Herbaceous ground cover effects on native hardwoods planted on mined land

Abstract

There is increasing interest among eastern U. S. landowners and coal operators in restoring mined land to native hardwood forests. Establishing a mix of native hardwood tree species simultaneously with erosion control ground covers is difficult. The purpose of this study was to test the response of hardwood species to three levels of ground cover control using an herbicide. Treatments were control (90% ground cover), spot spray around trees (50% cover), and broadcast spray (10% cover). Survival of oak species was generally greater when spot sprayed, but survival of ash, maple, poplar and white pine was unaffected. Tree biomass of most species was greater on spot sprayed plots. Trees on broadcast sprayed plots were damaged by herbicide drift rendering this treatment less effective. Overall stocking on spot sprayed plots was 67%, which met the stocking performance standard when 700 trees/acre were planted. A Forestland Reclamation Approach, which includes ground cover management, is needed for successful native hardwood reforestation.