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CORE AND SCIENCE TEAMS
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FOREST RECLAMATION ADVISORIES
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FORESTRY RECLAMATION APPROACH
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IN THE NEWS
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MINED LAND REFORESTATION CONFERENCES
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PLANTING TREES ON LEGACY MINES
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REFORESTATION AWARDS
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REFORESTATION RESEARCH
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STATE AND PRIVATE NURSERIES
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STATEMENT OF MUTUAL INTENT
WEST VIRGINIA
REFORESTATION RESEARCH
Dr. Jeffrey Skousen and his colleagues at West Virginia University have performed the following studies on reforestation of mined lands during the past several years:
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Survival and Growth of Hardwoods in Brown versus Gray Sandstone on a Surface Mine in West Virginia [August 2009]
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Hardwood Tree Survival in Heavy Ground Cover on Reclaimed Land in West Virginia: Mowing and Ripping Effects [2009]
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Survival of Three Tree Species on Old Reclaimed Surface Mines in Ohio
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Tree Survival on Mountaintop Mines in Southern West Virginia [December 2004]
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Forest Productivity and Minesoil Development Under A White Pine Plantation Versus Natural Vegetation After 30 Years [June 2001]
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Natural Revegetation of 15 Abandoned Mine Land Sites in West Virginia [Nov/Dec 1994]
All of the above studies and additional research can be viewed at the following link: http://anr.ext.wvu.edu/land_reclamation/reforestation
In the spring of 2005, Dr. Skousen commenced working with
Catenary Coal Company in evaluating a large reforestation
experimental practice site. The experimental practice site is
220 acres, and about 170,000 trees were planted in March 2005.
The study involves planting six commercial hardwood species (red
oak, white oak, yellow poplar, black cherry, white ash, and
sugar maple) into 7-ac plots composed of two substrates (gray
sandstone and brown sandstone). Half of each plot was compacted
with more than 3 passes with a bulldozer versus 1 – 2 bulldozer
passes.
Permanent sampling areas are being established within the
plots and also in other locations throughout the 220-ac
experimental practice area, which was planted with the same
species, to monitor the survival and growth of the trees, and
also to determine the physical and chemical properties of the
minesoils (color, rock fragment content, texture, bulk density,
water-holding capacity, pH, organic matter, nutrients). The study is planned to continue for 10 years.
For more information about surface mine reforestation research in West Virginia,
please contact:
Dr. Jeffrey Skousen
Professor and Reclamation Specialist
West Virginia University
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Agricultural Sciences Building
1106 Morgantown, West Virginia 26506
Telephone: (304) 293-6256 ext. 4326
E-mail: jskousen@wvu.edu
WVU Bio:
http://www.caf.wvu.edu/PLSC/faculty/soilscience/Skousen/skousen.html