ABSTRACT

Climate change and harsh environmental conditions present significant barriers to the reforestation of surface-mined sites in Appalachia. An experimental site was established on a reclaimed surface mine in eastern Kentucky to investigate the impacts of soil amendments (fertilizer additions and mycorrhizal inoculations) on the growth and survival of northern red oak and loblolly pine, and the effects of amendments and species planted on soil development. While early effects of soil fertility and mycorrhizae treatments were apparent, these did not affect the growth or survival of either species after 10 growing seasons. Overall, loblolly pine exhibited greater growth (7.6 m) and survival (58%) than northern red oak (1.8 m height growth and 39% survival). While the poor growth and survival of northern red oak were attributed to heavy vegetative competition from nonnative species, loblolly pine rapidly achieved canopy closure and shaded out competitive understory vegetation. This study documents that non-native loblolly pine may serve as an important pioneering tree species in reforestation of reclaimed mine sites by potentially outcompeting invasive exotic understory plant species. We speculate that, by suppressing invasive species, loblolly pine may have the potential to serve as a “nurse tree” for more economically and ecologically desirable hardwood species.

摘要

气候变化和恶劣的环境条件对阿巴拉契亚地区露天采矿场地的重新造林构成了重大障碍。在肯塔基州东部的一个复垦地表矿上建立了一个试验点，以研究土壤改良剂（施肥和菌根接种）对北部红橡树和火炬松生长和存活的影响，以及改良剂和种植树种对土壤的影响发展。虽然土壤肥力和菌根处理的早期影响是显而易见的，但在 10 个生长季节后，这些并没有影响任一物种的生长或存活。总体而言，火炬松的生长（7.6 m）和存活率（58%）比北方红橡木（1.8 m 的高度增长和 39% 的存活率）更高。虽然北方红橡树生长不良和存活率低是由于来自外来物种的激烈营养竞争，但火炬松迅速实现了树冠关闭并遮蔽了竞争激烈的林下植被。这项研究表明，非本地火炬松可能通过潜在地超越入侵外来林下植物物种，成为再生矿区重新造林的重要先驱树种。我们推测，通过抑制入侵物种，火炬松可能有可能成为更经济和生态上更理想的硬木物种的“护士树”。这项研究表明，非本地火炬松可能通过潜在地超越入侵外来林下植物物种，成为再生矿区重新造林的重要先驱树种。我们推测，通过抑制入侵物种，火炬松可能有可能成为更经济和生态上更理想的硬木物种的“护士树”。这项研究表明，非本地火炬松可能通过潜在地超越入侵外来林下植物物种，成为再生矿区重新造林的重要先驱树种。我们推测，通过抑制入侵物种，火炬松可能有可能成为更经济和生态上更理想的硬木物种的“护士树”。