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• vegetation was considerably less and growth was less on the dozer cleared soils. Lateral <br />roots in most treatments were of sufficient size support suckering, but sucker initiation <br />was likely inhibited by apical dominance of the growing trees. Lateral root extension was <br />considerably slower in the plots on the dozer cleared soils. Roots of trees planted deep <br />extended upward toward the surface. <br />Overall recommendation from pilot study. Best conditions for reproduction of aspen on <br />reclaimed surface mined coal lands was by using transplanted saplings from local sources <br />on freshly placed soil removed from aspen stands. Care should be taken to avoid <br />compaction of the replaced soil. Transplanted trees should be planted no deeper than the <br />original root collar, and competing vegetation should be controlled around individual <br />trees. Irrigation with non-saline water might enhance growth and survival in years with <br />drought conditions. After three full years of treatment, surviving trees were expected to <br />thrive without further control of competing vegetation and/or irrigation. Examination of <br />the plots in late 2008 confirmed these expectations. <br />• Follow-up study <br />A study was initiated in the fall of 2007 to determine if landscape fabric could be <br />used successfully to control competing vegetation and allow reproduction of aspen and <br />serviceberry woody perennials on reclaimed surface coal mine lands. A detailed <br />description of the study follows. <br />Objectives. The overall objective was to develop improved technologies to address <br />environmental issues related to the reclamation of the land after surface coal mining. The <br />research was to find ways to improve the survival and quality of aspen and serviceberry <br />planted on reclaimed mined lands. Specific objectives were to: <br />1. Determine growth and survival of aspen and serviceberry under different <br />competing vegetation and irrigation conditions on reclaimed surface mined lands at a <br />western Colorado site. <br />2. Quantify physiologic condition of the plants under different competing vegetation <br />and irrigation treatments. <br />Experimental Procedures/MethodoloWes