Surface mine sod treatment effects on survival and growth of Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) after two and eight years

A research area was established on a surface mine in eastern Kentucky in 1982 that had been seeded to grasses and legumes in 1978 to test the effects of eight herbicide treatments, mechanical scalping and planting through the sod (control) on the long term survival and growth of non-mycorrhizal treated Virginia pine seedlings (Pinus virginiana). After eight years no treatment was significantly different from the control except mechanical scalping when the statistic tested was the change in height over time expressed as a percentage of the 2-season value. Mechanical scalping resulted in survival and height growth values significantly less than at least one treatment for all tests except the latter. Such results indicate factors other than biological responses should be considered when choosing a woody vegetation establishment scheme on surface mines with established herbaceous cover.