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n <br />LJ <br />It can be seen that production in the reclaimed areas has resulted in greater allowable stocking <br />rates than either of the reference areas. The reclaimed area allowable stocking rates also exceed <br />those based on the SCS-estimated potential production of native vegetation in excellent <br />condition, as presented in the mountain loam and brushy loam range site descriptions, even <br />under the very stressful conditions of the 1994 growing season. <br />Alfalfa is a species of particular interest in the Seneca II Mine reclamation. The contribution of <br />alfalfa to total production was high in the reclaimed areas seeded in the early and mid 1980's <br />(e.g. Wadge Pasture). Beginning in 1985, the alfalfa component of the seed mix was reduced to <br />1/2 Ib. per acre, and then further reduced to 1/4 Ib. per acre beginning in 1986. Reflecting <br />this reduction, alfalfa comprised 24.7 percent of the total biomass production in the 1983 <br />Reclaimed Areas, 14.0 percent of the total biomass production in the 1987 Reclaimed Areas, <br />and 6.1 percent of the 1990 Reclaimed Areas. <br />The Wadge Pasture, when sampled in 1988 and 1989 (see 1988 and 1989 Seneca II <br />Revegetation Monitoring Reports), had 51 percent and 50 percent, respectively, of the annual <br />• production accounted for by alfalfa. In subsequent years, alfalfa has constituted a smaller <br />proportion of total production: <br />YEAR °/ of Biomass Provided by Alfalfa Abso lute Percent Cover by Alfalfa <br /> <br />1 988 51 33. 5 <br />1989 .50 27 .3 <br />1990 31 26 .1 <br />1991 40 36 .4 <br />1992 30.5 27 .1 <br />1993 44.4 27 .3 <br />1 994 34.9 21 .3 <br />Although there has been variation up and down in the relative proportion of alfalfa in the Wadge <br />Pasture, the absolute cover by alfalfa as of 1994 has dropped to approximately two-thirds of <br />the 1988 level. The Wadge Pasture has been grazed avery year since 1988. <br />• 29 <br />