Effects of initial fertilizer treatment on the 10‐year growth of mixed woodland on compacted surface‐coal‐mine spoils, S. Wales. (23rd August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Haigh, Martin John; Reed, Heather; D'Aucourt, Margaret; Flege, Alison; Cullis, Mike; Davis, Simon; Farrugia, Frances; Gentcheva‐Kostadinova, Svetla; Zheleva, Elena; Hatton, Elizabeth; Plamping, Keith; Powell, Susan; Panhuis, Willemina; Sansom, Benedict; Sawyer, Sharon; Wilding, Gill; Woodruffe, Pat
• Is Part Of: Land degradation & development. Volume 29:Number 10(2018)
• Page Start: 3456
• Page End: 3468
• Publication Date: 2018-08-23
• Subjects: citizen science -- common Alder -- community forestry -- goat willow -- oak -- Rowan -- Scots Pine -- Silver Birch -- slow release fertilizer -- surface‐mine (opencast) coal‐land reclamation; Land degradation -- Periodicals; Soil conservation -- Periodicals; Reclamation of land -- Periodicals; Land use -- Periodicals; Economic development -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; 333.7315
• DOI: 10.1002/ldr.3111
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1085-3278

Abstract

Abstract: The degradation of land formerly reclaimed after surface‐coal‐mining (opencast) is a widespread problem in upland Wales (UK). This community‐based project aims to support the voluntary sector in land reclamation by investigating the means of reversing land degradation. It explores ways of encouraging trees to ameliorate the severely compacted, infertile, mine‐soils typical of former opencast sites. This study evaluates the benefits of a single initial application of 2‐year slow release fertilizer (SRF), both with and without additional supplements, through a 10‐year controlled experiment in a mixed planting of common Alder ( Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn), Oak ( Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl., Quercus robur L. and hybrids) supplemented with Scots Pine ( Pinus sylvestris, L.); Silver Birch ( Betula pendula, Roth); Goat Willow ( Salix caprea, L.) and Rowan ( Sorbus aucuparia, L.). After 10 years, SRF treatment resulted in a small, marginally significant, decrease in survival (85% vs. 83%) across all species, except Oak, but SRF‐treated trees were significantly larger than those given no‐SRF at planting (421 cm vs. 368 cm). By contrast, in Year 5 data, only SRF‐treated Alders are marginally significantly larger, whereas in Years 1–3 across all six species, significantly more records show greater mean growth in trees with no‐SRF than those given SRF at planting. Probably, this delayed response to SRF treatment resulted from the slow development of the larger soil ecosystem. Treatment with additional supplements (double SRF, remineralization agent and superphosphate) tended to have negative impacts on growth but double SRF and to a lesser degree remineralization had a positive effect on survival.