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<br /> <br />CJ <br />• <br />in soils on the site. Soil structure has also been affected, with plow pans <br />developing at approximately 12 inches. The required plant growth nutrients <br />have also slowly been depleted from the soil because of little or no fertiliza- <br />tion. To complicate matters further, Canadian thistle (Circium arvense), a <br />designated noxious weed, has been increasing because of lock of control and <br />excessive tillage. <br />Because of the above mentioned situations, Peabody Coal Company will <br />carry out the following reclamation on areas that have been properly back- <br />filled and topsoiled. Much of the area reclaimed will not be in large enough <br />blocks to warrant crop production as these are reclaimed requiring that a <br />more permanent vegetative cover be established in the interim. In essence, <br />Peabody Coal Company proposes to use a conservation cropping system <br />composed of a grass and legume for perennial vegetative cover. This system <br />will not only control wind and water erosion, but will also increase soil <br />organic matter levels, improve soil structure and filth and control weedy <br />species such as Canadian thistle by plant competition. <br />The species proposed are big bluegrass (Poa ampla) and alfalfa (Medicago <br />saliva). Big bluegrass was chosen for several reasons, which include the <br />ability to produce a large amount of biomass both above and below ground, it <br />is native and occurs in the general area, it is well adapted to the climatic <br />conditions at the proposed site, it will not cause severe volunteering pro- <br />blems after plow down and provides habitat for wildlife. Alfalfa is a valu- <br />able forb for replenishing nitrogen in the soil, produces an abundance of <br />above ground and below ground biomass, improves soil structure to depths <br />deeper than other grasses or fortis, provides valuable wildlife habitat and has <br />proven itself in reclamation on mines in the area. <br />The following species mix is proposed for reclamation at the proposed site: <br />Big bluegrass (Poa ampla) <br />Alfalfa (Medicago saliva) <br />TOTAL <br />Drilled P.L.S. <br />Pounds/Acre <br />6 <br />4 <br />l0 P.L.S. pounds acre <br />E-3 <br />