Powell River Project
Reclamation Guidelines for Surface-Mined Land in Southwest Virginia

Reclamation of Coal Refuse Disposal Areas

Authors: W. Lee Daniels, Associate Professor, and Barry Stewart and Dennis Dove, Graduate Research Assistants, Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech

Publication Number 460-131, June 1996

Reclamation of Coal Refuse Disposal Areas; Table 4

Table 4. General Timetable for Reclamation Practices Suitable for Revegetation of Coal Refuse Areas.
ActivityDateRecommendations
Final GradingMay 15-Sept 15 Final grading should be done in a manner to avoid severe compaction of the surface.
LimingYear Round Liming rate should be based on measured potential acidity. Single applications should not exceed 25 tons/acre. Additional lime may be added at 3 month intervals.
FertilizationMar 15-Nov 15 If fertilizer is to be applied prior to seeding, N fertilizers should not be included.
SeedingMar 15-May 15 Apply complete spring seeding mixture with fertilizers.
May 15-Sept 15 Apply only millet with reduced rates of nitrogen.
Sept 15-Nov 15 Apply complete Fall seeding mixture with fertilizers.
Nov 15-Mar 15 Apply only cereal rye with reduced rates of nitrogen.

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