Rehabilitation potential and practices of Colorado oil shale lands. Progress report, June 1, 1978--May 31, 1979

Technical Report · Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6171254· OSTI ID:6171254

Cook, C W

The following document is a third-year progress report for the period June 1, 1978 to May 31, 1979. The overall objective of the project is to study the effects of seeding techniques, species mixtures, fertilizer, ecotypes, improved plant materials, mycorrhizal fungi, and soil microorganisms on the initial and final stages of reclamation obtained through seeding and subsequent succession on disturbed oil shale lands. Plant growth medias that are being used in field-established test plots include retorted shale, soil over retorted shale, subsoil materials, and surface disturbed topsoils. Because of the long-term nature of successional and ecologically oriented studies the project is just beginning to generate significant publications. Several of the studies associated with the project have some phases being conducted principally in the laboratories and greenhouses at Colorado State Univerisity. The majority of the research, however, is being conducted on a 20 hectare Intensive Study Site located near the focal points of oil shale activity in the Piceance Basin. The site is at an elevation of 2,042 m, receives approximately 30 to 55 cm of precipitation annually, and encompasses the plant communities most typical of the Piceance Basin. Most of the information contained in this report originated from the monitoring and sampling of research plots established in either the fall of 1976 or 1977. Therefore, data that have been obtained from the Intensive Study Site represent only first- or second-year results. However, many trends have been identified in thesuccessional process and the soil microorganisms and mycorrhizal studies continue to contribute significant information to the overall results. The phytosociological study has progressed to a point where field sampling is complete and the application and publication of this materials will be forthcoming in 1979.

• Research Organization: Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-S-02-4018
• OSTI ID: 6171254
• Report Number(s): COO-4018-3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
OIL SHALE MINING
LAND RECLAMATION
COLORADO
FERTILIZERS
FUNGI
MICROORGANISMS
OIL SHALE INDUSTRY
PICEANCE CREEK BASIN
PREFERRED SPECIES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
REVEGETATION
SPENT SHALES
GRASS
INDUSTRY
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
PLANTS
ROCKS
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
SHALES
SHRUBS
TREES
USA
041000* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Environmental Aspects
510500 - Environment
Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)