United States 

Department of 

Agriculture 

Success of Trees and Shrubs 

Forest Service in an 18-Year-Old Planting 

Northeastern Forest on Mine S~oil 

Experiment Station I 

Research Paper 

NE-567 Gary L. Wade 

1985 Ralph L. Thompson 
The Authors 

Gary L. Wade, botanist, joined the Northeastern Forest Experiment Station's Surface Mine Reclamation Research Project at Berea, Kentucky, in 

1981. He received a B.S. in botany from Iowa State University in 1970 and 

an M.S. in ecology from the University of Tennessee in 1977. 

Ralph L. Thompson is an assistant professor of biology and herbarium 

curator at Berea College. He received a B.S. in biology from Southwest 

Missouri State University in 1971, an M.A. in botany from Southwest 

Missouri State University in 1975, and a Ph.D. in systematic botany from 

Southern Illinois University in 1980. 

Willis G. Vogel, range scientist, has worked with the Northeastern 

Station's Surface Mine Reclamation Research Project at Berea, Kentucky, 

since 1963. He previously worked in range management research for the 

USDA Forest Service in southwest Missouri, and as a range conservationist 

for the USDA Soil Conservation Service in Idaho. Vogel received a B.S. 

degree in agriculture from the University of Nebraska in 1952, and an M.S. 

degree in range management from Montana State University in 1961. 

Manuscript received for publication 26 September 1984. 

Abstract 

Plantings of 25 shrub and 25 tree species on a surface mine were 

evaluated after 18 years and results were compared to a 4-year evaluation. 

Pin oak, sweet birch, European white birch, Austrian pine, and bur oak 

show promise of value for wood products. Several other species are useful 

as soil builders and site stabilizers and for wildlife habitat. Results of the 

evaluation suggest that mortality of some species over the past 14 years is 

related primarily to intraspecific and interspecific competition rather than 

spoil characteristics. 

Cover Photo: Trees in an experimental plot and volunteering Virginia pine on acid 

sooils of the Lilv site. Lilv. Kentucky. 
Introduction 

There have been numerous 

trials of tree and shrub species to 

determine their suitability for vegetating surface-mined lands for wildlife habitat and forestry. Some of 

the earlier trials were concerned 

with selecting tree species that 

would produce forest products of 

commercial value. More recently, 

trials included species of trees and 

shrubs that will provide diversity in 

food and cover for wildlife, enhance 

development of soil and site conditions favorable to natural forest succession, and contribute esthetic 

enrichment. One such species trial 

was evaluated 4 years after planting 

by Plass (1975). In this paper we 

report on a followup evaluation 

made 18 years after planting at one 

of the sites reported on by Plass. 

Methods 

The Lily site in this study is 

referred to as Site 1 in the report by 

Plass (1975). It resulted from surface 

mining of the Lily coal seam in 1963 

and 1964. The spoils, predominantly 

acid to very strongly acid grey to 

black shales, were graded to a 

nearly level topography. There was 

no topsoiling treatment, fertilization, 

or liming, and no grass or leguminous ground cover was established. 

In 1965, 25 tree and 25 shrub 

species were planted on this site 

near Lily in Laurel County, Kentucky. Three tree and two shrub 

species were planted as replacements in 1966. Twelve blocks each 

of trees and shrubs, including both 

native and introduced species, were 

planted. Each species was randomly 

assigned to a 6- by 6-foot plot in 

each block. Four seedlings were 

planted 3 by 3 feet apart in each 

plot. All stock was planted bare root 

except rhododendron, which was 

planted with a small ball of nursery 

soil around the roots. Plass (1975) 

reported species survival and height 

of plants at the end of the fourth 

growing season. 

In 1965, a soil sample was 

taken at the center of every plot in 

every tree and shrub block. The 

samples were analyzed for pH and 

specific conductivity by the 1:2 soil 

to water method, and for available 

phosphorus by Bray-1 extract (Black 

1965). In 1983, four samples from 

the top 10 cm were taken from each 

tree block and analyzed by the same 

The Lily experimental site at the time of tree plot establishment in 1965 
Table 1 .-Sunrival of tree species, in present 

Total survivalb 

Species Frequencya 18 years 4 yearsC methods to get soils development 

data for the same three variables. 

The 1983 sampling was stratified by 

tree species: one sample was taken 

from a mimosa plot, one from an 

olive plot (nonspecific as to 

species), one from a birch plot (nonspecific as to species), and the 

fourth was taken next to a volunteer 

Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) 

either in or adjacent to the tree 

blocks. 

The 1983 soils data were 

analyzed by two-way analysis of 

variance (ANOVA) with tree species 

considered a fixed factor and tree 

block considered a random factor. 

Tukey's w test (Steel and Torrie 

1980) was performed on tree 

species means of the three variables where the ANOVA.indicated 

significant differences. Percentage 

of plots with surviving plants (block 

frequency), total survival of trees, 

height of surviving trees and shrubs, 

and diameter at breast height 

(d.b.h.) of trees were determined. 

