Mine land reclamation and american chestnut restoration

bringing technologies together

Continued on back..

FINAL REPORT FACT SHEET

www.techtransfer.osmre.gov/

“OSM publishes Applied Science Final Report Fact Sheets as part of its technology transfer function to inform 

 interested parties about results from completed Applied Science Projects funded by OSM. 

 The completed reports can be found at our website: www.techtransfer.osmre.gov/”

Dr. Brian C. McCarthy

Ohio University, Athens, OH

Department of Environmental and Plant Biology

Above Photo: D-6 sized dozer equipped with 36-inch ripping bar.

Project Description and Objectives: 

Hundreds of thousands of acres of mine land exist 

throughout the central Appalachians that have been 

reclaimed using standard practices (specified by SMCRA) 

of site re-grading followed by seeding with aggressive 

grasses and forbs. After 20-30 years there is no evidence 

of these sites returning to their natural pre-mining 

condition of forested habitat. This project demonstrated 

how soil disturbance treatments could be used to promote 

woody species establishment by reducing soil 

compaction, increasing aeration & drainage, promoting 

healthy root and mycorrhizal development, and 

decreasing herbaceous competition. 

Applicability to Mining and Reclamation: 

Soil compaction and interspecific plant competition have 

been identified as the two most limiting factors in the 

breakdown of the natural processes of plant community 

succession on reclaimed mine lands in the Appalachians. 

Often, critical soil fungi needed for seedling 

establishment and survival are missing from the soil. 

Under these conditions, woody plants are unable to 

colonize the habitats and reclamation back to pre-mining 

conditions is likely to take hundreds of years as opposed 

to tens of years. In addition, these soils have a relatively 

high level of biological activity after 20-30 years and are 

well positioned for community change. Reclaimed mine 

lands, often low in pH and certain soil ions, as well as 

high in rock content, provide a reasonably good growth 

medium for American chestnut. 

USDOI Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Dr. Carolyn H. Keiffer

Miami University, Middletown, OH

Department of Botany

Above Photo: Typical habitat throughout central Appalachia 20-30 years 

 following reclamation (shown in dormant season).
Website Information: 

The final project report can be found at http://www.techtransfer.osmre.gov/NTTMainSite/appliedscience/2006appscience/

CompletedProjects/OHAmerChestnutPAngel2006.pdf

Principal Investigator:

Dr. Brian C. McCarthy

Ohio University

Department of Environmental 

& Plant Biology

(740) 593-1615

mccarthy@ohio.edu

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OSM Project Technical Representative:

Patrick N. Angel

(606) 878-6440

pangel@osmre.gov

For Further Information About OSM’s Applied Science Programs: 

Kimery Vories - kvories@osmre.gov - (618) 463-6463, Ext. 5103

Dr. Carolyn H. Keiffer

Miami University of Ohio

Department of Botany

(513) 727-3243

keiffech@muohio.edu 

Methodology:

For our study site, we utilized the Tri-Valley Wildlife 

Management Area (TVWMA) which is owned and 

managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. 

The TVWMA is located in east central Ohio 

(Madison County) and was reclaimed in the early 1980s. 

The site is currently dominated by fescue . Three 1-acre 

blocks (replicates) were created in a demonstration area 

that received different treatments: deep (to 36-inches) 

cross-ripping on 5-ft centers, a surface (to 12 inches) 

plow & disk treatment, and a combined rip and plow & 

disk treatment, in addition to an untreated control. 

A total of 1200 American chestnut seedlings were 

planted onto the site, such that one fourth went into each 

treatment type. Seedlings were further subdivided into 

those that were pure American, 7/8th hybrids (partially 

blight resistant), and 15/16th hybrids (putatively blight 

resistant). Soil conditions, chestnut root colonization by 

fungi, overall seedling growth, and climate were 

monitored regularly throughout the growing season. 

Highlights:

Soil treatments and growing conditions. 

Soils structure was greatly improved following the 

treatments. Soil bulk density, aeration, and drainage all 

changed dramatically. Soil chemistry was found to be 

of reasonable quality in as much as it had contained 

vegetation for over twenty years, thus organic matter 

and various inorganic ions were at reasonable levels to 

support woody plant growth. 

Chestnut survival and growth. 

Several issues need to be dealt with when planting woody 

seedlings: 

1) Trees must be protected from competing 

herbaceous vegetation that re-develops following 

 soil disturbance.

2) Seedlings must be protected from herbivores.

3) Seedlings must be buffered against environmental 

conditions. 

Weed mats were used to reduce plant-plant competition. 

Poultry netting was used to deter deer browsing. 

Gravel around the stem was used to deter vole bark 

stripping. Hydrated TerraSorb® gel was used to buffer 

the root system against transplant shock and subsequent 

drought conditions. 

Results/Findings: 

This study demonstrates that soil disturbance treatments 

20-30 years following traditional reclamation 

approaches can provide a quality habitat for successful 

re-introduction of woody species. Seedlings inoculated 

with mycorrhizae exhibited a positive host response when 

compared to the non-mycorrhizal controls. Additionally, 

these high light, low fertility, well-drained environments 

appear to provide an environment quite suitable to the 

re-establishment of American chestnut hybrids and could 

ultimately serve as epicenters on the landscape for the 

restoration of this once important species.

Above Photo: Combined ripped & plowed-disked treatment in first 

 growing season. Note increased diversity of native forbs and 

 planting method for hybrid chestnut seedlings.