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Title: Establishment, succession, and stability of vegetation on surface mined lands in eastern Montana. Annual progress report

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6922404· OSTI ID:6922404

An ecological investigation of reclamation and plant succession on surface mined land near Colstrip, Montana, was initiated in June 1975. Its purpose was to examine and document development, stability, and permanence of plant communities established on semiarid mined land since 1928. This report includes analyses of data collected through four growing seasons on study sites located on naturally revegetated spoil and on seeded spoil. Sites included revegetated spoil seeded in 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, and 1977. Naturally revegetated spoil was mined in 1928 and 1930. Data collected include plant density, frequency, cover, yield, composition, species diversity, and soil moisture content. Previous progress reports have detailed successional changes and patterns observed. Analyses of causal factors are included. This report summarizes successional changes which occurred during the past year, presents updated analyses of successional trends and patterns, and presents additional conclusions derived from these analyses.

Research Organization:
Montana State Univ., Bozemanm MT (USA). Dept. of Animal and Range Sciences
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AT06-76EV70003
OSTI ID:
6922404
Report Number(s):
DOE/EV/70003-12
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English