Tree and shrub heights were measured to the nearest 0.1 foot with a 

fiberglass measuring pole. The 

diameter at breast height of trees 

was determined to the nearest 0.1 

inch with a steel d.b.h. tape. Where 

there were multiple tree stems, the 

d.b.h. of the largest stem was 

recorded. 

Mimosa Albizzia julibrissin Durazz. 

Pin oak Quercus palustris Muenchh. 

Thornless honeylocust Gleditisia 

triacanthos L. f. inermis (Pursh) 

Schneid. 

Japanese crab apple Malus zumi* 

Matsum. 

Tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima 

Swingle 

Siberian elm Ulmus pumila L. 

European white birch Betula pendula 

Roth 

Sweet birch Betula lenta L. 

Littleleaf linden Tilia cordata Mill. 

Boxelder Acer negundo L. 

Bur oak Quercus macrocarpa Michx. 

Russian mulberry Morus alba L. v. 

tatarica Loud. 

Austrian pine Pinus nigra Arnold 

Black mulberry Morus nigra L. 

American smoketree Cotinus obovatus 

Raf. 

Sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum (L.) 

DC. 

Flowering dogwood Cornus florida L. 

Blackgum Nyssa sylvatica Marsh. 

Yellow birch Betula allegheniensis 

Britt. 

Tamarisk Tamarix parviflora DC. 

Siberian peashrub Caragana 

arborescens Lam. 

Japanese pagodatree Sophora japonica 

L. 

Japanese black pine Pinus thunbergi 

Parl. 

Fraser fir Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir. 

Cucumbertree Magnolia acuminata L. 

Results 

Tree Species a Percentage of plots with surviving plants at 18 years. b Percent surviving plants of total number planted. c Plass (1975). 

d Reported as Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) by Plass (1975). e Some plots reported as yellow birch by Plass (1975) were identified as sweet birch 

in 1983. 

The frequency of survival 

(percent of plots with surviving 

trees of a given species) and total 

survival of trees are shown in Table 

1. Half of the tree species maintained a survival frequency of 50 

percent or better in the 12 blocks. 

Mimosa (silktree) had 69 percent 

actual survival and 100 percent 

block frequency, better than any 

other species. Crab apple had a 

block frequency of 83 percent at 18 

years. Of the trees originally listed 

by Plass (1975) as commercially 

important based on potential value 

for wood products, pin oak, European white birch, sweet birch, little 

leaf linden, bur oak, and Austrian 

pine had the greatest 18th-year total 

survival and a frequency of 50 

percent or more. Other successful 

species still present in 50 percent or 

more of the plots were thornless 

honeylocust, tree-of-heaven, 

Siberian elm, boxelder, and Russian 

mulberry. Several species have 

disappeared completely. 

close spacing and shading, it still 

provides useful information on the 

relative performance of the tree 

species (Table 2). The best species 

in terms of mean height growth 

were European white birch, tree-ofheaven, Austrian pine, sweet birch, 

pin oak, and Siberian elm. Mean 

diameter growth of survivors was 

greatest in Austrian pine, tree-ofheaven, mimosa, European white 

birch, and pin oak. 

While tree growth probably is 

not as great or as significant as it 

might be because of the effect of 
Discussion 

Tree Species 

Table 2.-Mean and maximum height and diameter at breast 

height of tree species 

Height D.b.h. 

Species n Mean Maxi- Mean Maximum mum 

Mimosa 

Pin oak 

Thornless honeylocust 

Crab apple 

Tree-of-heaven 

Siberian elm 

European white birch 

Sweet birch 

Littleleaf linden 

Boxelder 

Bur oak 

Russian mulberry 

Austrian pine 

Black mulberry 

Smoketree 

Sourwood 

Flowering dogwood 

Blackgum 

Yellow birch 

Weighted Mean 

Mean 

Shrub Species 

The shrub plots have become 

dense thickets. The spreading habit 

of the shrubs along with invading 

species made actual survival 

determinations impossible, so only 

percent frequency of survival 

(presence or absence) in the blocks 

was determined. Twelve of the 25 

species maintained themselves in at 

least half of the blocks (Table 3). 

Japanese fleeceflower maintained 

itself in all of the blocks, and silky 

dogwood in all but one. Chinese 

privet and thorny, autumn, and 

cherry olives persisted with 75 

percent frequency or better and 

dominated the plots by overtopping 

many adjacent species. There were 

no surviving plants of six species 

originally planted. 

- - Feet - - - - Inches - - 

Soils 

Soil pH increased from a mean 

of 3.90 to 4.46 during the 18-year 

period. Soluble salts as determined 

by specific conductivity dropped 

from a mean of 0.31 mmhoslcm to 

0.15 mmhoslcm, or 52 percent. 

