Woody plant establishment in grassed reclamation areas of the Athabasca oil sands
The primary end land use for areas disturbed by the Syncrude Canada Ltd. oil sands surface mining venture is forest cover. Short term erosion control is of concern, however, and this results in the early establishment of a grass and legume cover. Problems have subsequently been encountered in attempts to establish woody plants in the grass and legume cover. Vegetation competition for soil moisture and nutrients and rodent damage to woody seedlings have been the major problem areas. A study was initiated in 1978 to evaluate methods of manipulating the grass and legume cover sufficiently to improve success rates in establishing a variety of shrubs and trees. Five replicated treatments using the chemical herbicide glyphosate, soil scarification and fire alone plus soil scarification were established on an area seeded to grass and legumes in spring 1976. Woody plant survival and rodent damage, populations and distribution are being assessed annually in spring and fall. Rodent damage to woody seedlings was heavy in fall 1978 with 80 percent of the deciduous seedlings on non-scarified plots being damaged. In June 1979, 98 percent of the deciduous plants on the control and herbicide treatment areas were damaged. Damage to conifers was approximately 30 percent less during this time. Prescribed burning and mechanical scarification substantially reduced rodent damage. Seedling survival was variable with Amelanchier alnifolia, Pinus contorta and Populus tremuloides consistently exhibiting the highest survival rates.
- Research Organization:
- Syncrude Canada Ltd., Edmonton, Alberta
- OSTI ID:
- 5281647
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-801263-
- Journal Information:
- Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States), Journal Name: Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States); ISSN UKOBD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
041000* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Environmental Aspects
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALBERTA
ANIMALS
ATHABASCA DEPOSIT
CANADA
CLONING
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONTROL
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GROWTH
LAND RECLAMATION
MAMMALS
MINING
MOISTURE
MORTALITY
NORTH AMERICA
NUTRIENTS
OIL SAND DEPOSITS
OIL SAND MINING
PEST CONTROL
PLANT GROWTH
REVEGETATION
RODENTS
SEEDLINGS
VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION
VERTEBRATES