One year after hybrid poplar trees were planted on the Repplier Mine site using PWD biosolids there has been substantial tree growth. For the first few weeks of this summer, there has been a team from Garvey Resources taking statistical data from all the plots in addition to testing the biosolids underneath the ground with the help of WMPI and Lehigh Engineers. The terrain is far from ideal and yet there is plant and tall grass growth along with the tree growth. Last July, the average height for the trees was 18-24 inches tall, this year, in June, the average height has reached 38-51 inches while some trees have exceeded 8 feet. There are a total of eight plots, two control plots and two plots for each of 3 biosolids loading rates: 60, 72, and 100 dry/tons per acre. There were two different types of trees planted and they were either planted on top of the rows of biosolids or in between them. The trees for the control plots with no biosolids application did very poorly as compared to the plots with biosolids application.
Table 1: Biosolids Application Rates and Average Tree Growth
|
Plot |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
|
Loading Rate |
N/A |
N/A |
60 |
72 |
100 |
100 |
72 |
60 |
|
Cultivar |
DN |
OP |
OP |
DN |
DN |
OP |
OP |
OP |
|
Planting |
N/A |
N/A |
on top |
on top |
between |
between |
between |
between |
|
Avg. Height (in) |
20 |
18 |
38 |
39 |
39 |
39 |
51 |
37 |
Garvey Resources employees taking statistical data
Andy Drumheller from Lehigh Engineers and Bill Toffey from PWD
Hybrid Poplar stecklings from last summer
Grass and tree growth June 2006
Trees over six foot tall
Average tree height and root system from Control B
Average tree size and root system from Plot H with 60 dry/tons per acre of biosolids