Available phosphorus dropped from 

6.83 ppm to 4.02 ppm (Table 4). 

Paired t-tests of block means 

showed that the changes over time 

in these three variables were statistically significant at the a = 0.001 

level. Spoil pH was significantly (a 

= 0.05) related to the species 

occupying the plot in which the 

samples were taken (Table 5). There 

were no significant differences 

related to tree species for specific 

conductivity and phosphorus. 

There has been some mortality 

among most of the tree species 

since the last evaluation. For some 

species this probably is caused by 

overcrowding, shading, and competition for water and nutrients, more 

due to close spacing than to effects 

of the acid mine spoil. lnterspecific 

and intraspecific competition probably was not important during the 

first 4 years but would have been 

intense sometime within the last 14 

years. Standing, dead, overtopped 

trees were found next to larger live 

trees of the same species in several 

of the plots. Some species may not 

be adapted climatically to this area. 

Tamarisk and Siberian peashrub 

showed good survival after 4 years 

but were absent after 18 years. 

Pin oak was one of the most 

successful tree species. Its general 

form was excellent, and height and 

diameter growth were among the 

best of the trees on the site. Pin oak 

seems to be a good choice in this 

region for surface-mine spoils that 

are high in clay content and subject 

to summer droughts. It normally is 

an important species on wet, intermittently flooded lowlands and on 

upland flats with heavy soils subject 

to winter and spring waterlogging 

and summer droughts. lnterspecific 

competition limits the importance 

of pin oak on better sites (Fowells 

1965). Forty-two percent survival after 4 years with loss of only one 

more tree in the following 14 years 

indicates that initial site conditions 

and not interspecific competition 

were the principal causes of mortality at the Lily site. Acceptable 

survival and good growth indicate 

the value of pin oak for long-term 

economic returns. Seed usually is 

not produced before about 25 years 

of age (Fowells 1965). However, 

some seed apparently were being 

produced at the Lily site because 

pin oak seedlings were found. 

These seedlings may have a limited 

future because pin oak is 

moderately shade intolerant. 
Table 3.-Survival and height of shrubs 

Species 

Mean 

Frequencya Heightb 

Japanese fleeceflower Polygonum cuspidatum 

Sieb. & Zucc. 

Silky dogwood Cornus amomum Mill. 

Chinese privet Ligustrum sinense Lour. 

Thorny olive Elaeagnus pungens Thunb. 

Autumn olive Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. 

Cherry olive Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb. 

Amur privet Ligustrum amurense Carr. 

Multiflora rose Rosa multiflora Thunb. 

lndigobush Amorpha fruticosa L. 

Oakleaf hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia Bartr. 

Cotoneaster Cotoneaster acutifolius Turcz. 

Tatarian honeysuckle Lonicera tatarica L. 

Coralberry Symphoricarpus orbiculatus Moench 

European barberry Berberis thunbergiiC DC. 

Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum L. v. glabrum 

Gray 

Rugosa rose Rosa rugosa Thunb. 

Red honeysuckle Lonicera korolkowi Staph. v. 

zabelii Rehd. 

Althea Hibiscus syriacus L. 

Arrow-wood Viburnum dentatum L. 

Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius L. 

Rhododendron Rhododendron catawabiense 

Michx. 

Russian olive Elaeagnus angustifolia L. 

Chinese lilac Syringa chinensis Willd. 

Dewberry Rubus spp. Hort. v. 

Blackberry Rubus spp. Hort. v. 

a Percentage of plots with surviving plants. 

b Average of estimated height of tallest plant in plot. 

c Reported as Berberis vulgaris by Plass (1975). 

Percent Feet 

Table 4.-Mean soil chemical characteristics of tree blocks at the 

Lily site in 1965 and 1983" 

Specific Available 

Tree Mean pH valueb conductivity phosphorusC 

1965 1983 1965 1983 1965 1983 

mmhoslcm PPm 

1 4.24 4.60 0.20 0.13 7.6 3.1 

2 4.37 5.00 .21 .19 7.1 5.3 

3 3.76 4.20 .27 .I4 5.1 2.8 

4 3.89 4.58 .25 .15 6.0 4.0 

5 4.02 4.70 .27 .16 7.2 4.0 

6 3.96 4.30 .18 .14 6.2 3.6 

7 3.52 4.50 .31 .18 6.1 4.4 

8 3.83 4.55 .36 .18 8.1 4.7 

9 4.33 4.48 .33 .13 9.6 4.2 

10 3.66 4.18 .53 .13 6.5 3.4 

11 3.86 4.28 .33 .ll 7.9 5.9 

12 3.41 4.20 .44 .10 4.6 2.8 

Mean 3.90 4.46 .31 .15 6.8 4.0 

Sd .303 .244 ,102 ,028 1.38 .96 

a Mean difference over time for each variable was statistically significant, a = ,001, 

paired t-test. 

b 1965 mean for every plot; 1983 mean for four samples per block. 

c Bray-1 extractant. 
Table 5.-Comparison of mean soil pH value, 

specific conductivity, and available 

phosphorus under four tree genera in 

the tree blocks, 1983 

Specific 

Species P H conductivity Phosphorus 

mmhoslcm PPm 

Mimosa 4.71 a .16 a 4.0 a 

Birch 4.48 ab .13 a 4.5 a 

Olive 4.44 ab .15 a 3.6 a 

Pine 4.22 b .13 a 3.9 a 

Means for the same variable followed by the same letter are 

not significantly different, a = 0.05, Tukey's o. 

