Investigation of Japanese fleeceflower (Polygonum cuspidatum) planted on strip mines in Clarion and Venango Counties, Pennsylvania

Conference · Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5305610

Young, R G; Sitler, T R; Balogh, R A; Aharrah, E C

Japanese fleeceflower (Polygonum cuspidatum), because of its rapid growth, extensive fibrous root system, and spreading deciduous branches, coupled with its ability to grow vigorously in rocky soils of low pH, is well suited for pioneer revegetation of strip-mine spoil. It has, however, been classified as an undesirable species by the USDA Soil Conservation Service because of its rapidly-spreading nature. During the last decade at Clarion State College, Clarion, Pennsylvania, several areas of study concerning Polygonum cuspidatum have been conducted. The remainder of this paper will elaborate on the following observations: 1) herbaceous grass cover of 5%, and greater, completely-prevented fleeceflower invasion, 2) fleeceflower was successfully underplanted with seedlings of sugar maple, white and gray birch, and 3) fleeceflower cover is shown to provide the best microhabitat for its own seedlings. The fleeceflower in these studies has been overtopped by birch and aspen. Preliminary observations indicate that there is a definite response, possibly adverse, in the growth habits of fleeceflower, due to the increasing shade. It may be possible to demonstrate that fleeceflower can be crowded out, or at least stultified, by overtopping. If this is true, then fleeceflower may be useful as a seral stage, leading to the reforestation of unreproductive, abandoned strip-mine lands.

• OSTI ID: 5305610
• Report Number(s): CONF-821175-
• Journal Information: Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States), Conference: Symposium on surface mining hydrology, sedimentology, and reclamation, Lexington, KY, USA, 1 Nov 1982
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
REVEGETATION
FIELD TESTS
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
SPOIL BANKS
SURFACE MINING
LAND RECLAMATION
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
GROUND COVER
PENNSYLVANIA
FEDERAL REGION III
GROWTH
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
TESTING
USA
510500* - Environment
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