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beds enable the transplants to thrive. Although aspen is somewhat tolerant of drought <br />conditions (Lieffers et al. 2001), irrigation could benefit growth and survival of planted <br />aspen stock, because moisture stress negatively affects aspen response to nutrient <br />uptake (van den Driessche et al. 2003). Water deficit stress also reduces stomata[ <br />conductance, root hydraulic conductivity, and shoot leaf water potential in aspen <br />(Siemens and Zwiazek 2003). Irrigation has been shown to increase growth of hybrid <br />poplar, a closely related species (Hansen 1988; Strong and Hansen 1991). Herbaceous <br />competition has been shown to reduce survival of aspen on reclaimed mined lands <br />(Hughes et al. 1992). <br />Serviceberry is a common and important shrub in western ecosystems, and it is <br />an important food source for wildlife, supplying both foliage for forage and fruit for <br />ungulate and small mammal consumption. Serviceberry planted on reclaimed mine <br />overburden had lower survival when plants were fertilized (Williams et al. 2004). <br />Serviceberry planted on reclaimed mine lands in northeastern Washington survived well <br />but growth was slow and did not respond to nutrient supply (Voeller et al. 1998). <br />This study identified factors that potentially limit the re- establishment and are <br />crucial to reproduce trees and shrubs on surface -mined lands in the semi -arid west. It <br />seems reasonable to conclude that removal of competing vegetation and supplemental <br />irrigation of trees and shrubs planted on reclaimed surface -mined lands could increase <br />initial survival and allow the plants to grow sufficient root systems to ultimately survive <br />without additional water on reclaimed mine lands. Planting equipment is available that <br />can be pulled behind a tractor. The equipment plants woody perennials and lays down a <br />weed- barrier landscape fabric. Although commonly used for windbreak planting in the <br />Midwest and for planting crops such as strawberries in California, as far as we know this <br />equipment has not been used for revegetation of reclaimed surface coal mine lands. The <br />tractor mounted planting equipment is commercially available in most rural forested <br />areas throughout the U.S. The planting techniques tested here can be used for <br />reclamation throughout the U.S. where competition from herbaceous vegetation limits <br />reproduction of woody perennials on revegetated surface coal mine lands. <br />I� <br />5 <br />