EFFECTS OF SOIL AMENDMENTS AND SEVERE CATTLE GRAZING ON THE LONG-TERM SURVIVAL AND GROWTH OF TREE SEEDLINGS ON EASTERN KENTUCKY SURFACE MINED LAND.

Seedlings of Virginia pine, European alder, and northern red oak were planted in March of 1977 under three bark mulch depths and three diammonium phosphate fertilizer rates, with and without grass-legume competition. In 1983, cattle were allowed to graze in the study area. The trees were remeasured in March of 1984 to determine the longer-term effects of the soil amendments and the effects of cattle grazing on tree survival and height growth. Both of these parameters increased under bark mulch and fertilizer, but decreased under herbaceous competition. Survival and growth also decreased following grazing. Additionally, cattle grazing had a highly detrimental effect on tree form.