Coal Mine Land Reforestation

• Southern Illinois University, Carbondale - Reforestation Publications (143k pdf file) Contact information: Jack Nawrot (618) 536-7766 jnawrot@siu.edu 
   

• OSM library - To Locate copies of the following publications, contact: Debbie McGinnis, OSM Librarian, (303) 844-1436 dmcginni@osmre.gov.

Andrews, J. A., J. E. Johnson, J. L. Torbert, J. A. Burger, and D. L. Kelting. 1998. Minesoil and site properties associated with early height growth of eastern white pine. J. Environ. Qual. 27:192-199.

Thirty two minesoil physical and chemical properties were investigated for impact on tree growth. Rooting depth was the minesoil property most strongly related to height growth. The most important chemical property affecting white pine growth was total soluble salts. The second most important soil chemical property was extractable P. Generally, height declined when exchangeable Mn levels exceeded 20 Mg/kg. Height growth was greater on steeper slopes where compaction was less.

Ashby, W. C. 1998. Reclamation with trees pre- and post-SMCRA in southern Illinois, Intl. J. Surface Mining Recl. and Envir. 12:117-121.

Survival and heights of trees of similar ages planted pre-law and post-law are compared. Survival of some species was adversely affected on post-SMCRA sites. Minesoils with non-toxic coarse fragments can provide short-term benefits for water retention and erosion control and as the coarse fragments weather, progressively greater long-term benefits for tree performance.

Ashby, W.C. and W.G. Vogel. 1993. Tree planting on Mined Lands in the Midwest. A Handbook (7.4MB pdf file). Coal Research Center, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. 115p.

A how to manual for tree planting on mined lands in the Midwestern U.S.  It includes chapter on: (1) Reclamation with trees; (2) The Midwest Coal Region; (3) Factors Affecting Reclamation Success; (4) Pre-planting Site Preparation and Management; (5) Types of Plants for Reclamation; (6) Annotated Listing of Recommended Species; (7) Plant Materials and Handling; (8) Planting Practices; (9) Suggested Land Uses and Species Selections; and (10) Summary of Dos and DON'Ts for Reclamation with Trees.

Ashby, W. C., W. G. Vogel, C. A. Kolar, and G. R. Philo. 1984. Productivity of stony soils on stripmines. p. 31-44 In J.D. Nichols et al. (eds). Erosion and productivity of soils containing rock fragments. Special Publication 13. Soil Science Society of America. Madison WI.

Mine soils with course fragments may have productivity equal to or greater than pre-mining soils. Removal of stones from potato soils in Maine and New Brunswick resulted in reduced infiltration rates, more runoff and erosion, less soil water, lower temperature, and greater compactability. Excellent tree growth has been observed on uncompacted stony mine soils.

Ashby, W. C., 1982. Is good for trees good for corn? Seminar: Postmining Productivity with Trees. Southern Illinois Univ. Carbondale, pp15-18.

The author argues that salvaging soil and grading under SMCRA results in a compacted substrate that retards tree growth.

Burger, James A., 1999. Reforestation and Forestry Land Uses of Reclaimed Mined Land, Research Summary, Powell River Project, Dept. of Forestry, Virginia polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, 18p.

Documents the value of mined lands properly reclaimed to forest and contrasts that with low value of land improperly reclaimed with grasses and legumes and then abandoned. The authors give proven techniques for the establishment of productive forests and document the differential impact of substrate quality on tree growth and forage production. Projections of the value of timber grown on average post SMCRA reclaimed sites, average Appalachian sites and good minesoil in Virginia are given.

Burger, James A., Daniel L. Kelting, and Carl Zipper, 1998. Maximizing the value of forests on reclaimed mined land, Powell River Project, Reclamation guidelines for Surface-Mined Land in Southwest Virginia, Pub. No. 460-138, 9p.

The value of second-growth forests is resurging in Appalachia. Reforestation of land that has been surfaced mined for coal can result in high-value commercial forests. However, since the passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act in 1977 fewer acres have been reclaimed to forest than was the case before passage. The authors summarize research demonstrating techniques for establishment of productive forests at costs that are $200 to $500 per acre less than typical reclamation costs.

Burger, James A. and John L. Torbert, 1997. Reclamation Guidelines for Surface-Mined Land in Southwest Virginia, Restoring Forests on Surface-Mined Land, Pub. No. 460-123, Virginia Cooperative Extension.

The purpose of the paper is to provide practical, cost-effective guidelines for reclaiming surface-mined land to forest. The paper addresses spoil selection, grading, tree-compatible groundcover, tree species selection, hydroseeding trees, seedling handling and planting techniques, establishing trees in dense ground cover, cost of reforestation and importance of mine soil quality for forests. Forests can be established on reclaimed mined lands with little or no additional effort or expense. The cost per acre may be substantially less than for other reclamation alternatives.

Bussler, B. H., W. R. Byrnes, P. E. Pope, and W. R. Chaney. 1984. Properties of mine soil reclaimed for forest land use. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 48:178-184.

