Use of on-site mycorrhizal inoculum for plant establishment on abandoned mined lands. Final report, 31 May 1988-31 March 1990

Technical Report · Fri Apr 27 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:5969747

Helm, D J; Carling, D E

Natural vegetation succession on abandoned coal-mined lands does not provide sufficient plant cover to control soil erosion in the short term. Soil inoculum of mycorrhizal fungi from an adjacent undisturbed area was used to inoculate balsam poplar cuttings and alder seedlings to improve plant growth. Soil inoculum contains the species of mycorrhizal fungi indigenous to the area as well as other beneficial organisms. An initial survey of mycorrhizal fungi in soils was conducted to determine the existing levels of mycorrhizal infection on native and disturbed soils. Four experiments were implemented to determine (1) fertilizer and mycorrhizal effects, (2) effects of successional stage of inoculum source, (3) effects of nitrogen sources in conjunction with mycorrhizae, and (4) the combinations of microsites, fertilizer, and mycorrhizae needed to establish vegetation on a steep slope. Soil-borne inoculum improved the growth of balsam poplar cuttings and alder seedlings over the 2-yr period.

• Research Organization: Alaska Univ., Palmer, AK (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5969747
• Report Number(s): PB-91-155457/XAB; CNN: J0289003
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540250 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
ABANDONED SITES
ALASKA
CHEMISTRY
COAL MINING
CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES
DIMENSIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION X
FERTILIZERS
FIELD TESTS
FUNGI
GROWTH
HEIGHT
LAND RECLAMATION
LENGTH
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAGNOLIOPSIDA
MINING
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
POPLARS
PROGRESS REPORT
REVEGETATION
SOIL CHEMISTRY
TESTING
TREES
USA