PERMFILE69759

• Permit No: M1977348
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 3/9/1978
• Doc Name: PROGRESS REPORT IN VEGETATIVE STABILIZATION OF MINE WASTES
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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particles, whereas the brown spoils contained 76 percent soil-size
particles. These results indicate that the brown spoil, in addition
to having more plant available P, may also have a more favorable
moisture environment for plant growth in the field than the gr,sy
spoils.
In 1970, fertility plots were again put out on the spoils and
seeded to a mixture of grass species and sweet clover. A Eair stand
of seedlings was established on freshly graded brown spoils. 'Che
seeding was again a failure on the gray spoils. Tlrc few seedl:ngs
that were observed were :+mall and died during the summer. AgnLn,
seedlings on the gra}~ spoils were stunted and purple, indicating a
P deficiency -- this in spite of a broadcast application of 200
pounds P205/acre.
The Ideal Cement Company also cooperated in the grading oz some
of the spoil peaks to a width of about 20 feet. The grading wars
done so as to leave a berm about one foot high on either side, and
then cross berms were put in across the graded tops about every 40.
feet. Phis leaves a system of basins across the graded area and should
create a more favorable environment for plant growth than smooth graded
tops*. This system looks satisfactory on the brown spoil, but there
was no better seedling survival on the gray spoil.
The coarse nature of the gray spoil indicates that it may be a
shrub site if initial survival can be achieved. In the spring of
1970 we planted skunkbush, caragana, Hansen rose, oldman wormwood,
and Russian olive on the gray spoils. Half of these woody species
were fertilized :with concentrated superphosphate at the rate ol: 0.1
pound P205/seedling. A small amount ~f the fertilizer was applied
in the bottom of the planting hole and some spoil placed over i.t so
the roots would not be in direct contact with the fertilizer. 'fhe
remainder of the P was placed in two slits six to eight inches deep
about six inches on either side of the stem.
Microwatersheds were made to direct water to individual woody
plants planted on the coarse-textured spoils. These were made of
1 foot x 2 foot pieces of roofing paper wiCh one end rolled and
stapled to torm a funnel. They were held in place with a spike
through the uphill end and a rock placed in the downhill funnel end.
These devices were still functional after one growing season, lout
benefits to seedlings have yet to be shown,
Survival of the woody seedlings through the 1970 growing ~.cason
was excellent (over 90 nercent) and is probably a reflection of
timely planting as the shrubs were put in immediately after a six-
inch snow cover had melted off. No responses to the P treatrnert
were evident by the fall of 1970.
,t
System suggested by R. L. Hoddar, Montana State University, ~nzcman.