Effects of bark mulch and fertilization on grass-legume establishment and dry matter production on eastern Kentucky surface mine spoil

Conference · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5409212

Ringe, J M; Wittwer, R F

In March, 1977, a grass-legume mixture consisting of Ky-31 tall fescue, weeping lovegrass, Kenland red clover, and yellow sweetclover was seeded with three bark mulching rates or three diammonium phosphate (18-46-0) fertilizer rates on freshly graded surface mine spoil in eastern Kentucky. The effects of these treatments on grass-legume cover percent, dry matter production, and nutrient element concentration were observed for two growing seasons. Bark mulch increased the percent coverage of the grasses and legumes in both 1977 and 1978. Dry weight increased significantly with mulch in 1977 but not in 1978, although an increasing trend was evident. Fertilizer increased grass-legume cover percent and dry matter production during both growing seasons. Phosphorus concentrations in the grasses and legumes increased with fertilization but nitrogen concentrations did not. Changes in species composition were observed between the first and second growing season. Where mulch was applied, the percentage of ground covered by Ky-31 tall fescue increased from 1977 to 1978 while that of weeping lovegrass decreased. The clovers either decreased or remained unchanged. The percentage of ground covered by fescue also increased where fertilizer was applied, but the other species did not change. Where no fertilizer was applied, sweetclover coverage increased from 1977 to 1978.

• Research Organization: Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN
• OSTI ID: 5409212
• Report Number(s): CONF-791262-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COAL MINING
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
FEDERAL REGION IV
FERTILIZERS
GRASS
GROUND COVER
GROWTH
KENTUCKY
LAND RECLAMATION
LEGUMINOSAE
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
PRODUCTIVITY
REVEGETATION
SPOIL BANKS
SURFACE MINING
USA