European white, sweet, and 

yellow birches survived in similar 

numbers through the first 4 years. 

However, survival of European white 

birch and sweet birch declined by 

about one-third, and yellow birch 

nearly disappeared by the 18th year. 

Survival of European white and 

sweet birch was equal at 18 years, 

but unequal distribution of survivors 

gave European white birch a higher 

survival frequency. 

European white birch was the 

best of the birches in height and 

diameter growth. Height growth of 

both European white birch and 

sweet birch was better than the 

overall average of tree species 

included in this test. On "average" 

sites in New York and Pennsylvania, 

sweet birch can grow to 4 inches 

d.b.h. at age 20 (Fowells 1965). The 

largest sweet birch trees on the Lily 

site achieved this size. Yellow birch 

at this location is well south of its 

normal lowland growth range; the 

warmer climate plus the xeric nature 

of the surface-mine environment 

probably is responsible for its poor 

performance. 

In a study of seven birch 

species planted on a variety of coalmine spoils in Pennsylvania, Davidson (1976, 1979) found that European white birch had significantly 

better survival than sweet and 

yellow birches; yellow birch had.the 

least height growth. Davidson noted 

the best birch growth was on spoil 

with a pH of 4.0, though performance was satisfactory down to pH 

3.3. Deer browsing damaged the 

birches in Pennsylvania; yellow and 

sweet birches were browsed more 

heavily than other species. Davidson 

recommends not planting these two 

species in areas with high deer 

populations. Improvement of the 

soil surrounding the birches probably is their greatest contribution to 

the forest ecosystem. At the Lily 

site, a developing A horizon in the 

An experimental tree plot on the Lily site showing forest development in 1985, spoil around them was noted. 

20 years after tree planting on acid spoils. 
Total survival and block frequency of Austrian pine was 15 and 

50 percent. Average height of this 

tree was 25.7 feet, third best of the 

species tested. The mean d.b.h. of 

4.7 inches and its maximum of 8.3 

were largest and second largest, 

respectively. Many of the surviving 

trees were on plots characterized as 

"extremely acid" and "very strongly 

acid" (Soil Survey Staff 1957). The 

tallest individual was on an 

extremely acid plot. Only one plot 

had more than one surviving tree. In 

several plots a smaller dead pine 

stood next to the survivor. This 

indicates that intraspecific competition may have been intense for 

this species. Keys et al. (1980) cited 

competition and spoil acidity as 

factors contributing to mortality of 

Austrian pine planted on mine 

spoils. They also determined that 

seed source and elevation were 

important in determining the 

success of this species. Austrian 

pine has value as a timber species 

in Europe, but is used primarily as 

an ornamental in the United States 

(Little 1979). Our results indicate 

that more research on management 

of Austrian pine on surface-mine 

environments is justified. 

Bur oak had a modest tolerance 

of initial site conditions; 29 percent 

of the planted trees survived to 4 

years of age (Plass 1975). Competition apparently decreased this 

number by half but bur oak still had 

a block frequency of 50 percent. 

Height and diameter growth were 

less than the weighted mean for all 

species. Bur oak's growth rate at 

Lily is not unusually low for this 

species, however. Plantation growth 

rates reported by Fowells (7965) 

bracket the height and diameter 

growths found on the Lily plots. Bur 

oak rapidly develops a deep, spreading taproot system. Mature trees 

may have a root biomass and 

volume about equal to the aboveground portion of the tree. Such a 

characteristic gives this tree 

extreme drought tolerance and 

gives the species high value as a 

slope stabilizer. Bur oak tolerates a 

variety of soil conditions but favors 

limestone soils in Kentucky 

(Fowells 1965). This species should 

have good long-term economic 

potential on sites with less competition and better spoils. Bur oak was 

rated as one of the better performing hardwoods on surface-mined 

lands in Ohio (Larson and Vimmerstedt 1983) and in Missouri and 

Kansas (Vogel 1977). 

Survival of littleleaf linden was 

40 percent at 4 years but over the 

next 14 years it dropped to about 

half that. The species was included 

in this test because of potential 

commercial value. However, 

survival, and especially growth, do 

not warrant its further consideration 

for wood product purposes on this 

or similar sites. 

