Laserfiche WebLink
II <br />Conclusion <br />Topsoil application significantly reduced survival of chokecherry and serviceberry in this study. <br />Vigor as measured by shoot height and root growth was similaz between treatments. Herbaceous <br />cover was similaz on both treatments and did not appeaz to provide substantial competition to <br />shrubs. Topsoil application, however, does not appear to be directly linked to high shrub <br />mortality, Mortality appeazs to be the result of intense browse damage by deer and elk on the <br />site. It is suggested that the lower bulk density of topsoil allows browsers to pull plants <br />completely from the soil. In contrast, the heavier substrates of the no-topsoil treatments better <br />anchor plants. Although the impact of browse greatly complicates interpretation of the data, <br />shrub planting on non-topsoiled substrates appears feasible given these results. Shrub survival <br />and root growth on graded spoils were substantially better than the topsoil treatment and similar <br />to other topsoiled sites at Seneca II Mine. <br />17 <br />