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• THE USE OF LANDSCAPE FABRIC AND SUPPLEMENTAL IRRIGATION TO <br />ENHANCE SURVIVAL AND GROWTH OF WOODY PERENNIALS PLANTED ON <br />RECLAIMED SURFACE MINE LANDS <br />Final Report <br />to <br />Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement <br />National Technology Transfer Team <br />Applied Sciences Program <br />October 2009 <br />R.C. Musselman F.W. Smith W.D. Shepperd and L.A. Asherin <br />1 Rocky Mountain Research Station, US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research <br />Station, Fort Collins, CO 80526 <br />2 Colorado State University, Department of Forest, Rangeland, and Watershed <br />Stewardship, Fort Collins, CO 80523 <br />Abstract A study was initiated to determine the effectiveness of <br />landscape fabric and supplemental irrigation in survival and growth of <br />woody perennials planted on reclaimed surface coal mine lands. The <br />study compared growth and survival of 1- gallon potted aspen and 10 cu. <br />in. potted serviceberry planted with or without landscape fabric, and with <br />or without supplemental irrigation every two weeks. First year survival <br />and growth indicates that the landscape fabric was particularly crucial in <br />survival and growth of aspen trees on sites with heavy competing <br />vegetative cover. Supplemental irrigation appears to have provided <br />limited advantage compared to the landscape fabric. The smaller <br />serviceberry plants did not respond to landscape fabric or irrigation <br />treatment during the first growing season. Photosynthesis and pre -dawn <br />moisture stress measurements on the aspen indicated that aspen trees <br />were more stressed without landscape fabric. Soil moisture was higher <br />under the landscape fabric. <br />Additional Key Words: Amelanchier alnifolia, aspen, competition, <br />irrigation, Populus tremuloides, serviceberry, soil moisture <br />• <br />1 <br />