Discussion
Some
general observations follow.
Hopefully, experimental data and long-term observation to
establish
these points will confirm them in due course.
¥It
appears that weathered brown sandstone is the best substrate for chestnut
growth in eastern and
western
Kentucky, although mixed brown and grey sandstone also is suitable, and
possibly even
grey
sandstone.
¥Pretreatment
with ectomycorhizzal fungi appears to enhance chestnut establishment and
growth.
¥Loosening
of compacted spoil by ripping, tail dumping or auguring appears to improve
chestnut
establishment
and growth.
¥Either
seeds or seedlings appear to be suitable for chestnut establishment on mined
lands. Seeds
are
easier and more inexpensive to handle than seedlings and avoid the risk of
introducing
Phytophthora
cinnamomi into mined lands, but seedlings are the customary materials
for tree
plantings. To address this problem, TACF is
funding research on managing Phytophthora root rot
in
forest nurseries.
¥Chestnut
is especially well adapted to dry, acidic soils, but does require
nitrogen. Fertilization is
especially
critical to establishment and can easily be incorporated into planting
methods.
Establishment
of nitrogen fixing plants, such as legumes (forbs/trees) may be an economical
means
of providing the nitrogen critical to the long-term success of afforestion on
mined lands.