentrations generally increased with amendment application rate. Excessive uptake of B, supplied in high amounts by Customblen, likely resulted in the relatively poor performance of seedlings that received this formulation. Within most of the fertilization treatments, inoculated seedlings had lower foliar concentrations of several metallic elements, notably Mn and Al, than uninoculated seedlings during the first growing season, which may have contributed to the enhanced survival of the former.