Effects of surface treatment and interplanting of shrub alder on growth of Douglas-fir on coal spoils

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1983.00472425001200010019x· OSTI ID:5806250

Heilman, P

Annual growth of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) planted on topsoiled spoils at a coal mine near Centralia, Wash., was monitored for the first 5 y after planting. Treatments were contour bedding, contour bedding plus interplanted Sitka alder (Alnus sinuata (reg.) Rydb.), and unbedded control. The bedding significantly increased growth of Douglas-fir in all 5 y of the study. Total height growth after 5 y was 35% greater than control on the bedding only plots, and 43% greater on the bedding plus Sitka alder plots. Height growth of Douglas-fir in the mixed stand was significantly greater during the 2nd and 3rd y of the study, but after 5 y, no significant difference was evident in total height between the mixed and pure Douglas-fir plots. Concentration of N in Douglas-fir foliage was significantly increased by bedding in the fifth but not in the fourth year. Interplanting with Sitka alder had no significant effect on N in Douglas-fir foliage. The top 0.3 m of soil in the ridged portion of the bedded area contained significantly less moisture over a summer than did the top 0.3 m of the unbedded soil. At deeper depths, however, soil moisture was not significantly affected by bedding. Wind damage caused by a severe storm that occured after 5 y was very much greater on the unbedded plots (49% wind-thrown vs. 9 to 15% wind-thrown on the bedded plots) despite the smaller size of the trees on unbedded plots.

• Research Organization: Western Washington Research and Extension Center, Puyallup, WA
• OSTI ID: 5806250
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 12:1; ISSN JEVQA
• 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 MINES
DAMAGE
DISASTERS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION X
GROWTH
LAND RECLAMATION
MINES
MOISTURE
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
REVEGETATION
SHRUBS
SOILS
SPOIL BANKS
STORMS
TREES
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
USA
WASHINGTON
WIND