Physical and chemical properties of minesoils reclaimed for forest land use in southwestern Indiana were evaluated to determine suitability for reforestation. Properties of reconstructed minesoils and unmined reference soils were compared. Both the reclaimed mineland site and reference site supported mixed upland hardwood trees and shrub vegetation prior to surface mining. Chemical properties of minesoils were similar to or more favorable for plant growth than unmined reference soils. However, physical properties of the rooting zone were less favorable in minesoils than reference soils. Minesoils had higher bulk density, lower porosity, lower permeability, higher coarse fragment and clay content, and lower available water-holding capacity than reference soils at comparable depths.

Daniels, W. Lee and Carl E. Zipper. 1997. Creation and management of productive mine soils. VA Cooperative Extension Publication 460-121, 12p.

Selective handling of soil and overburden materials are described that will result in productive mine soils for forage production or forests. The limitation and proper interpretation of soil testing procedures are described. Techniques for identifying proper strata and avoidance of excessive compaction are discussed. When properly constructed minesoils can be more productive than many of the Appalachian region’s natural soils.

Schoenholtz, S. H., and J. A. Burger. 1984. Influence of cultural treatments on survival and growth of pines on strip-mined sites. Reclamation and Revegetation Research 3:223-237.

The effects of cultural treatments, including ectomycorrhizal inoculation, chemical weed control and slow-release fertilization on survival and growth of container-grown Pinus strobus L., Pinus taeda L., and Pinus virginiana Mill, seedlings were studied on a re-contoured and a flat-bench strip-mine site in southwestern Virginia. Chemical weed control and fertilization increased growth of all three species. Inoculation with Pisolithus tinctorius enhanced seedling growth to some extent, but high amounts of natural ectomycorrhizal colonization probably masked some of the effects.

Torbert, John L., James A. Burger and James E. Johnson, 1996. Commercial Forestry as a Post-mining Land Use, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Publication Number 460-136.

The value of forests to landowners and society ultimately depends on the quality of land reclamation procedures used by the coal mining company. While it is possible to achieve a level of forest productivity for minesoils that exceeds the average for native soils in the region, surface-mined land in the Appalachians is reclaimed to a level of productivity for below the potential for the region. The primary reason for the reduced productivity is excessive compaction of the minesoils . Techniques for producing commercial forest land are described.

Torbert, John L., James A. Burger, James E. Johnson and Jeffrey A. Andrews, 1994. Final Report, Indices for Indirect Estimates of Productivity of Tree Crops, OSM Cooperative Agreement GR996511, College of Forestry and Wildlife Resources, Virginia polytechnic Institute and State University, 22p. (Report is available from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA. 22161, NTIS number PB98-133770)

Mathematical modeling showed that tree growth was primarily a function of available rooting volume, mine soil pH, total salts, and available phosphorus. An attempt was made to use the model as a predictive tool. The model was able to account for 40% of the variation in tree growth in the test data set. A bioassay procedure was developed using white pine as the test tree. A bioassay test procedure and productivity standard is recommended.

Torbert, J. L., and J. A. Burger, 1994. Influence of grading intensity on ground cover establishment, erosion and tree establishment on steep slopes, p. 226-231. In Proc. 16^th Int. Land Reclamation & Mine Drainage Conf., Vol. III, Reclamation and Regeneration, USDI Bureau of Mines Spec. Publ. 06C-94, USDI, Pittsburgh, PA.

A study was established in eastern Kentucky to evaluate the effect of surface grading intensity on ground cover development, erosion, and tree establishment. Three grading treatments were established and five species of trees were planted and the area was hydroseeded with a "tree-compatible" ground cover. Erosion was highest on the intensively graded plots. Tree survival varied by species with sycamore performing the best (83%) and white pine the poorest (11%). The growth of sycamore and loblolly pine was significantly reduced by intensive grading.

Torbert, J. L., J. A. Burger, and W. L. Daniels. 1990. Pine growth variation with overburden on a reclaimed surface mine in Virginia. J. Environ. Qual. 19:88-92.

ABSTRACT. "This study was designed to compare the effects of two overburden spoil types and various mixtures of the two spoils on the performance of pitch X loblolly hybrid pine (Pinus X rigitaeda). Sandstone and siltstone overburden were used to create five rock mix treatments: pure sandstone (SS), pure siltstone (SiS), a 2:1 SS/SiS mix, a 1:1 SS/SiS mix, and a 1:2 SS/SiS mix. Tree survival was not affected by rock mix, but growth was greatly affected. The greatest growth response occurred on the SS treatment and decreased as the amount of siltstone increased in the rock mix. The average stem volume of trees on the SS treatment was nearly five times greater than trees on the SiS treatment. The coarse fragment content of the SS (52%) was much lower than the SiS (72%), thus providing a greater volume of fine earth (<2mm) for water retention and root exploitation. The pH of the SS was much lower than SiS (5.7 vs 7.1), and the available Mn was higher in the SS than in the SiS (540 vs 160 mg kg^-1 foliar Mn). The results of this study demonstrated the need to consider the effects of various overburden types on tree growth when forest land is the designated post-mining land use."

