Establishment of forage species on surface-mined land in Kentucky

ABSTRACT:

To evaluate methods of establishing useful forage species on surface mine spoil, eight species were seeded alone or in mixtures at two locations, one in eastern Kentucky and one in western Kentucky. The species were tall fescue, Caucasian bluestem, big bluestem, Indiangrass, switchgrass, crownvetch, and two different sericea lespedezas. Five methods of establishment were used. These included mulching with straw or woodbark in combination with broadcasting or drilling the seed. After 3 years, stands of seeded species were unaffected by establishment method at either location. Caucasian bluestem, seeded alone, produced the most consistent stand at both locations. Switchgrass performed as well as Caucasian bluestem in western Kentucky. All warm-season grasses produced better stands in western Kentucky than in eastern Kentucky. All legumes produced better stands in eastern Kentucky than in western Kentucky.