Author ORCID Identifier
Date Available
12-24-2019
Year of Publication
2019
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Forest and Natural Resource Sciences (MSFNRS)
College
Agriculture, Food and Environment
Department/School/Program
Forestry and Natural Resources
Advisor
Dr. John Lhotka
Co-Director of Graduate Studies
Dr. Christopher Barton
Abstract
During the last century coal extraction has degraded ecosystems in Appalachia, converting forested land into other cover types that have a diminished capacity to naturally progress to later stages of succession. This projects objective was to examine two options for land-use that can assist in returning the reclaimed surface mines to forested cover types, with increased ecosystem services, and a potential for economic gain.
This project examined a biomass plantation and an American chestnut trial. In the biomass trial, greatest heights for American sycamore (12.3 m) and black locust (8.0 m) were found in the fertilizer plots. Mean individual tree biomass for American sycamore and black locust was 6.4 Kg and 5.3 Kg, respectively; no significant differences were found among treatments. In the American chestnut trial, experimental wide survival was 47.2% in 2009, dropping to 24.74% in 2017. No significant differences were found by genotype, stock type, or the interaction in 2017. Use of mined land for woody biomass plantations and locales for chestnut restoration shows potential if proper management techniques are followed. Given the vast amounts of land disrupted by mining activities in Appalachia, approaches such as these deserve further attention and additional research.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2020.005
Recommended Citation
Frederick, Joseph, "EVALUATING REFORESTATION OPTIONS FOR SURFACE MINES IN APPALACHIA" (2019). Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources. 49.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/forestry_etds/49
Included in
Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons
