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~i <br />Section 816.114(c) Continued. <br />Schuman et. al. (1980), annual grains are superior to surface applied <br />straw or hay mulch in terms of erosion control, moisture retention, <br />and plant establishment. Similarly, Sindelar, et al. (1973) <br />documented that on reapplied topsoil planted with cereal grains, the <br />above ground and below ground biomass equaled or exceeded 5,000 <br />pounds per acre. In this regard, since the commonly accepted <br />mulching rates of straw and hay mulch are 2,000-3,000 pounds per <br />acre, the desirability of planting cereal grains rather than straw or <br />hay mulch is apparent. Moreover, the fine root systems of cereal <br />grains greatly alleviate problems of soil compaction while, at the <br />same item, reconstructing normal soil nutrient and soil organic <br />matter levels. <br />• <br />I• <br />The selection of Russell oats and Elbon winter rye as the spring and <br />fall mulch, respectively, was the result of not only highly <br />successful infield and experimental plantings on reclaimed sites on <br />the Marr Mine Area, but also consultations with cereal crop <br />specialists at Colorado State University. These species were <br />ultimately selected because of their ability to produce rapid growth <br />and dense levels of plant cover necessary to control erosion and to <br />increase soil organic matter levels. In this regard, fall plantings <br />of Elbon winter rye on reclaimed sites on the Marr Mine Area have <br />dramatically demonstrated that this species has the unique ability to <br />germinate and grow under snow. <br />Throughout the reclamation process, Kerr Coal will carefully monitor <br />the results of its proposed mulching program to assure that the <br />program is producing the desired results. Further, Kerr Coal will <br />compare its results with similar ongoing programs currently underway <br />at the Eckman Park Mine near Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the Shirley <br />Basin (Schuman, et al., 1980) in Wyoming and the Hanna Basin (Mason, <br />et al., 1980) to insure that the mulching program is consistent with <br />the best technology available. <br />816.153R <br />Revised - August, 1990 <br />