Ecological studies on the revegetation process of surface coal mined areas in North Dakota. 4. Soil and vegetation development on topsoiled areas. Final report Aug 75-Jun 82

Technical Report · Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:5554899

Iverson, L R; Wali, M K

Four North Dakota reclaimed mined sites one to four years in age were studied for patterns of species colonization, biochemical interaction among species, competitive phenomena, and management applications. Kochia scoparia, a colonizer, was the dominant species for the first two years, but was completely eliminated by the fourth year; the planted Agropyron grasses concomitantly increased during this four year period. Competition experiments between Kochia and Agropyron revealed that Kochia initially acted as a 'nurse' crop for Agropyron establishment. Mowing of the first year colonizing species (especially Kochia) just prior to seed set proved to be very effective at reducing weed populations and improving planted Agropyron populations in the second year. This method is highly recommended for use in hastening the establishment of planted species after mining.

• Research Organization: North Dakota Univ., Grand Forks (USA). Project Reclamation
• OSTI ID: 5554899
• Report Number(s): PB-83-171355
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION
EVALUATION
SOILS
FERTILITY
SPOIL BANKS
REVEGETATION
SURFACE MINING
COAL MINING
COMPETITION
LAND RECLAMATION
LOAM
NORTH DAKOTA
PLANTS
PREFERRED SPECIES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GRASS
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
SHRUBS
TREES
USA
510500* - Environment
Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)
010800 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Waste Management