Minesoil grading and ripping affect black walnut growth and survival
In 1980 and 1981, the Botany Department of Southern Illinois University and Sahara Coal Company, Inc. of Harrisburg, Illinois established a series of experimental tree plantings, including black walnut, on a variety of minesoils to explore the effects of different intensities of grading on tree growth. Subsequent walnut stem and root growth were examined during 1985 on five different mine sites: unmined former agricultural land, graded minespoil, replaced (with pan scrapers) topsoil over graded spoil, ripped-graded spoil, and ungraded spoil. Soil bulk density, resistance to penetration, and spoil/soil fertility levels were also measured. The most vigorous trees were found on sites having the lowest soil bulk density and soil strength and lacking horizontal barriers to root growth - the ungraded and ripped sites. Topsoiled sites had the poorest growth and survival, and the greatest stem dieback of any site measured, probably attributable to the confinement of root growth to the upper 15 cm of friable soil above the severely compacted zone. The overall results indicate that most of the minesoil construction techniques examined in this study, which are representative of techniques commonly used in the midwestern US, cause severe minesoil compaction and do not create the proper soil conditions necessary for the survival and vigorous growth of black walnut. Ripping compacted spoil in this and other studies proved to be very effective in alleviating the negative impacts of minesoil compaction. When planning surface mine reclamation activities, ripping should be considered as a possible ameliorative technique when compaction of mined lands is unavoidable and trees are the desired vegetative cover. 4 figures.
- Research Organization:
- Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale
- OSTI ID:
- 5758771
- Journal Information:
- Miner. Matters; (United States), Vol. 8:4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Topsoil, ripping, and herbicides influence tree survival and growth on coal minesoil after nine years
Thirteen-year hardwood tree performance on a Midwest surface mine
Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
LAND RECLAMATION
SOIL MECHANICS
TREES
PLANT GROWTH
BULK DENSITY
COAL MINING
COMPACTING
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES
PLANT STEMS
RECOMMENDATIONS
ROOTS
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SOILS
SURFACE MINING
CHEMISTRY
DENSITY
GROWTH
MECHANICS
MINING
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANTS
010900* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects
510500 - Environment
Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)