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mulching with straw or wood fiber, were selected as the optimum <br /> means of modifying edaphic factors on disturbed sites to enhance <br /> plant establishment. <br /> Primary plant nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorous and potas- <br /> sium, are applied to required sites in a blend of 20-20-9 during <br /> initial seeding. The fertilizer is applied at a rate to achieve <br /> 120 lbs of available nitrogen, 120 lbs of available phosphorous <br /> and 50 lbs of available potassium as potash per acre in initial <br /> nutrient applications. Supplemental nutrient applications are <br /> then applied to seeded sites as needed in subsequent years with <br /> the 20-20-9 to maximize growth rates. Ammonium nitrate 34-0-0 <br /> is used to supply supplemental units of available nitrogen to <br /> seeded sites during the growing season. <br /> After seeding prepared areas, a mulch is applied to improve <br /> germination characteristics of the seedbed. Mulching operations <br /> are conducted only on extremely xeric sites in which beneficial <br /> results will be realized, such as tailings areas or steep south- <br /> west facing slopes. A wood fiber mulch is applied at 1800 to <br /> 2400 pounds per acre on required sites which are accessible to <br /> hydromulching equipment. Sites which are inaccessible to heavy <br /> equipment receive straw mulch applications at a rate of 2000 to <br /> 2500 pounds per acre. Mulch application rates are dependent on <br /> site characteristics with drier, steeper sites receiving heavier <br /> application rates. <br /> Soil amendments applied to affected acreages at the Silverton <br /> site during the past five years are presented below. Refer to <br /> Map 2 for soil amendment application location. <br /> Page 13 <br />