Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-xfwgj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-27T08:04:22.187Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Native Hardwood Tree Seedling Establishment Following Invasive Autumn-Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) Removal on a Reclaimed Coal Mine

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2018

Morgan E. Franke ,
Carl Zipper  and
Jacob N. Barney Open the ORCID record for Jacob N. Barney [Opens in a new window]
Morgan E. Franke
Affiliation:
Graduate Student, Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA; current: PMB 329, 535 Chalan Pale Ramon Haya, Yigo, Guam
Carl Zipper
Affiliation:
2Professor, Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
Jacob N. Barney*
Affiliation:
Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Jacob N. Barney, Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061. (E-mail: jnbarney@vt.edu)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The Appalachian region of the United States is home to the largest temperate deciduous forest in the world, though surface mining has caused significant forest loss. Many former coal mines are now dominated by invasive plants, which often inhibit establishment of desirable species, especially slower-growing native trees. Autumn-olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.) is a nonnative, nitrogen-fixing shrub that was historically planted on former coalfields, but now impedes reclamation. To better understand the influence of E. umbellata management practices on hardwood establishment, we evaluated two common management practices: cutting and cut stump herbicide treatment. Planted native tree species, including black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), pin oak (Quercus palustris Münchh.), and red maple (Acer rubrum L.), were monitored for survival and performance over two growing seasons following E. umbellata removal. In each plot, we also measured plant-available nitrate (NO3−) and ammonium (NH4+) in soils using ionic exchange membranes. At the end of the first growing season, native tree survival was high, and the presence or absence of E. umbellata had little effect on tree survival or growth, despite the higher plant-available nitrate where E. umbellata was present. By the end of the second growing season, native tree survival dropped to 20% to 60% and varied among E. umbellata treatments. Survival was highest when E. umbellata was cut and treated with herbicide, though tree growth was similar across all treatments without E. umbellata. When establishing native trees to replace E. umbellata, cutting and herbicide application treatment of the invader resulted in the highest overall efficacy (100% control), though the most cost-effective method may be to simply cut mature stands despite regrowth, as this resulted in equivalent native tree growth over 2 yr. While this allowed E. umbellata regeneration, it provided sufficient invader control to allow initial tree establishment. Cutting and herbicide application treatment resulted in less E. umbellata regeneration and appears to provide greater assurance that established trees will persist over the long term.

