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from the Soil Conservation Service. The goal of the study was <br />to demonstrate the successful establishment of four grass species <br />and to observe transplants of native species. This was the first <br />attempt to simulate conditions to be encountered on the commercial <br />~-- -- <br />scale disposal embankment. This demonstration on a deep embankment <br />of processed _s_hale_ utilized a 3:1 slope in addition to testing <br />larger scale leaching treatments, acid solution applications, <br />and addition of fertilizer and sawdust. Watering was accomplished <br />by the installation of an automatic sprinking system. The plot <br />was mulched with Ludlow Soil Saver, a coarse jute mesh fabric. <br />Seedling trees and shrubs from the Colorado State Forest Service <br />along with some native plants from the Parachute Creek area were <br />transplanted into this field plot. Although the most growth was <br />shown by tall wheatgrass and Russian Wildrye, initial germination <br />and growth by the other species was observed to be no problem <br />in processed shale which had been leached, mulched and fertilized. <br />The semi-works plots were expanded in July of 1969 to test differ- <br />. ent seedbed covers and fertilizer rates. This late planting date <br />subjected the seed to much higher temperatures than would have <br />been encountered in a spring or fall planting and the resulting <br />germination was very poor. <br />In the fall of 1968, the 1967 Garden Plots were removed and re- <br />planted by Dr. Schaal. These new plots are known as the "Box <br />Plots" in reference to the boxlike separations between treatments. <br />In this replanting effort, the processed shale from the previous <br />study was removed and replaced with~two feet~of untreated processed <br />shale which was then leached. The Box Plots were designed to study <br />the germination and growth of grasses, fortis, and shrubs in processed <br />shale with the addition of peatmoss, perlite, sawdust, and fertilizer. <br />Excell~ant growth was exhibited by tall wheatgrass and crested wheat- <br />grass. There was a considerable amount of stunting and mortality <br />among he other species tested and the surviving plants showed <br />signs ~~f tip burning due to salt concentration. This plot was <br /> <br />E-19 <br />