Torbert, J. L., and J. A. Burger. 1990. Guidelines for establishing productive forest land on reclaimed surface mines in the central Appalachians p. 273-278. In Proceedings, 1990 Mining and Reclamation Conference and Exhibition, Charleston, West Virginia. National meeting of the American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation.

Coal mining and reclamation in the Appalachian region of Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky presents a good opportunity to create productive forests on land that is often too steep or remote to be used for crop production, grazing or commercial development. Unfortunately, this land is seldom reclaimed in a fashion that will result in productive forests. In order to develop productive forest land, special considerations must be given to the requirements of forest tree species. Preliminary results indicate that for the best tree establishment and long-term growth, moderately-acidic sandstone overburdens should be used as topsoil substitutes when topsoil is not recoverable, grading and tracking-in should be minimized to avoid compaction, and a tree-compatible ground cover of acid-tolerant, short grasses and legumes should be used for revegetation.

Torbert, J. L., A. R. Tuladhar, J. A. Burger and J. C. Bell. 1988. Minesoil property effects on the height of ten-year-old white pine. J. Environ. Qual. 17:189-192.

Thirty-four 10-year-old white pines (Pinus strobus L.) growing on reclaimed minesoils in Virginia were selected to evaluate the effects of selected minesoil properties on tree growth. The minesoil variable that had the greatest influence on tree growth was rooting volume index, defined as depth to a restrictive layer times the soil-sized fraction (%) of the surface 10 cm. The next most influential minesoil property was soluble salt content. A linear regression equation describing white pine site index as a function of the square root of depth to a restrictive layer was highly significant.

Torbert, J. L., J. A. Burger, and W. L. Daniels. 1986. Effect of overburden type and Pisolithus tinctorius on the growth of pines on a reclaimed surface mine. In Proceedings, Better Reclamation with Trees Conference, June 5-7, 1985, Carbondale, Illinois. (Hosted by Dept. of Botany, Southern Illinois University)

The effect of rock mix, sandstone and siltstone, and infection with Pisolithus tinctorius on the growth and survival of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and pitch X loblolly pine hybrids (Pinus xrigitaeda) was studied on a reclaimed surface mine in Southwestern Virginia. After two years the best growth occurred in pure sandstone and the worst in pure siltstone. Mycorrhizal colonization of seedlings did not enhance growth in this study.

Torbert, J. L., J. A. Burger, and W. L. Daniels. 1984. Effect of overburden type and organic amendments on the growth of pines on a reclaimed surface mine p. 369-374. In E. Shoulders (ed). Proceedings of the Third Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference. U.S.D.A. For. Ser. Gen. Tech. Rep. SO-54.

ABSTRACT. "A Rock Mix Study and a Surface Treatment Study were designed to evaluate the effects of various sandstone (SS)/siltstone (SiS) overburden mixtures, several surface treatments (topsoil, sawdust, and municipal sludge), and infection with Pisolithus tinctorius on the growth and survival of loblolly pine. ( Pinus taeda L.) and pitch X loblolly pine hybrids (Pinus xrigitaeda) on a reclaimed surface mine in Southwestern Virginia. After two years, the best growth in the Rock Mix Study occurred in the pure sandstone plots and the worst growth was in the pure siltstone plots. In the Surface Treatment Study, seedlings planted in 12 inches of topsoil showed no growth differences from those planted in an unamended 2:1 SS:SiS spoil. Seedlings growth was increased by application of municipal sewage sludge at rates of up to 25 t/acre, but higher application of sludge had detrimental effects. The best surface treatment was sawdust: (25 t/acre). Mycorrhizae improved seedling growth in the Surface Treatment Study where fertilizer pellets were not applied. Pitch loblolly pine hybrids survived better and began growth earlier in the Spring than loblolly pine."

Vogel, W. G., and B. Gray, 1987. Will trees survive on topsoil surface mines? in Proceedings of the National Symposium on Mining, Hydrology, Sedimentology and Reclamation, University of Kentucky, Lexington, pp 302-305.

Trees planted on surface mines reclaimed to meet post SMCRA requirements often fail to survive. This problem seems to be related to the excessive compaction especially of salvaged soil materials. The survival of pine seedlings was compared on topsoiled and non-topsoiled areas. High mortality on the topsoiled areas was attributed to dry conditions in late summer and the greater compaction of soil materials as compared to spoil.

Williamson, D. L., and R. B. Gray. 1996. Evaluation of natural succession on reclaimed coal mine land in western Kentucky. P. 629-636. In: W. L. Daniels, J. A. Burger, and C. E. Zipper (ed.) Proc. 13th Ann. Mtg. Am. Soc. for Surface Mining and Reclamation, Princeton, WV.

As a rule, pre-law ungraded or strike-off sites are in some sort of tree cover, either planted or naturally regenerated. Conversely, graded sites are dominated by herbaceous plants or remnants of tree and shrub plantings and herbaceous plants. Erosion control became the primary responsibility of reclamation managers when it became apparent that these graded, highly compacted sites were subject to severe erosion; especially those where topsoil was replaced. The combination of compaction and ground cover made reforestation nearly unattainable for post mining land use.