Keywords

Stephen F. Enloe, University of FloridaCut stump treatmentinvasive plant managementreclamationrestoration
Type
Note
Information
Invasive Plant Science and Management , Volume 11 , Issue 3 , September 2018 , pp. 155 - 161
Copyright
© Weed Science Society of America, 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ahmad, SD, Sabir, SM, Zubair, M (2006) Ecotypes diversity autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb): a single plant with multiple micronutrient genes. Chem Ecol 22:509–521 Google Scholar
Angel, P, Davis, V, Burger, J, Graves, D, Zipper, C (2005) The Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative. Washington, DC: U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Forest Reclamation Advisory No. 1. https://arri.osmre.gov. Accessed: July 1, 2016Google Scholar
Baer, SG, Church, JM, Williard, KWJ, Groninger, JW (2006) Changes in intrasystem N cycling from N2-fixing shrub encroachment in grassland: multiple positive feedbacks. Agric Ecosyst Environ 115:174–182 Google Scholar
Barney, JN, Tekiela, DR, Dollete, ESJ, Tomasek, BJ (2013) What is the real impact of invasive plant species? Front Ecol Environ 11:322–329 Google Scholar
Bowatte, S, Tillman, R, Carran, A, Gillingham, A, Scotter, D (2008) In situ ion exchange resin membrane (IEM) technique to measure soil mineral nitrogen dynamics in grazed pastures. Biol Fertil Soils 44:805–813 Google Scholar
Burger, J, Graves, D, Angel, P, Davis, V, Zipper, C (2005) The Forestry Reclamation Approach. Washington, DC: U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Forest Reclamation Advisory No. 2. https://arri.osmre.gov. Accessed: July 1, 2016Google Scholar
Burger, JA, Zipper, CE, Angel, PN, Hall, N, Skousen, JG, Barton, CD, Eggerud, S (2013) Establishing Native Trees on Legacy Surface Mines. Washington, DC: U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Forest Reclamation Advisory No. 11. https://arri.osmre.gov. Accessed: July 1, 2016Google Scholar
Byrd, SM, Cavender, ND, Peugh, CM, Bauman, JM (2012) Sustainable landscapes: evaluating strategies for controlling autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) on reclaimed surface mineland at the wilds conservation center in southeastern Ohio. J Am Soc Mining Reclam 1:73–81 Google Scholar
Campbell, GE, Dawson, O, Gregory, W (1989) Growth, yield, and value projections for black walnut interplantings with black alder and autumn olive. North J Appl For 6:129–132 Google Scholar
Catling, P, Oldham, M, Sutherland, D, Brownell, V, Larson, B (1997) The recent spread of autumn-olive, Elaeagnus umbellata, into Southern Ontario and its current status. Can Field-Nat 111:376–380 Google Scholar
Davis, MA, Grime, JP, Thompson, K (2000) Fluctuating resources in plant communities: a general theory of invasibility. J Ecol 88:528–534 Google Scholar
Davis, V, Burger, JA, Rathfon, R, Zipper, CE, Miller, CR (2012) Selecting Tree Species for Reforestation of Appalachian Mined Land. Washington, DC: U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Forest Reclamation Advisory No. 9. https://arri.osmre.gov. Accessed: July 1, 2016Google Scholar
Drummond, M, Loveland, TR (2010) Land-use pressure and a transition to forest-cover loss in the eastern United States. BioScience 60:286–298 Google Scholar
Duran, J, Delgado-Baquerizo, M, Rodriguez, A, Covelo, F, Gallardo, A (2013) Ionic exchange membranes (IEMs): a good indicator of soil inorganic N production. Soil Biol Biochem 57:964–968 Google Scholar
Evans, DM, Zipper, CE, Burger, JA, Strahm, BD, Villamagna, AM (2013) Reforestation practice for enhancement of ecosystem services on a compacted surface mine: path toward ecosystem recovery. Ecol Eng 51:16–23 Google Scholar
Fields-Johnson, CW, Zipper, CE, Burger, JA, Evans, DM (2012) Forest restoration on steep slopes after coal surface mining in Appalachian USA: soil grading and seeding effects. For Ecol Manag 270:126–134 Google Scholar
Fowler, LJ, Fowler, DK (1987) Stratification and temperature requirements for germination of autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) seed. Tree Planter’s Notes 38:14–17 Google Scholar
Franklin, JA, Zipper, CE, Burger, JA, Skousen, JG, Jacobs, DF (2012) Influence of herbaceous ground cover on forest restoration of eastern US coal surface mines. New For 43:905–924 Google Scholar
Hangs, RD, Greer, KJ, Sulewski, CA (2004) The effect of interspecific competition on conifer seedling growth and nitrogen availability measured using ion-exchange membranes. Can J For Res 34:754–761 Google Scholar
Kohri, M, Kamada, M, Yuuki, T, Okabe, T, Nakagoshi, N (2002) Expansion of Elaeagnus umbellata on a gravel bar in the Naka River, Shikoku, Japan. Plant Species Biol 17:25–36 Google Scholar
Lemke, D, Schweitzer, CJ, Tadesse, W, Wang, Y, Brown, J A (2013) Geospatial assessment of invasive plants on reclaimed mines in Alabama. Invasive Plant Sci Manag 6:401–410 Google Scholar
Li, RS, Daniels, WL (1994) Nitrogen accumulation and form over time in young mine soils. J Environ Qual 23:166–172 Google Scholar
Moore, MR, Buckley, DS, Klingeman, WE, Saxton, AM (2013) Distribution and growth of Elaeagnus umbellata in a managed forest landscape. For Ecol Manag 310:589–599 Google Scholar
Oliphant, AO, Wynne, RH, Zipper, CE, Ford, PF, Donovan, JL (2017) Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) presence and proliferation on former surface coal mines in eastern USA. Biol Invasions 19:179–195 Google Scholar
Orr, SP, Rudgers, JA, Clay, K (2005) Invasive plants can inhibit native tree seedlings: testing potential allelopathic mechanisms. Plant Ecol 181:153–165 Google Scholar
Paschke, MW, Dawson, JO, David, MB (1989) Soil nitrogen mineralization in plantations of Juglans nigra interplanted with actinorhizal Elaeagnus umbellata or Alnus glutinosa . Plant Soil 118:33–42 Google Scholar
Rejmánek, M, Pitcairn, MJ (2002) When is eradication of exotic pest plants a realistic goal? Pages 249–253 In Veitch CR & Clout MN, eds. Turning the Tide: The Eradication of Invasive Species. Cambridge, UK: IUCN Google Scholar
Ricketts, TH, Dinerstein, E, Olson, D, Loucks, C, Eichbaum, W, DellaSala, D, Kavanagh, K, Hedao, P, Hurley, P, Carney, K, Abell, R, Walters, S (1999) Terrestrial Ecoregions of North America: A Conservation Assessment. Washington, DC: Island Press Google Scholar
Schlesinger, RC, Williams, RD (1984) Growth response of black walnut to interplanted trees. Forest Ecol Manag 9:235–243 Google Scholar
Skousen, J, Zipper, CE (2014) Post-mining policies and practices in the eastern USA coal region. Int J Coal Science Technol 1:135–151 Google Scholar
Subler, S, Blair, JM, Edwards, CA (1995) Using anion-exchange membranes to measure soil nitrate availability and net nitrification. Soil Biol Biochem 27:911–917 Google Scholar
Vitousek, PM, Cassman, K, Cleveland, C, Crews, T, Field, CB, Grimm, NB, Howarth, RW, Marino, R, Martinelli, L, Rastetter, EB, Sprent, JI (2002) Towards an ecological understanding of biological nitrogen fixation. Biogeochemistry 5758:1–45 Google Scholar
Vitousek, PM, Walker, LR (1989) Biological invasion by Myrica faya in Hawai’i: plant demography, nitrogen fixation, ecosystem effects. Ecol Monogr 59:247–265 Google Scholar
Vitousek, PM, Walker, LR, Whiteaker, LD, Mueller-Dombois, D, Matson, P (1987) Biological invasion by Myrica faya alters ecosystem development in Hawaii. Science 238:802–804 Google Scholar
Wickham, JD, Riitters, KH, Wade, TG, Coan, M, Homer, C (2007) The effect of Appalachian mountaintop mining on interior forest. Land Ecol 22:179–187 Google Scholar
Zipper, CE, Burger, JA, McGrath, JM, Rodrigue, JA, Holtzman, GI (2011a) Forest restoration potentials of coal-mined lands in the eastern United States. J Environ Qual 40:1567–1577 Google Scholar
Zipper, CE, Burger, JA, Skousen, JG, Angel, PN, Barton, CD, Davis, V, Franklin, JA (2011b) Restoring forests and associated ecosystem services on Appalachian coal surface mines. Environ Manag 47:751–765 Google Scholar