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• <br />THE USE OF LANDSCAPE FABRIC AND SUPPLEMENTAL <br />IRRIGATION TO ENHANCE SURVIVAL AND GROWTH OF WOODY <br />PERENNIALS PLANTED ON RECLAIMED SURFACE MINE LANDS' <br />R.C. Musselman2, F.W. Smith, W.D. Shepperd, L.A. Asherin, and B.W. Gee <br />Abstract: A study was initiated to determine the effectiveness of landscape fabric and <br />supplemental irrigation in survival and growth of woody perennials planted on reclaimed <br />surface coal mine lands. The study compared growth and survival of nursery grown <br />potted aspen and serviceberry planted with or without landscape fabric, and with or <br />without biweekly supplemental irrigation. First year survival and growth indicates that <br />the landscape fabric was particularly crucial in survival and growth of aspen trees on sites <br />with heavy competing vegetative cover. Supplemental irrigation appears to have <br />provided limited advantage compared to the landscape fabric. Photosynthesis and pre- <br />dawn moisture stress measurements on the aspen indicated that aspen trees were more <br />stressed without landscape fabric. Soil moisture was higher under the landscape fabric. <br />The serviceberry plants did not respond to landscape fabric or irrigation treatment during <br />the first growing season. <br />Additional Key Words: Amelanchier alnifolia, aspen, competition, Populus tremuloides, <br />re-vegetation, serviceberry, soil moisture <br />Paper was presented at the 2009 National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, <br />Billings, MT. Revitalizing the Environment: Proven Solutions and Innovative Approaches May 30 - <br />June 5, 2009. R.I. Barnhisel (Ed.) Published by ASMR, 3134 Montavesta Rd., Lexington, KY 40502. <br />` Robert C. Musselman is Plant Physiologist, and Lance A. Asherin is Forester, Rocky Mountain <br />Research Station, US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO 80526; <br />Frederick W. Smith is Professor, Wayne D. Shepperd is Research Associate, and Brian W. Gee is <br />Graduate Student, Colorado State University, Department of Forest, Rangeland, and Watershed <br />Stewardship, Fort Collins, CO 80523.