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X' June. 1976 Capsule Information Series Number 1 I Reseeding Mine Spoil to Sustain Itself and Su ort Livestock pp = : ' R. L- Meyn and R. P. Young' Introduction Can reseeded minx spofl sustain itself and support live- stock? This is a question scientists of the Reclamation Re- search Group at the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station are attempting to answer with research at Colstrip, Mont. Our country's demand for energy may require accelerated mining of coal, our most abundant fossil fuel. Vast deposits of coal iri eastern Montana may be stripmined to meet this need if reclamation methods can be Cound which are environ- mentally acceptable. Cands proposed for mining are insiy~ti- ficant in azea compared to the total land base, but they cannot simply Ge idle following mining. Reclamation tech- niques must be developed and tested to ensure that the mined lands are restored [o useful productivity. Stripmining at Colstrip is. expanding to meet increased demands for energy in Montana and other regions of the country. Increasing acreages of native rangeland are being mined, reshaped and seeded to a mixture of plant species. The local livestock industry is affected since beef produc- tion is curtailed until grasslands capable of supporting cattle graztrtg aze reestablished. Because reseeded mine spoils presently contain a preponderance of introduced grasses, there is still some question regarding the longevity of these species. .. . Objectives With support of the Western Energy Company at Colstrip, Mont., an experimental gazing study was implemented on some formerly minedlandswhich were successfully reseeded to predominantly grassland vegetation. This study is intended to be a cooperative effort supported by local ranchers, industry and other interested parties. Its objectives are (1) to evaluate a management plan utilizing mine spoil pas- ~ 1 forage in a manner which accounts for proper stocking rates " and seasons of use, (2) to establish the value of summer grazing on native range in conjunction with the use of reseeded spoil, (3) to determine the degree and importance of spoil compaction caused by livestock grazing, (4) to deter- mine the impact of grazing on reseeded mine spoil pasturage and (5) to document weight gains obtained with controlled grazing. The Research Site The reseazch site is located at the extreme northern por- tion of Pit No. 6 at the Rosebud Mine near Colstrip- Mining operations were completed in 1971. The area was later topped with a sandy loam material. In the spring of 1972, the Western Energy Company, assisted by the Montana Agri- cultural Experiment Station (MAES); prepared the site for seeding.T'hisconsisted ofconstruction o(lazge basins (dozer basins) for precipitation and entrapment on the steep slopes small basins (gouges) on the moderate slopes and contour chiselling of all slopes which were thought not to have a severe erosion potential. In May of 1972, a mixture of native and introduced grasses, shrubs and legumes was seeded by air at the rate of about 34 lbs~A. A total of 95 Ibs~A each of nitrogen and. PyOs phosphorns were applied by air, SO Ibs/A in 1972 and 451bs/A in 1974. This corzesponds to about 25016s of bulk 16.20-0 per acre in 1972 and about 117 lbs of bulk 340-0 and I 1 l Ibs of 0~5-0 per acre in 1974- These early reclama- lion operations were designed to quickly establish a dense ~` and productive vegetative cover and to limit soil erosion- The Experimental-Design Reclamation operations as described produced roughly g0 acres of reseeded grassland in the ensuing growing seasons from 1972 to 1974. About 60 acres of this planting were de- signed as suitable for a grazing study design. As a whole, the 'Rettarch Asrneiate and Rese~eh Aaistmit, rupectixly, Montana Agrieultwd Experiment Station, .Nomm~a State University, Bozeman. Montana Agricultural Experiment Station .Montana State University, Bozeman