Bark mulch promotes establishment of vegetation on minesoils with south and west exposures

Conference · Sun Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5579432

Dyer, K L; Sencindiver, J C

In early July 1976, a non-topsoiled head-of-hollow fill in Breathitt County, Kentucky, was seeded to grasses and legumes. From July 12 to July 16, a hardwood bark mulch was applied in a band around this fill. After late August 1976, the mulched areas were nearly fully sodded, regardless of aspect. South- and west-facing unmulched slopes were nearly void of vegetation. At this time, the north-facing slope had the best vegetative cover even though no mulch had been applied. By the end of the second growing season, nearly the entire head-of-hollow fill was well vegetated, regardless of aspect or whether mulch had been applied. The mulch protected the exposed minesoil from erosion during the first year and speeded the establishment of vegetative cover on the south- and west-facing slopes. On a nearby mountain top removal tract, hardwood bark and black locust chips were compared on gentle north- and south-facing slopes. After to growing seasons, vegetative cover was much heavier on the north-facing than on the south-facing slopes. In April 1985, almost 9 years after these tracts had been seeded, it was apparent that the south- and west-facing slopes had a much heavier vegetative cover than the north-facing slopes. The initial slow growth of vegetation on the south-facing slopes apparently had been more than overcome by (1) greater growth potential due to more available sunlight and warmer temperatures, and (2) greater fertility due to the better survival of legumes. 8 references, 2 figures, 3 tables.

• Research Organization: Dept. of Agriculture, Berea, KY
• OSTI ID: 5579432
• Report Number(s): CONF-851213-
• 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
010800 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
510500* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BACTERIA
CLONING
COAL MINING
CULTIVATION
FEDERAL REGION IV
GRASS
GROUND COVER
GROWTH
KENTUCKY
LAND RECLAMATION
LEGUMINOSAE
MICROORGANISMS
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
REVEGETATION
RHIZOBIUM
SEEDS
SPOIL BANKS
SURFACE MINING
USA
VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION