SURVIVAL AND GROWTH OF ASPEN AND SERVICEBERRY PLANTED ON RECLAIMED SURFACE MINED LAND WITH LANDSCAPE FABRIC AND IRRIGATION

Abstract: Difficulty in re-establishing native vegetation on surface mined lands in the semi-arid western U.S. prompted this study to determine the effectiveness of landscape fabric and supplemental irrigation on survival and growth of the woody perennials aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. ex M. Roem.) at a high elevation reclaimed surface coal mine site in Colorado. The study compared growth and survival of container-grown aspen and serviceberry planted with or without landscape fabric for control of competing vegetation, and with or without biweekly supplemental irrigation during the first growing season. Response after three years indicated that the landscape fabric was particularly crucial in survival and growth of aspen on sites with heavy competing vegetative cover. Serviceberry plants grew better with landscape fabric but the fabric did not increase survival. Supplemental irrigation provided only limited advantage compared to the landscape fabric. Photosynthesis and pre-dawn moisture stress measurements on the aspen indicated that they were more stressed without landscape fabric. Soil moisture was higher under the landscape fabric.