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<br />Potr-reclamation /nvettigaNon <br />1 <br />All of the northern exposure test plots were consistent over the study period. [n both years, <br />' production increased from NI through N4 for total production, annual species, and perennial <br />species. Additionally, there was a proportional increase in production at these four test plots from <br />1993 to 1995. The data also indicate that there is a significant increase in production from the <br />12-inch to the 24-inch to the 36-inch cover plots, however, only a slight increase in production <br />from the 36- to the 48-inch plots. <br />For the southern exposure test plots, there were significant increases and only slight increases of <br />total and annual species production from plots S 1 through S3 during 1993 and 199, respectively. <br />Total cover decreased from S3 to S4 in 1993 while increased in 1995. <br /> <br />1 <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br />The four test plots with the must soil cover (N3, N4, S3, S4) were consistently the highest in <br />total production as well as in the annual and perennial components (Figures 5 through ~. These <br />data indicate that for production, soil cover depth is also an influencing factor, however, this <br />conclusion is more appazent on the north facing aspect than the south facing aspect. <br />Compazing the 1995 sampling of the reference area with the test plots indicates that total <br />production of all of the test was greater than the reference area except for plot Nl (Figure 5). <br />Production of annual species was less on the reference area than all of the test plots (Figure 6). <br />Production of perennial species was less on all of the south exposure plots and N I, however, was <br />greater on plots N2, N3 and N4 than the reference area (Figure 7). <br />Woody Plant Density and Rooting Depth <br />' Woody plant density observed in 199> ranged from 13 to 108 stems per acre (Table 2) which <br />is an increase over that observed in 1992 and 1993. The majority of the shrubs observed in 1995 <br />were young plants which indicates that shrub development on reclaimed sites may require <br />additional moisture as received in eazly 199d. These numbers are well below the 3,88 stems <br />per acre found in the reference plot. However, the shrub component is present in the reclaimed <br />area and appears to be developing. <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Soil pits were dug to determine shrub rooting depth in relation to the various cover treatments <br />and refuse material. Table 4 presents the results of the shrub rooting depth analyses. Orily <br />young shrubs were observed on the north exposure test plots and no depths were determined on <br />these plants. On the south exposure test plots, six mature shrub plants were excavated. Primary <br />root structure vazied from 9 to 22 inches. In all cases, root structure development was not <br />impeded by the topsoiUsubsoil cover material. Only one plant was analyzed in test plot S 1 (12- <br />inch cover treatment) which extended into refuse material. This material did not impede root <br />development. <br />Soils <br />Soil samples were collected in 1990 and 1996 to determine if salts from the refuse were <br />migrating into the cover soils on the test plots (Tables 5 through 7). .411 soil sample data results <br />are presented in Appendix D. Samples from 5 of the 8 test plots were collected in 1996 from <br />each lift and compazed ~~ith the 1990 samples. While some results from 1996 are slightly higher <br />~,a-o~~n.rb-,ro 19 <br />