Blackgum was the least successful in growth of the surviving 

commercial tree species planted on 

the site. However, blackgum was an 

important volunteer tree in the 

natural plant communities on the 

site (Thompson et al. 1984). Plass 

(unpublished progress report 1967) 

noted the small size of the blackgum planting stock, which may have 

been primarily responsible for poor 

survival. The remaining tree species 

in the experimental plots had little 

or no timber product value; they 

were included for other reasons. 

Mimosa, a nitrogen-fixing 

legume, was present in all blocks 

and had the highest survival at 4 

and 18 years. However, most of the 

mimosa trees were multistemmed 

and degenerating, with many dead 

stems per tree, poor form, and 

diebach of the tops. Many of the 

surviving mimosa were on spoils 

initially characterized as very acid, 

so soil acidity per se may not be the 

main factor determining the survival 

of mimosa on these spoils. Mimosa 

may continue to persist at Lily 

because of sprouting and suckering 

near the plantings. This semitropical 

tree, introduced from Asia, is 

naturalized in the southeastern 

United States (Little 1979). Although 

it is mainly planted as an ornamental, it appears to have value on 

surface mines as a nitrogen fixer 

and soil modifier, and as a nurse 

crop for commercial tree species. 

Its stem form and attractive flowers 

are esthetically pleasing. 

Thornless honeylocust, a lessarmed form of the common honeylocust, showed very good 4-year and 

reasonably good 18-year survival. 

Nearly half of these trees were less 

than 1 inch in d.b.h., and their mean 

height was less than the mean 

height (weighted average) of all the 

trees measured. Only one individual's growth exceeded the 

minimal 4-inch d.b.h. that is desirable for posts, so this tree's 

economic potential at the Lily site 

was poor. Thornless honeylocust is 

drought resistant but ample water is 

required for good growth (Fowells 

1965). Primary values of this tree are 

for nitrogen fixation and wildlife 

food. Where penetration is not 

inhibited by compaction, the 

taproots of thornless honeylocust 

may descend 12 to 20 feet (Fowells 

1965) to function as slope stabilizers 

and as biological pumps for raising 

nutrients to the surface from deep 

spoil layers. Thornless honeylocust 

may have greater value on spoils 

less acid than the ones at the Lily 

site. Its growth might be improved 

through proper management. 

Crab apple (Malus zumi), reported as hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) 

by Plass (1975), had 56 percent 

survival at 4 years. At 18 years it 

still had a block frequency of 83 

percent and an actual percentage 

survival of 38 percent. This Asian 

species was present only as a small 

tree. Good survival and production 

of fruit make it a species worthy of 

consideration in wildlife plantings. 

Tree-of-heaven, introduced from 

China as an ornamental (Little 19791, 

has become naturalized over much 

of the United States and has a wide 

environmental tolerance. It had a 33 

percent overall survival rate at the 

Lily site. This was one of the largest 
trees on the site and reproduction 

by suckering was evident. It has 

value primarily as an ornamental. 

Siberian elm maintained 75 

percent block frequency and had 

reasonably good survival after 18 

years. This introduction from 

northern China and Siberia (Little 

1979) produced the largest tree (43 

feet tall and 8.4 inches in d.b.h.) in 

the planted blocks, but the mean 

growth for this species was not 

exceptional. 

Survival of flowering dogwood 

is low (13 percent) but there has 

been no mortality over the last 14 

years. Height growth was reasonable for an understory tree. This 

species also was an important 

invading tree on the Lily site 

(Thompson et al. 1984). Dogwood 

litter is high in nutrien~ts, especially 

calcium. Thomas (1969) found that 

flowering dogwood is important in 

maintaining the calcium cycle in 

pine plantations on poor soils in 

Tennessee. This species could 

contribute to soil building and fertility maintenance in the mine 

spoils. Dogwood is a favored deer 

browse and its fruit is eaten by 

birds (Fuller 1980). 

American smoketree is one of 

the rarer native trees in America and 

it is normally found on calcareous 

soils (Fernald 1950). The survival 

and growth of this tree indicate it is 

not suited to the Lily si,te or sites 

with similar site conditions. 

Sourwood had 15 percent 

survival with no mortality after the 

fourth year. This suggests that site 

quality was a greater obstacle to 

this species than competition. 

Another possible reason for poor 

early survival is the small size of 

planting stock noted by Plass (unpublished progress report 1967). Its 

growth is about average for established trees on the Lily site. It is a 

frequent pioneer on disturbed sites 

and we have noted it invading other 

surface-mined areas. Thompson et 

al. (1984) documented siourwood as 

one of the most important invading 

native species on the Lily site. The 

fruit is eaten by wildlife, and the 

twigs are browsed by deer. Honey 

produced from sourwood nectar is a 

much desired product. Its potential 

value for reclamation on sites such 

as this needs more investigation. 

