Tree survival and growth on Iowa coal-spoil materials

Abstract

<p>An evaluation was made of 7- to 8- year survival and growth of 15 tree species of conifers and hardwoods planted on several classes of coal-spoil materials in southeastern Iowa. The more important results were:</p> <p>1. Green ash survived better than all other species on a variety of coal-spoil materials and appeared best adapted to the more moist sites on the moderately acid to calcareous spoils.</p> <p>2. Cottonwood grew much faster than all other species on a variety of coal-spoil materials and grew to more than double the height of green ash.</p> <p>3. Survival and growth of eastern redcedar were best on the calcareous coal-spoil materials. This species is drouth resistant and can be planted on the drier sites.</p> <p>4. Survival and growth of all pine species tested were very poor on the calcareous coal- spoil materials; apparently, these pines should not be planted on calcareous shales and glacial tills.</p> <p>5. Of all species tested, jack and Virginia pine appeared best adapted to the dry sites on the strongly and moderately acid spoil materials. Pitch pine was adapted to the same materials but probably should be planted on more moist sites.</p> <p>6. Red and eastern white pine were best adapted to the slightly acid, more fertile, moist, well-drained sites, and plantings of these species probably should be limited to these locations.</p>