Hardwood tree survival after 5 years in heavy groundcover in West Virginia.

Abstract:

The state of West Virginia recently enacted strict guidelines for tree planting on mined lands and especially on mountaintop surface mines that seek an AOC variance. In the spring of 2001, a research study was initiated in north central West Virginia to examine the establishment of commercial hardwood forests on reclaimed surface mine land.

We planted six commercial hardwood species [red oak (Quercus rubra L.), black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), white ash (Fraxinus americana L.), and yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.)] into plots that were located on north- and south-facing aspects, with treatments of ripping, mowing, and seeds versus seedlings. First and second year results showed high survival for planted trees (>75% for all species). After five years, black cherry survival was 40%, red oak was 50%, yellow poplar was 65%, black walnut was 80%, and white ash was 98%. Higher tree survival, averaged across all species, was found in north-facing (71%) vs south-facing aspects (61%), ripped (72%) vs unripped plots (60%) and in unmowed (72%) vs mowed plots (60%).

During the first year, 31% of black walnut seeds germinated and established, and this number increased to about 40% survival after five years. During the first year, 30% of red oak seeds germinated, but survival declined to around 1% at year 5. The other species (black cherry, white ash, and yellow-poplar) exhibited very low germination and establishment from seeds (<5%).