Black mulberry and Russian 

mulberry, both naturalized from Asia 

(Little 1979), had relatively poor 

initial survival (Plass 1975). However, mortality was quite low over 

the next 14 years. This indicates 

that stands would have a good 

chance if they could be maintained 

through the early years. The same is 

true for dogwood and sourwood. 

Neither the black nor Russian mulberry formed sizable trees except 

for one Russian mulberry individual 

which was 5.1 inches in d.b.h. and 

26.5 feet tall. These species have 

value as wildlife food but growth 

and survival do not warrant their inclusion in a tree mix where survival 

is of great importance. 

The 21 percent survival of 

boxelder at 4 years and 19 percent 

survival at 18 years indicates that 

initial site conditions, not competition, are responsible for its poor 

performance. Although this normally 

is a small tree of mesic and fertile 

soils, it is an important volunteer in 

tree plantations on spoils in the 

Midwest (Ashby et al. 1980). The 

fruits are eaten by squirrels and 

birds. 

Because of its good early 

survival, Plass (1975) recommended 

planting tamarisk on spoils as an 

ornamental. However, there were no 

surviving tamarisk at 18 years. This 

suggests that although the species 

could withstand initial site conditions, it is unable to tolerate competition on poor sites. It also may be 

unadapted climatically. Tamarisk is 

considered a pest in the Southwest, 

where it readily colonizes along irrigation ditches and around reservoirs. It apparently requires excessive ground water or free water to 

thrive. Results with tamarisk at Lily 

demonstrates the importance of 

long-term studies for making recommendations on species suitable for 

surface-mine plantings. 

Japanese pagodatree, Japanese 

black pine, and Siberian peashrub 

all had surviving individuals at the 

end of the fourth year but none at 

the 18th year. Fraser fir, and 

cucumbertree did not survive to the 

fourth year. None of these species 

are recommended for mine 

reclamation. 

Shrub Species 

The complete overgrowth of 

many of the shrub blocks by the 

species planted therein made it 

impossible to determine whether a 

shrub's presence represented 

survival of one or several planted 

individuals. Frequency of survival 

can serve as a guide to overall 

survival. 

Japanese fleeceflower was 

present in all plots. This species, 

naturalized from Asia, is a shrub-like 

herb. It had developed into dense 

clumps spreading away from the 

point of planting. The species 

formed a dense stand of stems in 

several small gullies and showed 

great value as an erosion arrester 

and wildlife food. It has been reported as tolerant of extremely acid 

spoils (Ruffner 1978). Patterson 

(1976) indicates that Japanese 

fleeceflower may become an important weed due to its spreading 

nature. 

Silky dogwood persisted in 92 

percent of the blocks. It makes an 

excellent deer browse and the fruit 

is consumed by birds. Persistence 

of this species, besides its tolerance to acid conditions, also may 

be due to its shade tolerance. 

Because of its persistence and 

value for wildlife, we recommend 

planting it for wildlife habitat. 

The two Ligustrum species, 

Chinese privet and Amur privet, 

both survived with a frequency of 75 
Summary and Conclusions 

percent or better. These two 

species were naturalized from China 

(Staff, L. H. Bailey Hortorium 1976). 

Their tolerance of surface-mine 

spoil conditions'and production of 

wildlife food and cover make them 

species worthy of consideration in 

reclamation. 

Thorny, autumn, and cherry 

olives were successful in their frequency of survival and in their role 

as soil builders. These nitrogenfixing shrubs formed thick canopies 

overhead and developed a rich leaflitter mulch on the soil surface. The 

relatively high nitrogen content of 

their leaves probably was responsible for the rapid litter breakdown 

and formation of a rich organic 

horizon in the top 1 to 2 inches of 

the soil profile. These species, 

naturalized from Asia (Staff, L. H. 

Bailey Hortorium 1976), provide 

good deer browse and the fruit is 

used by birds and mammals. In 

some areas, autumn olive is 

regarded as a pest because of its 

spreading nature; it also has been 

used widely as a nurse species with 

trees on surface-mine spoils (Vogel 

1981). 

Multiflora rose, a naturalized 

shrub from China (Staff, L. H. Bailey 

Hortorium 1976), persisted in 75 

percent of the plots. The flowers 

have esthetic value and wildlife may 

use the plants for cover and the 

fruits for food. This shrub spreads, 

forms impenetrable tangles of 

thorny clones, and can cause 

serious problems in most land uses 

(Patterson 1976). Despite its virtues 

for wildlife habitat, we do not 

recommend multiflora rose for 

reclamation of surface-mined land. 

lndigobush persisted on two- , thirds of the plots. Like the olives, it 

contributes to soil development 

1 through nitrogen fixation. This 

native shrub also has value as wildlife food and cover. 

., Oakleaf hydrangea persisted on 

58 percent of the plots. It has a 

striking appearance with its large 

leaves and white flowers. It is one 

of the lowest growing of the successful shrubs and is shade 

tolerant. Its primary value may be 

for esthetic purposes. 

The remaining shrub species 

had a plot frequency of 50 percent 

or less, which hints at low survival. 

Five species-Scotch broom, 

catawba rhododendron, Chinese 

lilac, dewberry, and blackberry-were absent after 18 years, 

though there were survivors at the 

fourth year. Failure of Russian olive 

by the fourth year was attributed to 

poor planting stock (Plass, unpublished progress report 1967). Even 

though the planted horticultural 

varieties of blackberry failed, the 

native blackberry species are invading the Lily site. 

Spoil Characteristics 

The analysis of the spoils 

shows evidence of good soils 

development. A mean pH increase 

of about 112 unit and a halving of 

the soluble salts as determined by 

specific conductivity show the 

ameliorating effect of time and 

perhaps vegetation (Table 4). The 

decline in Bray-1 extractable 

phosphorus from 6.8 to 4.0 ppm is 

equivalent to a loss of 5.5 pounds 

per acre, but more than this 

certainly is tied up in vegetation 

biomass. Both vegetation and time, 

appear to have had a significant 

influence on soil development. The 

nature and thickness of the 0 

horizon varied with the kind of vegetation above it. A high organicmatter A, horizon was notable under 

the canopies of nitrogen-fixing trees 

and shrubs. The 1983 soil samples 

had a significantly higher pH where 

taken under mimosa than where 

taken under Virginia pine (Table 5). 

Samples from under the olives and 

birches had intermediate pH's not 

significantly different from either 

mimosa or Virginia pine. 

At 18 years after planting, pin 

oak, sweet birch, European white 

birch, Austrian pine, and bur oak 

show promise of value for wood 

products on sites such as this. Tree 

species of little or no commercial 

timber value such as mimosa, thornless honeylocust, tree.of-heaven, 

and Siberian elm showed some 

usefulness as soil builders and site 

stabilizers. Shrubs with promise for 

ground cover, erosion control, soil 

building, and sources of wildlife 

food and habitat include silky dogwood, Chinese and amur privets, 

thorny, autumn, and cherry olives, 

indigobush, oakleaf hydrangea, and 

Japanese fleeceflower. 

Several tree species showed 

significant decreases in survival 

between the fourth and 18th years, 

which may indicate that death is 

due more to intraspecific and interspecies competition than to site 

conditions. 

Chemical conditions in the 

spoils have been modified during 

the 18-year period. The pH has 

increased, while specific conductivity and soil phosphorus have 

dropped significantly. Tree species 

had a significant influence on spoil 

pH. Spoil pH under the leguminous 

mimosa tree was significantly 

higher than under Virginia pine. 

Results of this study and 

observations made at this site 

suggest that with proper choice of 

species even acidic surface-mined 

lands such as the Lily site have a 

long-term potential for forest 

production. Some economically 

important species can survive and 

have respectable growth. There is a 

need for studies to determine 

optimum management of these 

species in similar environments. 

Noncommercial and ornamental 

species also have a role on these 

sites as environmental modifiers, 

soil builders, and food and cover for 

wildlife. 
Literature Cited 

This study was started during a 

period when extensive regrading, 

amendment, and herbaceous covercropping of surface-mined lands 

were not required and generally 

were not carried out. Results of 

current reclamation practices may 

well differ from those achieved 

here. The information gained still is 

applicable to abandoned mined 

lands on which site conditions are 

similar to those present on the Lily 

site at the inception of this study. 

The importance of long-term 

evaluation of studies is made clear 

by the drastic changes in survival of 

several species such as yellow 

birch, tamarisk, Siberian peashrub, 

and Scotch broom. For example, on 

the basis of 4 years of data, Plass 

(1975) reasonably concluded that 

tamarisk and yellow birch were 

adapted to sites such as this. But 

results at 18 years did not bear this 

out. 

Ashby, W. Clark; Rogers, Nelson F.; 

Kolar, Clay A. Forest tree invasion 

and diversity on strip mines. 

In: Garrett, H. E.; Cox, G. S., ed. 

Proceedings, Central hardwood 

forest conference; 1980 

September 16-17; Columbia MO. 

Columbia, MO: University of 

Missouri Press; 1980: 273-281. 

Black, C. A., ed. Methods of soil 

analysis. Madison, WI: American 

Society of Agronomy; 1965. 1572 

P. 

Davidson, Walter H. Birch species 

survive well on problem coal mine 

spoils. In: Proceedings, 24th 

northeastern forest tree improvement conference; 1976 July 26-29; 

College Park, MD. College Park, 

MD: University of Maryland; 

1976: 95-101. 

Davidson, Walter H. Results of tree 

and shrub plantings on low pH 

strip-mine banks. Res. Note 

NE-285. Broomall, PA: US. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Northeastern Forest 

Experiment Station; 1979. 5 p. 

Fernald, Merritt Lyndon. Gray's 

manual of botany. 8th ed. New 

York: American Book Co.; 1950. 

1632 p. 

Fowells, H. A., comp. Silvics of 

forest trees of the United States. 

Agric. Handb. 271. Washington, 

DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture; 1965. 762 p. 

Fuller, Katherin Turner. The relation. 

ship between soil fertility and 

deer browse nutritive quality in 

Nathan Bedford Forest State Park. 

Knoxville, TN: The University of 

Tennessee; 1980. 71 p. M.S. 

thesis. 

Keys, Roy N.; Cech, Franklin C.; 

Davidson, Walter H. The 

performance of Austrian pine 

seed sources on various sites in 

West Virginia and Pennsylvania. 

In: Proceedings, 23th northeastern forest tree improvement 

conference; 1980 July 29-31; 

Burlington, VT. Burlington, 

VT: The University of Vermont; 

1980: 103-1 14. 

Larson, M. M.; Vimmerstedt, J. P. 

Evaluation of 30-year-old plantations on stripmined land in east 

central Ohio. Res. Bull. 1149. 

Wooster, OH: The Ohio State 

University, Ohio Agricultural 

Research and Development 

Center; 1983. 20 p. 

Little, Elbert L., Jr. Checklist of 

United States trees (native and 

naturalized). Agric. Handb. 451. 

Washington, DC: U.S. Department 

of Agriculture; 1979. 375 p. 

Patterson, David T. The history and 

distribution of five exotic weeds 

in North Carolina. Castanea. 41: 

177-180; 1976. 

Plass, William T. An evaluation of 

trees and shrubs for planting 

surface-mine spoils. Res. Pap. 

NE-317. Upper Darby, PA: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Northeastern Forest 

Experiment Station; 1975. 8 p. 
Ruffner, Joseph D. Plant 

performance on surface coal mine 

spoil in eastern United States. 

Tech. Pap. SCS-TP-155. 

Washington, DC: U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, Soil Conservation 

Service; 1978. 76 p. 

Soil Survey Staff. Soil survey 

manual. Agric. Handb. 18 

Washington, DC: U.S. Department 

of Agriculture; 1951. 503 p. 

Staff, L. H. Bailey Hortorium. Hortus 

third. Cornell University. New 

York, NY: MacMillan Publishing 

Co. 1976. 1290 p. 

Steel, Robert G. D.; Torrie, James H. 

Principles and procedures of 

statistics. 2nd ed. New 

York: McGraw-Hill; 1980. 633 p. 

Thomas, William A. Accumulation 

and cycling of calcium by 

dogwood trees. Ecological 

Monographs 39: 101-120; 1969. 

Thompson, Ralph L.; Vogel, Willis 

G.; Taylor, David D. Vegetation 

and flora of a coal surface-mined 

area in Laurel County, Kentucky. 

Castanea. 49: 1 1 1 - 126; 1984. 

Vogel, Willis G. Revegetation of 

surface-mined lands in the east. 

In: Proceedings, 1977 Society of 

American Foresters annual 

meeting; 1977 October 2-5; 

Albuquerque, NM. Washington, 

DC: Society of American 

Foresters; 1977: 167-1 72. 

Vogel, Willis G. A guide for revegetating coal minesoils in the 

eastern United States. Gen. Tech. 

Rep. NE-68. Broomall, PA: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Northeastern Forest 

Experiment Station; 1981. 190 p. 
Wade, Gary L.; Thompson, Ralph L.; Vogel, Willis G. Success 

of trees and shrubs in an 18-year-old planting on mine spoil. 

Res. Pap. NE-567. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment 

Station; 1985. 10 p. 

Reports the status of l&year-old plantings of 25 tree and 25 

shrub species on surface-mine spoil. The value of the species 

for wood products, wildlife habitat, site stabilizers, and soil 

builders is discussed. 

ODC : 232.11:114.449.8 

Keywords: Surface mine reclamation; trees; shrubs; survival; 

growth; species trials 

*U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE:lg85-505-028:20011 
Headquarters of the Northeastern Forest Experiment Station are in 

Broomall, Pa. Field laboratories are maintained at: 

Amherst, Massachusetts, in cooperation with the University of 

Massachusetts. 

0 Berea, Kentucky, in cooperation with Berea College. 

Burlington, Vermont, in cooperation with the University of 

Vermont. 

0 Delaware, Ohio. 

Durham, New Hampshire, in cooperation with the University of 

New Hampshire. 

0 Hamden, Connecticut, in cooperation with Yale University. 

0 Morgantown, West Virginia, in cooperation with West Virginia 

University, Morgantown. 

Orono, Maine, in cooperation with the University of Maine, 

Orono. 

Parsons, West Virginia. 

0 Princeton, West Virginia. 

Syracuse, New York, in cooperation with the State University of 

New York College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry at 

Syracuse University, Syracuse. 

0 University Park, Pennsylvania, in cooperation with the 

Pennsylvania State University. 

0 Warren, Pennsylvania.